Thai Teens Want Their Parents' Love... Or A Cell Phone

from the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately dept

Thu, Apr 13th 2006 8:57am — Carlo Longino

A new survey of Bangkok teenagers has found that what nearly 40 percent of them want most is love and encouragement from their parents. Trailing that, 16 percent's top wish is for a cell phone. There have been plenty of stories about parents trying to outsource their jobs to technology, so it's amusing to see some teenagers that would rather replace their parents' attention with a mobile phone.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

16 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

dorpus, 13 Apr 2006 @ 9:20am

Fifteen
Man, anyone see that Singapore movie "Fifteen"? I got it at Blockbuster. That is one fucked up movie, that talks about the same issue.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
dani, 13 Apr 2006 @ 9:28am

Maybe they're like American teens...the 40% wanting their parents' affection already have cell phones--rich kids that have everything but never see mom & dad.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Bob, 13 Apr 2006 @ 9:34am

I WANT MY MOMMIE!!!
Oh wait, I'll have to call you back.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
StinkyJones, 13 Apr 2006 @ 10:01am

I used to want my parents' love...
Until my daddy started touching me there... :'(
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
FunkyJones, 13 Apr 2006 @ 10:10am

you can still have it...
Stinky? I though you liked it when me and your uncle bubba would give you a pole ride...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Apr 2006 @ 10:12am

you know, I would refrain from posting obscene comments here if you made me register.....

no wait, then I'd prob do it more.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Apr 2006 @ 10:15am

there only going on experience
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
butcheak, 13 Apr 2006 @ 10:23am

isnt buying your kid like a sign of affection or something, like buying them a big position in some office say in washington where say you control the world or something?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coweird, 13 Apr 2006 @ 10:32am
  
  Re:
  butcheak is now on "the list"....better watch out man!
  
  :P
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Joe Smith, 13 Apr 2006 @ 12:13pm

Wanting what you don't have
Maybe the 16 % who want the cell phone are the ones who are so completely secure that they have their parents love and support that they can take it for granted.

Feel sorry for the 40% who want their parents love and support since they are the one's who obviously either lack it or are insecure about it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Obtuse, 13 Apr 2006 @ 12:17pm

Maybe the 40% have cell phones and have used it so much that it has taken them away from the love and attention of there parents. Maybe they should warn the other 16% that want cell phones....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
meh, 13 Apr 2006 @ 1:06pm

fone
I want a new funky phone.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Apr 2006 @ 11:40pm

Maybe if we all hold hands and have group hugs, the world will be a better place.

Now, if you excuse me, I have a post office to blow up.

The reality of the touchy feely movement is that you are turning out children that have no fear, no discipline and no idea what right and wrong are.

There is noting wrong with your children fearing that if they do something even remotely out of line, that you will punish them in a swift and harsh way. This is why my children sit up straight in class, and have the highest grades in their schools. Even when both are 4 years ahead of their peers. But I also work with them and make sure that their priorities are correct.

As far as a Cell, they get pre-pay phones that are never used for anything but communications with parents or teachers. And I do track the units. Not that I don't trust them, but to teach them the value of money in relation to services rendered. To me everything is an educational experience. An opportunity to learn something new and build on the old.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Loserdio, 14 Apr 2006 @ 5:46pm
  
  Re:
  You are boring like hell and heaven combined.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Kalon, 16 Apr 2006 @ 1:41am

Try America
I have been living in Bangkok for about three years now. Fact is it's a socital thing. There is allot of importance place on family and allot of attention pay to wether you're bringing honor or shame to them.

I think if you did this same study in the U.S. it would not even occur to most to think of anthing other than something matterial.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
adnes, 16 Feb 2011 @ 11:45pm

links exchange
All I can say is WOW�this phone might be the one to beat by end of this year. Just have a few concerns�battery life and the OS�Windows Mobile�really? I have my doubts on the OS�
[ link to this | view in chronology ]