The phenomenon of immigrant children becoming “brokers” of their families’ new culture is well-documented and studied. Children translate phone conversations, documents and even road signs for their parents, which throws traditional family dynamics for a loop—a point that both Cuentos and Gonzalez brought up.
“Kids run into problems with technology where they need their parents, but their parents can’t help them. As kids become more involved with technology, the parents see it as the magnet that pulls the kids away from the family,” said Cuentos. He referred to the new relationship between a parent and his or her broker-child as “asymmetrical acculturation,” where a child becomes accustomed to a new culture faster than a parent.
According to Cuentos, Latino parents often struggle to feel in control of their children’s activities, and children have taken on more responsibility than they may be ready for. Technology brings a whole new dimension to this challenge.
How Edtech Should Unite Latino Families—Instead of Driving Them Apart | EdSurge News
also problematizes the metaphoric “digital natives” and “digital immigrants” generational nomenclature.