3.2.5. Distraction

In contrast, most participants reported that notifications, social media and the obligation to check in with work were a distraction, for example, "*If you've got your phone it's very easy to be distracted and to keep it constantly in use and to be distracted from doing this I'll just check Facebook."* (P2) Whilst the obligation to check in with work was also a distraction, *"You can feel obligated to check work emails, like I'm just stepping out of work for today just to watch him for a minute but you do feel obligated to be checking, too available*." (P5).

Participants highlighted a paradox between the convenience and distraction of MDU, giving reasons why they would not use their device in the playground. For example:

"*I guess that you have to be conscious that it doesn't distract you from spending this time with the kids* ... *, and giving them your full attention because you want to be interacting, you want to be there with them in the moment*". (P20) However, there was a tension between distraction and convenience, "*It's like a psychological kind of thing where I'm drawn to answer that beep and that takes me away from my kid. It's on silent now. It's just a distraction. I use it for my convenience rather than other people's convenience*." (P16).

Participants believed that brief moments of MDU, such as making a telephone call would have the least impact on supervision, whereas lengthy periods viewing the device for text messaging or social media were more likely to diminish the quality of supervision, "*I think if you're scrolling through Facebook, then that obviously requires a lot more attention than if you're communicating on a phone. I think you're much more able to supervise if you're only using it in its basic sense whereas if you're typing a text or you're writing an email, scrolling through Facebook then I think your ability to supervise is impaired. Coz obviously it takes more concentration*." (P5).

Using the camera was viewed di fferently "*Other than photos, anytime you are with your kids you should be supervising them so in public unless you've got somebody else with you who can take over that role. I always have eyes on (child) even through the camera on my phone. I think that's the main thing*." (P16).

Participants commented on the social acceptability of MDU within the playground setting with work tasks or essential telephone calls deemed more acceptable distractions than social media, along with some criticism of this behaviour. For example, "*There's not too many things that are more important than watching a kid, you know if he's close to the road you don't need to use your phone but if he's in the playground and I need to take a phone call for any particular reason. But I don't think there is any reason that you need to use Facebook or something like that if the kid needs watching*." (P5).
