Much has been said of the generation born between 1981 and 1996. Millennials dethroned Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation in recent years, and compared to Boomers and Gen Xers, they’ve thoroughly embraced a digital footprint from a young age. Many Millennials own smartphones and use them to stay connected to the world and its many inhabitants. Millennials are active on social media and utilize apps for everything from productivity to guided meditation and exercise regimens.
It makes sense then that Millennials might benefit from a digital accountability tool for parents struggling with alcohol abuse. Designed with ease-of-use in mind, Soberlink’s comprehensive system combines immediacy, flexibility, and accountability into one remote device, providing Millennial co-parents a tactical way to maintain sobriety while supporting the best interests of their child.
Millennial Parents and Technology
The first generation to be raised during the digital era, it’s fair to say Millennials are inherently comfortable with the digitalization of life. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 100% of Millennials use the internet, 93% of Millennials own smartphones, and 86% use social media.
With such heavy use of the internet and digital technology comes several expectations. Millennials want their technology to be fast and efficient. They want real-time results, and most importantly, they want everything to be user friendly and complement their active lifestyle. In other words, nothing should take more than a few minutes to find or figure out.
There are, at times, disadvantages to these expectations. Technology sometimes falls short of meeting a Millennial’s needs, but that’s becoming less of a problem with the influx of apps and digital tools at their fingertips. Now, there’s almost always “an app for that,” be it collaborative divorce or gardening.
Millennials often turn to the internet and apps for help with their health and parenting. Today, it is not uncommon for tech-savvy parents to use apps to facilitate nap times, breastfeeding, and improve child development. For divorced co-parents, there are apps for coordinating parenting time, determining financial responsibilities, and ensuring child safety.
Soberlink Remote Alcohol Monitoring for Millennial Parents
Due to advancements in technology, alcohol monitoring no longer requires a parent to be uprooted from their routine to test in person. For this reason, high-tech remote alcohol monitoring systems like Soberlink can be an advantage to individuals recovering from alcohol abuse and their families.
Soberlink’s alcohol monitoring system, designed with flexibility in mind, combines a professional breathalyzer with facial recognition, tamper detection, wireless connectivity, and Advanced Reporting capabilities to document and ensure proof of sobriety.
Similar to an iPhone, Soberlink alcohol testing devices are easy-to-use and deliver immediate results to Concerned Parties fearful of a child’s safety. Most often used by the company’s younger clientele, Soberlink’s Connect® Device is app-based, pairs with an Apple or Android, and is discreet enough to fit in a purse or a pocket.
Designed to be inconspicuous, an essential element of alcohol monitoring, Soberlink Connect® eliminates the stigma that parents may feel when testing in public.
Feedback, recognition, and rewards often drive Millennials. When they do a good job, they want to keep up the momentum. Soberlink’s comprehensive monitoring system helps co-parents document and track progress, allowing them to remain accountable and replace bad habits with healthy ones. The routine and encouragement Soberlink offers is often vital to maintaining sobriety.
Conclusion: Millennials Don’t Have to Rely on Old-School Recovery Methods
For decades, the primary method of recovering from alcohol abuse has been participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Over and over, people are encouraged to turn to the 12 steps, which have been vital for so many. However, new technology used in addition to these methods provides even more opportunity for success.
Soberlink offers a digital tool that feels familiar to Millennials. It isn’t something new or strange, and a Millennial parent can easily integrate Soberlink into their daily routine, like waking up and checking their email and Twitter.
With more Millennials becoming parents every day, it’s important to offer technology that complements their progressive lifestyle. Remote alcohol monitoring tools like Soberlink help support the best interests of the child by encouraging parents to implement tools that can enhance their relationships with their children and improve co-parenting practices.