Redditors Support Mother for Forcing Her Manipulative Teenage Daughter to Remove DND Mode from Her Phone

A 28-year-old mom on Reddit is dealing with a very specific kind of teenage power move: her daughter keeps her phone on Do Not Disturb, even though it’s the one way the family can reach her when plans change or someone needs her.

It started as a harmless habit, but then the calls and texts stopped working for the whole family. The mom already warned her that she gets worried when she can’t reach her, yet the DND routine kept happening, until the mother snapped during the latest blowup.

Now the question is whether forcing the issue was safety, control, or both, and the comment section is split right down the middle.

OP asks:

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Her daughter always keeps her phone on DND mode:

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It didn't bother them before, but then she stopped answering texts and calls from the entire family.

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The dynamics of family communication are increasingly challenged by the pervasive influence of technology, particularly among teenagers.

Even though her mother already told her she's worried when she cannot reach her, she still does it:

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And the last time she did the same thing, her mother snapped:

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OP gave her daughter two choices, but she didn't seem to take them seriously:

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When her daughter ignored every attempt to get in touch, the mom’s “I’m worried when I can’t reach you” warning turned into full-blown family chaos.

In cases where technology interferes with family communication, it can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration.

So they ended up arguing, but her daughter removed the DND function:

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"I think I was too harsh, but I was at my wit's end," explained OP.

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"A teenager has the phone to be contacted."

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The argument escalated right after the last time she pulled the same DND stunt and the mother snapped, so OP tried to offer two choices that didn’t land.

Digital disconnection can evoke feelings of loneliness and anxiety, particularly among adolescents.

That family versus wedding fallout echoes a 22F who wanted to cancel a family vacation over her best friend’s wedding.

OP responded:

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Although this may sound controlling, it's for her safety.

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Another Redditor agreed that it's a bit aggressive but also believes it's the right thing to do.

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To promote healthier communication patterns, families should establish rules around technology use that encourage face-to-face interactions.

"NTA. As a parent, this is infuriating."

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Another Reddit user also agreed that it's not pleasant at all.

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"Her habits of sneaking out/sneaking around are more concerning."

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"Clearly, she's being sneaky and manipulative."

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Apparently, there are a lot of people who disagree.

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One Redditor pointed out that she has more serious problems with her daughter than she realizes,

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and they explained their point of view.

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OP added some additional information regarding her concern:

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OP also revealed that her daughter lies about where she goes:

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Someone suggested to OP to take her car keys away, but they have already tried that:

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OP said she and her husband would have a serious talk with their daughter:

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After Redditors called out the sneaking and lying, the thread zeroed in on the fact that the daughter removed DND, but the bigger behavior pattern still looked messy.

With car keys already tried, OP and her husband planned a serious talk, while commenters kept debating whether this was necessary for safety or just aggressive parenting.

OP reached out to the Reddit community regarding taking away her daughter's phone, but it turned out that they have far more issues with her. Either way, her teenage daughter's behavior is not suitable at all.

She must be hiding something. Hopefully, they will manage to get her to talk with them so they can work through her issues together.

The situation surrounding the mother who compelled her daughter to disable DND mode on her phone highlights the crucial balance needed in family communication amidst the pervasive influence of technology. As teenagers become increasingly absorbed in their devices, they can overlook the emotional needs of their parents, as illustrated by this mother’s dilemma. The lack of immediate communication during moments of worry can exacerbate parental anxiety and disrupt familial ties. By advocating for tech-free spaces, this mother emphasizes the importance of nurturing face-to-face interactions that are vital for emotional well-being and stronger family bonds.

The daughter turned off DND, but the real fight was never about a setting, it was about trust.

For another parenting standoff, see why this mom refused her daughter a dog after cat neglect.