If you're a parent, you'll know how difficult it can be sometimes to get a simple reply from your child. And if you're a child, then you'll know how often you're a little s*** who can't be a***d replying to your parents.
It got so much for one dad that he took drastic measures, developing an app that locks his son's phone until he responds.
Nick Herbert's ReplyASAP messaging app takes over the recipient's phone screen, sounding an alarm until the message is answered, with parents then notified when their child has seen the message.
Advert
Mr Herbert, of West Wickham, south east London, is now hoping to sell the app and profit from the frustration caused by his 13-year-old son Ben.
The 45-year-old said: "My son started at Langley Park School for Boys a couple of years ago and has a smartphone. I thought this would make getting hold of him easier, but it doesn't at all.
"In fact, he is always playing games and has the phone on silent. It drives me crazy.
"I'm hoping the app will make our relationship better. It will alleviate the stress when I can't get hold of him as I will know that he has seen my message."
Advert
Yeah alright Mr Herbert, I can only see Ben becoming more and more keen to chat to you now you've developed an app that will turn his phone into an alarm clock at your command.
One slight problem is that the app only works on Android and, funnily enough, Ben has an iOS phone.
However, Mr Herbert acknowledged the app ain't gonna be as popular with the youths as Snapchat or Angry Birds or PokéFarm or whatever it is they're up to these days.
He said: "As they are teenagers I realise they aren't going to be massively keen. My son hasn't really said anything negative about the app. It is all about him understanding why it's there.
Advert
"If I have something important to say I will send an urgent message. Hopefully it will make things a bit easier.
"Will it be the bane of his life? Maybe, I'm not going to be using it all the time to speak to him. It is supposed to be a fail-safe."
Mr Herbert spent eight months and a fair bit of cash developing the app, but he is hopeful that it will take off. It costs 99p ($1.22) to use with one child, £2.49 ($3.03) to track four people, £6.99 ($8.51) for 10 people and £12.99 ($15.82) for platinum, which connects with 20 numbers (presumably not all children).
All users get one free connection when they download the app and will be able to connect to one child for free, before having to pay.
Advert
Mr Herbert said: "I thought 'maybe it is just my son who has his phone on silent the whole time'.
"But after speaking to other parents I think there is an issue that the app would address. It seems to be something that does resonate."
Topics: UK News, Funny, Technology