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Changing Family Dynamics due to Technological Advancement

Today, several families use smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices to

communicate with each other. The number of people who are using electronic gadgets in all

aspects is increasing daily. The technology of social media has become a key influence in our

daily lives. A specific concern is a change in the dynamics of a family. In this case, a family

refers to the social unit structure of a nuclear family that consists of a father, a mother, and their

children. The family is a primary source of impact behind the personality formation and growth

of a child's social life. The paper discusses how changing family dynamics have been influenced

by technology.

Digital technology has affected verbal communication between family members.

Nowadays, parents use smartphones and television to distract their children (Perezet et al. pp818-

826). Parents with heavy television viewing habits believe that the media is a crucial element that

keeps a family together (Williams and Shai pp10-11). They even leave the television running

during meal times to act as a form of entertainment. The television distracts family members

from having conversations (Smahelova et al. pp77‒101). Besides, parents use media devices like

smartphones and iPads as babysitters for toddlers. Parents take advantage of the technology to

babysit children when they are busy working or having meetings at home or dinner at a

restaurant.
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Notably, children use electronic devices to play games, listen to music, and surf the

internet. Research suggests that children spend an average of four and a half hours on social

media daily (Coccia pp289-304). The advance of mobile media has made it possible for youths

to spend most of their time on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and

WhatsApp, catching up with friends (Lee et al. pp1-8). Besides, most families have televisions in

their homes, and parents with habits of spending more time on television influence their children

to spend most of their time watching TV programs.

In conclusion, digital technology is a mechanism for socializing and communicating

among families. Families can use social media to hold meetings and solve problems without

having physical contact. Social media hinders the way parents communicate with their children

hence affecting the growth of their social life. Parents must follow up on the social media

engagements of their children.

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Works Cited

Coccia, Mario. "The theory of technological parasitism for the measurement of the evolution of

technology and technological forecasting." Technological Forecasting and Social

Change 141 (2019): 289-304.

Lee, Vincent Wan-Ping, et al. "Technology and Family Dynamics: The Relationships among

Children’s Use of Mobile Devices, Family Atmosphere and Parenting

Approaches." Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (2021): 1-8.

Perez, Maria Eugenia, et al. "Inverse socialization with technology: understanding

intergenerational family dynamics." Journal of Consumer Marketing (2019): 818-826.

Smahelova, Martina, et al. "Mediation of young children’s digital technology use: The parents’

perspective." Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace 11.3

(2017): 77‒101.

Williams, Shai. Understanding the Era of Communication Using Technology in Relation to

Family Dynamics. Diss. Capella University, 2019: 10-11.