The Digital Family

Exploring the Impact of Digital Devices on Family Relationships

By Michèle Whitcombe Image: Alexis Doyen via Life of Pix

The presence of digital

technology is ubiquitous in

the world around us and

has made its way into the

family realm.

Image: Frank Winkler via Pixabay

The role of digital devices in family life is a double-edged sword:

Encourages isolation and weakens relationships. (1)

Encourages socialization and togetherness. (1)

Image: Francois Schnell via Flickr

The effect that technology has on relationships

between family members depends on how, when, and

why it is used within the family setting.

Image: Leeroy via Life of Pix

Over 25% of children 13 - 20

would rather turn to the

internet first to seek help

rather than speak with a

parent or guardian. (2)

Kids may use technology to replace their

parents’ wisdom when faced with

a problem.

Image: Ed Gregory via Stokpic

A high school sophomore expressed that he would rather seek dating advice from artificial

intelligence than his Dad. (3)

Image: Viktor Hanacek via Picjumbo

“We have to learn to live with [technology] in a

healthy way, according to our

human values. And our human

values are not to put our kids

fifth, after texts, e-mail, twitter, and everything

else.” – Sherry Turkle (5)

Children are competing in a

form of "sibling rivalry" against

their parents' devices. (4)

Image: Lisa Runnels via Pixabay

Parents are consumed by

their technology

because it has blurred the

lines between work and

family life. (6)

Image: Niek Verlaan via Pixabay

And this problem is magnified at the

family dinner table.

Parents and children can relate to Daniel

Goleman's quote: "We are seduced by distraction. We are being pulled away

from paying attention to things

that enrich our lives.” (7)

Image: Viktor Hanacek via Picjumbo

Uninvited digital guests often accompany family members to the dinner table and impede family members from engaging in meaningful

conversation.

"Stop Googleing, I don't care about the right answer. I just want to talk to you.”

– 14-Year-Old Girl (8)    Image: Thomas Lefebvre via Unsplash

"Research shows that just having a

phone on the table is sufficiently distracting to

reduce empathy and rapport

between two people who are in

conversation.” – Verena von Pfetten

(9)

Image: Viktor Hanacek via Picjumbo

The relationship between family members is also impacted by the "ethical and social dilemma” of

monitoring one another's activities through digital means. (10)

 

Image: Heidi Sadecky via Pixabay

"Mutual trust is the most

important casualty of too

little privacy within the

family.” – Robert Mayer (12)

 

Parents may feel they are being

negligent if they are not

monitoring their childrens’ actions in the digital and

real world. (11)

Image: Adrianna Calvo via Pexels

It has been discovered that most of the negative impacts technology use can have on family

relationships occurs between immediate family members when they are in close proximity. (13)

This is not always the case…

Image: Jill Wellington via Pixabay

Some families report that mobile

technology has caused family time to become

organic, not forced. (14) 

Image: William Iven via Pixabay

Wearable technologies are

bringing the “hospital to the home”, allowing

ill family members to

continue living at home with their families

while monitoring their

health. (15) Image: Crew via Unsplash

Where technology shines its positive light is in its ability to keep family members

connected in our mobile and globalized world, whether we are separated by 10 or

10000 kilometres.

Image: Ryan McGuire via Pixabay

Between work, school, and extra curricular activities, family members are constantly separated. Mobile

technology is the needle that knits family members together throughout their busy days. (16)

Image: Tammy McLean via Pixabay

“The ability for families to have continuous contact throughout the day with

other family members increases the feeling of

closeness and happiness. The majority of families claim they communicate

more, know each other better, and are able to

organize practicalities/logistics during the week

more easily.” – Ericsson Consumer Lab (16) Image: Eric Rothermel via Unsplash

Digital technology allows family members separated by large distances to continue to have a presence in

one another's lives. (13)

Image: Jose Antonio Alba via Pixabay

Rhonda Wilson uses

skype to connect with her daughter

who moved across the

country with her husband

and children - "It's a

blessing to see their daily

lives on skype." (17)

Image: sathyatripodi via Pixabay

What researchers have found is that technology accentuates the relationships that family

members have with one another. (18)

Image: Creative Vix via Pexels

Ultimately, it is how, when, and why technology is used that makes it either an inhibitor or facilitator within family

relationships.

Image: Jill Wellington via Pixabay

Bibliography (1) Benesch, C. (2011). The Virtual Family: Does Technology Help Or Hinder Family Life?. Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.imfcanada.org/issues/the-virtual-family (2) Children More Likely To Turn To The Internet If They Are Upset Than A Friend, Study Finds. (2016). The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 May 2016 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/12195839/Children-more-likely-to-turn-to-internet-if-they-are-upset-than-a-friend-study-finds.html (3) Turkle, S. (2012). The Flight From Conversation. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html (4) Bologna, C. (2015). Powerful Ads Show What Your Child Sees When You're Addicted to Your Phone. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/powerful-ads-show-what-your-child-sees-when-youre-addicted-to-your-phone_us_559fd64be4b096729155ec27 (5) Lowry, L. (n.d.) Facebook vs Face-to-Face: How Technology Threatens Parent-Child Interaction. The Hanen Centre. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Our-Views-on-the-News/Facebook-vs-Face-to-Face--How-Technology-Threatens.aspx (6) Clarkson, J., Goldhaber, T. and Mieczakowski, A. (2011). Culture, Communication, and Change: A Summary of An Investigation of the Use and Impact of Modern Media and Technology In Our Lives. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from https://www-edc.eng.cam.ac.uk/books/culturebookshort/short_report_final_23.06.11.pdf (7). Anderssen, E. (2014). Digital Overload: How We Are Seduced By Distraction. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/digital-overload-how-we-are-seduced-by-distraction/article17725778/?page=all (8)Turkle, S. (2013). The Documented Life. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/opinion/the-documented-life.html (9) Von Pfetten, V. (2016). Read This Story Without Distraction (Can You?). The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/fashion/monotasking-drop-everything-and-read-this-story.html

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(10) Ingram, M. (2013). Snooping On Your Kids: If The NSA's Tools Were Available, I Probably Would Have Used Them. Gigaom. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from https://gigaom.com/2013/08/07/snooping-on-your-kids-if-the-nsas-tools-were-available-i-probably-would-have-used-them/ (11) Paul, P. (2013) Cyberparenting and the Risk of TMI. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/05/fashion/cyber-parents-accessing-perhaps-tmi.html (12) Mayer, R. (2003). Technology, Family, and Privacy: Can We Know Too Much About Our Loved Ones?. Journal of Consumer Policy, 26(4), 419-439. http://journals2.scholarsportal.info.proxy.queensu.ca/pdf/01687034/v26i0004/419_tfapcwtmaolo.xml (13) Netburn, D. (2011). Technology Can Both Improve and Hinder Family Relationships, Survey Says. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/07/skyping-with-grandma-and-texting-at-the-dinner-table-a-new-report-examines-the-effect-of-technology-.html (14) Williams, A. (2011). Quality Time, Redefined. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/fashion/01FAMILY.html (15) Rhew, D. (2016). Welcome Home: The Health Hub of the Future. Samsung Business Insights. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from https://insights.samsung.com/2016/03/24/welcome-home-the-health-hub-of-the-future/ (16) Ericsson Consumer Lab. ( 2015). Bringing Families Closer: The Impact of Communications Technology on Families in the US. Ericsson. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.ericsson.com/res/docs/2015/consumerlab/ericsson-consumerlab-bringing-families-closer.pdf (17) Steinweg, C. (2013) Generations: Technology Keeps Us Connected. The Times nwi.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from http://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/seniors/generations-technology-keeps-us-connected/article_0c9705ef-8bdc-5e4b-b9a4-7a3c57dc4628.html (18) Gordon, A. (2012). Digital Age Affects Family Time and Relationships. The Toronto Star. Retrieved 28 May 2016, from https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2012/02/20/digital_age_affects_family_time_and_relationships.html

Bibliography Continued

*Please note that the light blue text indicates that the source is a course reading