Social media as a tool for family communication in the digital age: communication functions, relationship bonding and building of mutual understanding

Abstract

This research aims to study the role of social media as a tool for family communication in the digital age. A mixed methodology, i.e., quantitative and qualitative, was employed. The results are as follows:

Social Media plays a major role in family communications during this digital age with the attributes of the communication and application techniques employed affording a wide range of communication methods. These then have expanded the limits previously set on time and place, thus promoting more communications between the family under four factors: 1) The meaning of communication through education and training that transmits the importance of trust; 2) Demonstrating sentiments and feelings as well as desires so that other members of the family will know and understand; 3) Demonstrating love and concern; 4: Solving problems, making joint decisions or solve misunderstandings or opposition to an action.

Social Media assists enforcing relations between members of the family in three ways: 1) Connecting members of the immediate family; 2) Connecting to relatives; and 3) connecting the different generations that comprise the family. Through these different connections, communication with the family has evolved from a vertical relationship to be more of a horizontal form, or from the adults speaking and the children listening to an interactive form with each speaking and listening to the other. If it is employed to do do much more than create conflict, it can lead to interactive development.

Surrounding factors affects the family in this digital age so that they need to change their forms of communication to fit current conditions. In addition to face-toface encounters, they also depend on Social Media to create better understanding and

acceptance of terms and conditions for this online communication within the family that will affect communication within the family in the digital age.