Social Media As a Tool for Family Communication in the Digital Age

Abstract

This research aimed to study the role of social media as a family communication tool in the digital age to create mutual understanding and better interrelations. A mixed methodology was employed. For the quantitative approach, questionnaires were distributed to 400 respondents by means of quotas sampling. In qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were employed for 23 informants. The results were as follows: Online social media played a major role in family communications in this digital age. It could enhance the effectiveness of communication in family in four aspects, i.e., to teach beliefs, values and meanings; to demonstrate thoughts, feelings and aspirations among family members; to demonstrate relationships, love and emotional bonds; and to solve interrelation problems and conflicts. Online social media communication built stronger relations in three ways: better relations among family members, better relations among relatives and better relations among different generations in the family.