Abstract
A powerful tool, that contemporary society uses not only to entertain but also to communicate and educate, there is an ever-present availability to media access. However, there is an ongoing debate over whether or not the power of this influence and its ubiquitous availability yields positive or negative consequences in different aspects of our lives. One area of concern, in particular, is the dynamics of the American family. With the rapid progression of technological advances it is difficult to observe the influence that these devices are having on the ways in which a family interacts. There is research to support both sides of the argument that media is hindering our family relations or conversely, that it is fostering it. I analyze how this constant immersion in the “media bubble” affects the foundation of a family. To examine the possible influence of media on family relationships, I looked at the effects of computers, the Internet, mobile media, and television on the way a family interacts. It was apparent that media does affect the way a family unit socializes and, as a result, their relationships. Ultimately, the results demonstrated that media, without a doubt, cannot be tucked into a precise group of positive or negative since different media devices serve diverse purposes within family life as well as within individual families.
Recommended Citation
Villegas, Alessondra
(2013)
"The Influence of Technology on Family Dynamics,"
Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association: Vol. 2012, Article 10.
Available at:
https://docs.rwu.edu/nyscaproceedings/vol2012/iss1/10
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Social Media Commons