Impact of Technology on Families

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Adoption of new technology has had a number of effects on families. It is recommended that individuals spend time with their families. Technology through social media, television, videogames and smartphones can develop families and can also break them. Benefits accrued with technology include using mobile apps to monitor and manage their budgets and also work on their family schedules, they also use mobile banking, online shopping and even settling of their bills like water, electricity and medical bills (Bailey et al. 2020). Families stay connected despite busy schedules and geographical distance with only a text or a call. Pictures and other important stuff can be share over to the extended families at large thus keeping the family bonded.

Some parents whose kids are not open use social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram to get an insight onto the interest of their children such as people, activities and even places. They can also figure out what issues might be affecting their children (Anderson and Jiang 2018). Social media sites will allow interactions with people from many different races, cultures and backgrounds across the globe. The disabled can also use technology in engaging with their families especially those with vision, speech mobility and hearing difficulties.

Videogames increase an individual’s coordination between the eyes and the hands. Second languages are also taught through the enhancement of reading and phonics skills availed by given apps. Life-long reading cultures are also instilled in children through e-books and online libraries. Some apps and video games enable children to learn shapes, numbers and better their skills in advanced mathematics, children can also improve other skills like problem-solving, focusing, strategizing and critical thinking which are significant in their academic progress. Persistence, incitement and competitiveness are also developed in a child when playing videogames. Watching a movie or playing a game on television also facilitates bonding between the parents and the kids.

Besides the good it offers, technology has led to families spending more time in their houses; children prefer watching television than going out to play leading to obesity and other diseases (Swindle et al.2018). Children also perform poorly in schools due to spending more time on video games which reduces their abilities to focus on reading (Scheerder et al. 2019). Furthermore, both parents and children who spend a lot of time on their phones bring a feeling of jealousy on the opposite party, this feeling is about feeling important and attended to by either party. Children would prefer watching television than going out with their parents. The interaction with people is also affected, children cannot relate with people face to face. Technology has blurred boundaries across our lives, school, work and family times are all affected by interruptions.(McDaniel and Coyne, 2016).

With the above information in mind, it is therefore advisable that both parents and children balance their time and activities on social media, parents to limit the time children spend on television, help with their school work. Family time should also be allowed to have no disruptions. Children to go out with their parents, play with their peers so that in the end, we have an all-round generation.

References

Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018). Teens, social media & technology 2018. Pew Research Center, 31, 2018.Bailey, A. A., Pentina, I., Mishra, A. S., & Ben Mimoun, M. S. (2020). Exploring factors influencing US millennial consumers’ use of tap-and-go payment technology. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 30(2), 143-163.

McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). Technology interference in the parenting of young children: Implications for mothers’ perceptions of coparenting. The Social Science Journal, 53(4), 435-443.

Scheerder, A. J., van Deursen, A. J., & van Dijk, J. A. (2019). Negative outcomes of Internet use: A qualitative analysis in the homes of families with different educational backgrounds. The Information Society, 35(5), 286-298.

Swindle, T. M., Ward, W. L., & Whiteside-Mansell, L. (2018). Facebook: the use of social media to engage parents in a preschool obesity prevention curriculum. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 50(1), 4-10.