CASE STUDY THE INFLUENCE OF NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ON FAMILY RELATIONSHIP
1. Introduction
New media technology is any application
that transfers information using digital techniques, computerized systems or
data network. This technology was developed in the 20th century is
most commonly associated with information that are intended to be manipulated
in some way. Example of new media technology are website, email, music and
television streaming services, virtual and augmented reality, podcast, Real
Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, social network, text messaging, blogs, Wiki,
virtual world, collab workspaces, open access journals, apps for smartphones,
tablet and e-readers.
The improvement of technology and social
media today has a significant impact on the lives of children, particularly
teenagers. Teenagers nowadays spend the majority of their time surfing the
Internet, playing video games, and interacting with their smartphones rather
than interacting with their family members, particularly their parents. This
may result in poor communication between teenagers and their parents because
too much use of technology is a source of communication gaps among family
members, as well as a barrier to their social development.
In a digital environment, the internet and
the use of digital devices are indispensable. People use technology for a
variety of purposes, including entertainment, education, and social
interaction. The internet was created for adults. Nonetheless, in this day and
age, children and this technology employment involves teenagers. As a result,
they have been subjected to inappropriate content and vulnerable to internet addiction
problems. As a result, parents must now pay close attention to mediating their
children's internet usage. This article discussed parental roles conceptually strategies
for mediating adolescent internet use Teenagers represent the transition from childhood
to adulthood. Maturity and the search for one's identity are constant demands.
As a result, the internet functions as a place where they can spend their time
and get emotional support
2. Discussions
of the issue
2.1. Factors
New media
technology use in the home to support academics and school work. When
discussing the effects of the internet on teenagers, it is frequently related
to teenagers’ misbehavior and negative consequences on themselves. The truth is
that the effects must be viewed from two perspectives: positive impact and
negative impacts. Without a doubt, the internet helps to simplify daily family
affairs, particularly in the context of the Covid 19 global pandemic. Because
schools had to be closed in order to prevent the spread of this epidemic,
learning sessions for schools and universities were held online. As a result,
the use of the internet for learning purposes via Google Meet, Zoom, and Google
Classroom applications is growing. (Fernandez, 2020)
Furthermore, internet use among teenagers is important as
a platform for leisure entertainment such as online games, watching dramas and
movies, and listening to music via YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify. Next, the
internet can be used to communicate with friends and family via social media
and WhatsApp. In addition, use the internet to research learning assignments
and current trends. In this regard, the internet has evolved into a platform
for teenagers to continue their daily lives, learning, entertaining, and
interacting despite the constraints of being unable to meet physically.
The social media environment is a factor of new media
technology. Families are not devoted to any one social media platform or
feature. The section that follows discusses how people use the affordances of
audiovisual, audio, chat, and collapsed contexts like Facebook to engage in
family practices or "do family." For example, synchronous methods
like voice or audiovisual calls over Skype could be used for leisurely conversations,
while asynchronous methods like Facebook or chat could be used for phatic
communication or task sharing (Acedera and Yeoh, 2019)
2.2. Effects
Excessive and
uncontrolled internet use, on the other hand, can be harmful to children and
teenagers. Malaysian teenagers use the internet for social networking, online
games, browsing websites, downloading content, and other activities. This could
result in compulsive internet use, also known as Problematic Internet Use (PIU)
or Internet addiction. (Konning, 2018)
Nomophobia,
also known as smartphone addiction, is a fear of mobile phones. This term is
derived from the English language and refers to feelings of fear, restlessness,
and discomfort when not using mobile phones or tablet computers. The use of digital
devices in nature smart, such as smartphones and tablet computers, is one of
the contributing factors to internet addiction. (Ahmad, 2019)
Children
and teens have developed a bedroom culture as a result of their use of mobile
devices and wireless internet. This room refers to teenagers' bedrooms and
other locations where they can spend time alone away from other family members.
Many teenagers now use their bedrooms to access the internet. As a result,
parents may be completely unaware of their child's online activities.
(Romero-Ruiz, 2017)
The internet's borderless nature also exposes teen users
to a wide range of negative effects and risks. Consider the issue of
cyberbullying, which has an impact on adolescent emotions. The act of downloading
the virus without realizing it while browsing links is then followed by cyber
bullying issues. As a result, parental mediation against excessive internet use
is critical in monitoring and guiding children and teenagers. (Naquiah, 2018)
3. Conclusion
The technology revolution of recent years
has had a range of effects on daily living in the home. New media technologies
have become established in today's culture, leads to significant societal
transformations. The household is one of the key social contexts that has been
affected.
Social workers must be aware of the
current stressors and challenges affecting families today, including factors
such as social media use, which may present barriers to family quality time and
levels of family connectedness. Furthermore, social workers can advocate for
programs and policies that promote and support quality family time.
Positive parental perceptions of the
impact of social media on family functioning and open communication among
family members can contribute to good family functioning and open communication
among family members. Social media can serve as educational and participatory
spaces for parents and children to communicate more broadly and openly. The
study's findings call for more research into the role that social media tools
can play in the construction of transition spaces.
4. References
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McDaniel, B. T., Pater, J., & Toscos, T. (2020). How Parents and Their
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Pandemic and Associations with Anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and
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https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0284
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(2018). Impact of New Media on Children. International Journal of Current
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Mohamad Salleh, M. A., & Ahmad, A. L. (2021). Keibubapaan Digital dan
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https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i8.914
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