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Technology and the Family

Maureen Davey, PhD, LMFT
October 31, 2005

As we enter the 21st century, technology has become a pervading force in the lives of many families. In the last one hundred years, family interaction has been shaped by a myriad of technological advancements. While in many ways technology has made our lives easier and more convenient, advancements like the internet and computers have affected how family members spend time together at home.

On average, American children grow up in households with three TV's, three radios, two VCR's, two CD players, one video game player and one computer; sixty seven percent of American children have a television in their room; and 58% of families have the television on during mealtimes. The preceding information does not include the use of cellular phones, pagers/beepers, laptop computers, or Wireless Instant Messaging, yet provides ample evidence
that children are inundated with technology in the home. Given the exponential growth of access to the Internet through computers in the home, questions arise regarding how this affects family interaction as a result of the shift in focus from person to machine.

The Internet is a pervasive force in the home and appears to be growing steadily. The advantages of home computers and Internet access cannot be denied. Bremer and Rauch (1998) list the following benefits of home computer use:

1. Online communication enables individuals to practice social interaction while protected by anonymity; 

2. The homebound (ill or disabled) are no longer constricted by physical limitations or remote location; 

3. Access to a wealth of information is practical as well as works to enhance self-esteem through knowledge; 

4. Self-esteem is increased through the mastery of computer games, development of strategies in computer games, and meeting personal and professional goals; and 

5. Aggression online occurs less often than on television; it occurs twice per hour online as compared to twenty times on television. 

However, Bremer and Rauch (1998) also list the negative aspects of home computers. They note limited safety in respect to child predators, access to inappropriate materials such as pornography, weapons, and cults, lack of accountability in chat rooms, and limited supervision regarding the content of sites. Bremer and Rauch offer anecdotal evidence of the impact of
computers through the comment that one study participant made. The child asked the researcher why he should go out and play when the computer has good games, it is a nice temperature inside, and the food is nearby.

Some have suggested that owning a home computer could decrease family cohesion. The basic premise is that healthy communication is an essential component of well-functioning families; computers in the home may encourage the family to spend less time talking to each other at home. The risks are increased isolation of computer users from the rest of the family (withdrawal from family interaction), the potential for ignoring familial responsibilities, and the substitution of the computer for friends.

Like any new technological advancement, the home computer and the internet have the potential to both positively and negatively affect communication within the family and between the family and larger society. For example, e-mail enables the family to maintain ties with children who have already grown up and moved away and can be used as a method of gaining knowledge about current events in any community. Conversely, the home computer may negatively impact the family due to its isolating nature. For example, if one partner is consumed with the Internet or brings work into the home space during the early marriage stage, the couple will have limited time together to adjust to the marriage and will have difficulty moving onto the next stage. However, if one or both partners are invested in Internet exploration during the retirement stage, the time spent attending to individual interests will be productive for the family. 

Technology is wonderful and helps us accomplish so much, but we should also be careful to watch out for the pitfalls.

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Dr. Maureen Davey was formerly a Staff Therapist at CFR's Paoli office.

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