Is the internet and cellphones dividing the American family?
That's the interesting question that was posed in a Washington Post article yesterday.
The answer may surprise you. Even though parents and children are rushing through their days in different directions, the American family appears to be as tight knit as the last generation according to a Pew Internet and American Life Project poll. In the poll, 60 percent of adults said the new technologies did not affect the closeness of their family while 25 percent said cellphones and online communication made their families closer. 11 percent said the technology had a negative effect.
Turns out it's easier to keep in touch and actually know what the other is doing on a day-to-day basis because of the internet and cell phones. It didn't cause the amount of "face time" to be cut down, but rather was an addition to the amount of time spent communicating.
Personally, I know the internet and cell phones, especially texting and emails, has allowed me to stay in close contact with my children who are grown and not in the same state...and one not even in the country! My husband and I are about to celebrate our 30th anniversary and instead of a trip to Hawaii or a diamond necklace...we opted for iphones. On the very first day we communicated more because of getting unlimited texting which we didn't have before. I find an instant connection with people for even a moment is a wonderful way to stay in tune.
What about you?
Does technology keep your family connected?
Let us know what you are thinking!
2 comments:
Yes - technology keeps us connected. I can email a "text" to my husband's phone and hear back in seconds. I wonder about being a teenager with a cell phone, though - I can imagine my Mom would have kept even closer tabs on me...dipping into some of that much-desire freedom a teenager thrives on.
Hello jmh910!
Thanks for weighing in...keeping tabs on teenagers...well if we read the headlines...that's probably a good thing! I too love the "instant husband text" mechanism....technology is a good thing!
michele@thinkmarriage.org
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