Social media like Facebook and Twitter can help parents have closer relationships with their kids, a new study shows. Social networking is a form of communication that is only growing, and nearly all adolescents use it in some way. There is fear that social media can disconnect us from our friends and family, but what about the ways it strengthens our relationships? From snapchatting and instagramming to sharing, commenting, “liking”, or retweeting what teens put online, parents can display support and interest in their children. While showing support can still take the form of a letter or care package, using the same social media tools as your child provides an easier and more relatable form of communication.
Dr. Sarah Coyne of the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University conducted the study that surveyed 491 teenagers and parents about their feelings about social media and whether or not it helped their family relationships. Reports showed that half of the teenagers used social media to communicate with their parents, and 16 percent of those teenagers interacted with their parents that way everyday. Questionnaires also touched upon issues like depression, eating disorders, and aggressive behavior, and how using social media affected teen behavior. While all the adolescents used some form of social media, only half of the parents did.
Mentioned in The Deseret News, Dr. Coyne stated that there were parents who viewed and utilized social media as an effective tool, as well as those who were frightened by it. Of those parents who used social media without prying or being nosy, and had kids who used it moderately, relationships were stronger. However, teenagers who never connected with their parents – even through social media – and spent more than 8 hours a day online showed greater signs of depression and aggressive behavior. When parents connect online with their children, they can use social media to take an interest in and learn about what their child shares.
When social media sites like MySpace and Facebook first started developing and becoming popular, there was so much fear associated among parents about their children’s usage of these sites. Now, having a Facebook or Twitter is the norm, and social media is used not only to connect with loved ones but also as a way of sharing quick news and in many cases, as a form of activism and marketing. Although speaking via chat isn’t the only ingredient for a healthy family relationship, it can complement the everyday connection between parents and their kids.
Parents, do you communicate with your child via social media? Have you noticed positive changes in your relationship? Let us know via Facebook.
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