New media technologies are having a major impact on society as a whole. The integration of such technologies into social settings within society, such as the household, is having a major influence on social interaction between individuals. It is evident from existing literature that new media technologies impact on the social interaction within households in many different ways. New media technologies can assist in increasing interaction amongst families by bringing generations and family members together. As a result, it can help bridge generational and digital divides. On the other hand however, new media technologies within a household can lead to a growing privatisation within family life, with individuals increasingly using technology independently rather than collectively. For that reason, I set out to investigate the research question; ‘How are new media technologies impacting on social interaction within households?’ I want to explore if new media technologies do in fact bring family members together and increase social interaction amongst one another, or if it leads to a family divide instead. I first became interested in the impact that technology can have on social interaction within a household from observing my own family home. In recent years, I have began to note the influence that technology is having on my family as a unit and how communication between family members is now revolving around certain technologies such as, multiple televisions, laptops, Mp3 players, mobile phones, game consoles and so forth. This interest of mine was heightened even more so during a period when I supervised two young teenagers after school three days a week, over an extended timeframe. From watching these teenagers, I soon realised just how much of an important role technology plays in their lives and how all communication between the two siblings was based around their use of new technologies.
By Shayo Issa
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