Technology ‘brings families together’

A new study suggests technology is actually bringing families together. However, it seems to have missed a potential explanation for its main findings, and the most publicized conclusion is only partially born out by the results.

The study, carried out by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, found traditional family households (those with a married couple and at least one child) were much more likely to have cell phones and broadband-enabled computers than single parent families or childless adults.

Strangely, the study doesn’t make any mention of a seemingly obvious point: that this is not necessarily down to marriage or child-raising itself, rather that it may be as simple as more people living in a house means more people who might desire such technology in the first place. It would have been interesting to see what the figures were for college dorm rooms or apartments shared by groups of young workers.

The research also found couples that both own cellphones are more likely to contact each other during the day, merely to stay in touch rather than for important information. Meanwhile, a small majority of family members (52%) said they went online with another person by their side a few times each week, while a further third said this happens occasionally.

Generally, people said technology improved the quality of communication with family members living elsewhere but, contrary to the main publicity point, the overall result for family members in the same household actually sees a majority saying things are the same or worse. Indeed, only 25% of family members said their family is closer together today (compared with their own childhood) because of technology, while 60% say it makes no difference.

And there’s some undisputedly bad news for family life: those with cellphones and broadband are more likely to work longer hours, less likely to eat together, and less satisfied with the quality of their leisure time.

The survey also brings into question a popular theory that the Internet is hurting television viewership. Just a quarter of those surveyed said their online use meant they spent less time watching TV. That said, merely 58% of those aged 18-29 reported watching television ‘almost every day’.

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