The Role of Mobile Technology in Enhancing Family Relationships Essay

This essay explores the multifaceted impact of mobile technology on family dynamics. It examines how mobile phones enhance communication, especially between parents and adolescents, fostering a sense of support and enabling conflict resolution. The essay highlights the positive effects, such as increased connectivity and the sharing of content, while also acknowledging potential negative consequences, like addiction and reduced face-to-face interaction. Drawing on research, the essay argues that despite some drawbacks, mobile technology primarily strengthens family bonds in the 21st century, emphasizing the need for mindful usage to maximize benefits and minimize potential harms. The essay references studies on the subject and concludes that, overall, mobile phones serve to increase connectivity among families, contributing to the development of social elements in relationships.

Running head: FAMILY AND TECHNOLOGY
Family and Technology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Mobile Phones are one of the most required technological devices for the human
beings. The device fulfils one of the basic requirements for the human beings. With the use
of the mobile phones, the humans are able to communicate effectively with one another. In
addition to this, the mobile phone technologies have also made it possible for the humans for
surfing the internet and to find out about the latest happenings in the world. The use of the
mobile phones and that of the mobile technologies have led to the increase of the connectivity
among the families. The families are able to not only communicate with its members but also
with their friends and loved ones. Hence, it can be said that mobile phones serve an important
purpose by bringing the families together.
The thesis of this essay is to determine the various ways in which the recent
mobile technologies have increased the connectivity among the families. It also aims to
find out how close the families have got using the mobile technology.
It is rightly being said that the use of the mobile phones and that of the mobile
connectivity has helped the families to increase their social connectivity with each other. The
members of the family can use the mobile phones to get in touch their family members. The
first instance of the increase of the social connectivity between the family members is the
communication between the parents and their adolescent children with the use of the mobile
phones (Cavazotte et.all, 2013). The article have pointed out the fact that the despite the
claims that the parents and their children do not talk much these days, the fact is not true. It is
claimed that there is a positive trend in the parents communication between the parents and
their children. Communicating with each other through the use of the mobile phones has a
number of advantages (Larsen et.all, 2015). The mobile phones help the parents to reach out
to their children in times of emergency and vice versa. In addition to this, the connectivity
between the family members also leads to the them feeling support in long distance travels.
As such, the parents can inquire form their children about their whereabouts if they are late.

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The other benefits of the mobile technologies are that they can solve conflicts between the
people without seeing them face to face. Members of the family can upload and share photos,
videos and other contents which can be seen by the other members. Thus, it can be said in
this regard, that the use of the mobile communication can indeed be used by the parents to
communicate with their adolescent children regarding various issues.
“This research report is investigating the possible correlation between the use of mobile
communication and parents and adolescents.” (Warren et.al, 2018)
Use of mobile technologies also increases the social connectivity among the members
of the family in different ways. This can be seen in the case of the family and couple
relationship and how the mobile and the digital technologies play an important role in it. In
the case of the couples, it is seen that the mobile technologies play an important role. It is
through the use of the mobile phones that the couples are able to communicate with each
other as well as their family members. It is worth noting in this case, that one quarter of the
adults as well as the family members of such individuals are of the opinion that the mobiles
and the smartphones are an advantage in their lives. Couples are of the opinion that the
members of the family are said to be closer with the use of the cell and the mobile phones.
This is further evidenced by the fact that in the homes of the married couples having children,
the children are said to be using the mobile phones to coordinate themselves as well as their
lives. In addition to this, it can also be said that the families which use mobile phones or other
communication technologies are able to quickly communicate with their family members of
emergencies. The other use of mobile phones in the lives of the individuals is the fact 42% of
family members use the mobile phones to communicate with their loved ones (Larsen et.all,
2014). This, it can be said in this case, that the use of the mobile phones for the couples and
the families as it helps them to develop classic social elements like that of relationship

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boundaries, family roles of the individuals and the maintenance of the relationship among the
individuals themselves.
The use of the mobile phones is also said to have a number of positive effects on the
family members (Larsen et.all,2014). The positive effects of the mobile phones on the family
members can be said to be the fact that it brings the members of the family together. Using
the mobile phones, the members of the family can communicate with each other and get to
know about the well-being of the members. In addition to that, the children of the family can
communicate their problems to their elders using the mobile phones (Romero, 2013). This
will allow the elders to know all about the problems that the children of the family are facing.
In addition to this, the mobile phones would allow the members of the family to connect with
their friends and acquaintances and get to know about their lives and well-being. Thus, it can
be said that the use of the mobile phones in the families of the individuals have both positive
as well as negative effects (Larsen et. all, 2014). While the positive effect of the mobile
phones is the fact it helps to bring the family members together, the negative effects of such
is that it can cause harm among the children of the family due to their addiction and excessive
use of the mobile phones. From all these sources, it can be said that the mobile phones and
the mobile technologies are indeed playing a very important role in helping to bringing the
connectivity.
“Firstly, It only studies a limited proportion of family relations.” (Warren et.al, 2018)
However, the mobile phones and their increasing connectivity among the family
members also have a lot of negative effects. Some experts are of the opinion that it is because
of the mobile phones that the family members have stopped visiting their relatives and family
members. In addition to this, mobile phones and the internet connectivity which are available
are preventing the children from going out to play (Larsen et.al,2013). The mobile phones

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have a lot of games which they can download and play for themselves. The other important
factor is sometimes, these children might enter sites which might not be appropriate for them,
and can even be dangerous for them. Hence, it can be said that the use of the mobile phones
can have negative effects on the family just like the positive effects.
From analysing the debates in support and against the use of the mobile phones, it can
be said that despite the negative effects, mobile phones mostly have positive effects in the
family. Mobile phones can help in bringing the members of the family together. Apart from
this, it is because of the mobile phones people can read newspapers or listen to music or
watch movies. Even for the couples, it can be said that the use of the mobile phones is
beneficial as they can be in constant touch with each other. Hence, it can be said that the
mobile phones are indeed one of the best technological advancements in the present times.
Thus, from the above discussions, it can be said that the mobile phones are indeed
increasing the connectivity of the families in the 21st century. Although it has some negative
effects for the family members, it can be said that it mostly has positive effects fir the
humans. It is with the use of the mobile phones the family members can stay in touch with
one another. Even the news and the games can be downloaded and played without major
difficulties. However, keeping in mind the negative effects of the mobile phones, efforts
should be taken to make sure that the children of the family do not get too much addicted into
the mobile phones. Thus, it can be said that the mobile phones indeed serve the purpose of
increasing the connectivity of the families.

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Reference List
Cavazotte, F., Heloisa Lemos, A., & Villadsen, K. (2014). Corporate smart phones:
Professionals' conscious engagement in escalating work connectivity. New
Technology, Work and Employment, 29(1), 72-87.
Hertlein, K. M. (2012). Digital dwelling: Technology in couple and family relationships.
Family Relations, 61(3), 374-387.
Larsen, J., & Urry, J. (2016). Networking in mobile societies. In Mobility and place (pp. 105-
118). Routledge.
Romero-Ruiza , K.,Echeverri-Sáncheza L., Peña-Plataa, J., Aguilera-Cardonaa , S.V. M.,
Herazo-Avendañoa, C., ValenciaAriasb, A., Bran-Piedrahitac, L., (2017). Information
and Communication Technologies Impact on Family Relationship
Warren, R., Aloia, L. (2018). Parent–Adolescent Communication Via Mobile Devices:
Influences on Relational Closeness, Journal of Family Issues 2018, Vol. 39(15) 3778–
3803

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