Parents Fear Social Media Is Hurting Family Life. Study Says Otherwise
A researcher told Newsweek that how, when and where people use social media may matter more than time spent online.
Recent research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology challenges the widely-held belief that social media use is detrimental to family relationships. In a study tracking nearly 1,000 young people and their parents over a decade, researchers found little evidence to suggest that increased social media use harms family bonds.
According to Habib Niyaraq Nobakht, a postdoctoral researcher involved in the study, the findings contradict the common assumption that those who use social media more are more likely to have poorer family relationships. Instead, the researchers discovered that the context in which social media is used may be more important than the amount of time spent on it.
For instance, the study suggests that interruptions during important moments together, such as family meals or conversations, are a greater concern than overall social media usage.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
