Social Media as A Communication Tool in Strengthening Family Relationships

I. Introduction
A. Social media is comprised of various platforms like websites and
applications that allow the creation of chats and friendship through social
networking.
B. Today, social media is a technology that continues to advance as it serves
as a major tool in communicating, accessing and sharing information with
various people all around the world.
C. However, the impact brought by social media has damaged personal
relationships with family as it distracts the people in nurturing relationships
and exposes the children to be much independent from their parents.

II. Counter Argument

A. Social media is a powerful tool of communication as it can be used to
keep families connected through different channels of communication.
According to a study by Khalid (2017), a large percentage of the
population agree that with the use of internet and social media, the
users get to know new people that increase their online social capital.
B. Despite these, social media use offers more negative consequences than
benefits because technology is breaking down family communication
offline.
In the era of social media, about 30% of people are now using all kinds
of gadgets to talk to their loved ones through social media services,
instead of having a face-to-face interaction with them (Taylor, 2013).

III. Your Argument

A. Social media is a major factor that distracts the people in nurturing family
relationships.
 It may promote communication, but it is also a tool that hinders users
to interact and initiate conversation in person.
a. According to Macleighob (2018), one out of five persons
admitted they learned what their family members were doing by
checking their statuses online, not by asking them personally—
even though they might be sitting in the next room.
b. Social media is widening the gap among individuals by creating
a very limited interaction between siblings, couples, or parent-
child.
c. Another study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that
young people are not allocating their time in communicating with
their families or getting involved in intimate relationships due to
extensive use of social media (Academic Help, 2015).
d. Parents nowadays, has no intimate relationship with their
children because everybody has developed relationship on
phone with friends.
e. Study shows that when an individual spends more time on
social media, it negatively impacts the quality of their
relationships with their family (Christensen, 2018).

B. Social media becomes the doorway that exposes the children to be much
independent from their parents.
The use of social media to young users limit their availability to
communicate with their family members.
a. One study stated that children were so immersed in technology
that almost half of them do not greet their parents when arriving
at home (Taylor, 2013).
b. Children believe that they are free to do everything online since
parents are not much aware on the use of social media.
c. Young users may develop the unwillingness to listen to their
parents’ guide to limit their use of social media.
 d. Social media is a technological divide between the parents and
the children’s “online” lives which leaves them more time to
themselves.

IV. Conclusion
A. Indeed, with social media as a part of one’s daily life, it offers more
negative consequences than benefits as it breaks down family
communication.
B. The uncontrolled use of social media has damaged personal relationships
with family that is why this needs to be solved.
a. Social media must be used with caution and limit.
b. It should be utilized properly that would promote real world
interactions and activities.
c. It is important to increase quality family time without involving
technology (Ekern, 2017).
d. Make social media a positive tool that would develop one’s
relationship with their family members.

References:
Academic Help. (2015, March 25). How Social Media Affects Family Relationships.
Retrieved from https://academichelp.net/samples/academics/essays/cause-
effect/social-media-family.html

Christensen, S. (2018, June 01). Social Media Use and Its Impact on Relationships and
Emotions. Retrieved from https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=7927&context=etd

Ekern, J. (2017, March 26). Impact of Social Media Addiction in Families. Retrieved
from https://www.addictionhope.com/blog/social-media-addiction-families/

Macleighob. (2018). Social Media and its Impact on Families. Retrieved from
https://macleighob.wordpress.com/social-media-and-its-impact-on-families/

Khalid, A. (2017, May 17). Impact of Internet on Social Connections in Family System: A
Survey Study of Residents in Lahore. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.
 org/open-access/impact-of-internet-on-social-connections-in-family-system-a-
surveystudy-of-residents-in-lahore-2151-6200-1000270.php?aid=89875

Taylor, J. (2013, March 13). Is Technology Creating a Family Divide? Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-prime/201303/is-
technology-creating-family-divide