The Effect of Internet on Family Relationships: Current Theories and Controversies

Abstract

There is an ongoing debate whether or not introduction of new technologies, such as Internet, into the household can potentially change the quality of family relationships. This paper examines the theoretical frameworks researchers used to understand the effect of modern technology on family relationship. It brings together work from different fields that examine the relationship between Internet usage and family time. Besides, this paper also aims to explore the perception of youth on Internet. To find out the perception of youth, whether Internet is changing their family relationship or not, this study used quantitative method of data collection. The sample consisted of 384 young Internet users of Dhaka city. Questionnaire was employed as a tool of data collection. This research also features different theories from social scientists regarding the usage of Internet, controversies that surround youth participation in these online communities and offer suitable areas for future research.

Keywords: Internet, Family Relationship, Youth, Technology.