Once the initial fear of seeing parents on Facebook subsides, more positive feelings may arise. A recent study has shown that social networking with parents may strengthen the parent-child bond, positively impacting teens. Although excessive internet use can be harmful, it's opportunity for increased parent-child interaction can help teens.
Dr. Sarah Coyne of the School of Family Life and other researchers studied 491 adolescents and their parents. The study's participants responded to questions about social networking use, feelings of connection, and behavioral effects. Half of the teens in the study engaged with their parents on social networking sites. They found that kids who engaged with their parents through social media felt more connected, had higher prosocial behavior, and lower incidence of aggression and depression.
Researchers wondered what the cause and effect interaction between healthy parent-child relationships and social media entails. Parents who are more connected to their children in general are more likely to interact with them on social media. Social media also allows parents and children to interact and foster more positive, supportive relationships. Researchers concluded that the relationship is bi-directional, where positive relationships increase social media interaction, which in turn promotes positive relationships.
Although individuals are often warned about the dangers of internet use, the results of this study clearly depict positive aspects of social media. Excessive internet use, where adolescents access social networking for over 8 hours per day, can be dangerous and may lead to feelings of alienation, aggression, and depression. However, engaging with parents through social networking sites may strengthen the parent-child relationship, and may help boost prosocial behavior and positive mood.
Reference: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263429.php
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