Social Media-Based Parenting: A Sociological Study of the Impact of Digital Media on the Family Values and Behaviour of Generation Z.
Main Article Content
Abstract
The rapid expansion of digital media has transformed the structure and processes of contemporary family life. Social networking platforms, smartphones, instant messaging applications and other digital communication technologies have become increasingly integrated into parent–child interaction, thereby generating new forms of digitally mediated parenting. Generation Z, having grown up in a technologically intensive social environment, experiences family communication, parental guidance, privacy, autonomy and socialization through both offline and online spaces. The present study examines the nature of social media-based parenting and its perceived influence on the family values and behavioural patterns of Generation Z. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a proposed sample of 400 Generation Z respondents. Data were conceptualized as being collected through a structured questionnaire addressing digital communication, parental guidance, digital rule-setting, parental monitoring, parental digital role-modelling, family values and behavioural influence. The study is guided by two objectives: to examine the nature and extent of social media-based parenting practices and to assess their perceived influence on family values and behavioural patterns. Percentage analysis indicates that 62.0% of respondents fall within the high category of social media-based parenting, 27.0% within the moderate category and 11.0% within the low category. With respect to family values, 58.0% report a high level, 30.0% a moderate level and 12.0% a low level. Furthermore, 61.0% report positive behavioural influence, 27.0% moderate influence and 12.0% low influence. The findings indicate that digital media has become an important component of contemporary parenting and family communication. Nevertheless, social media-based parenting should be understood as a multidimensional process involving communication, guidance, mediation, monitoring and parental modelling rather than merely digital surveillance.
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