The Explorer: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132, Vol-1, Issue (4):114-116

www.theexplorerpak.org

STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES: A STUDY ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY
Zubaida Ilyas1, Saba Yasmeen1
Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Zubaida Ilyas
PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Gemini806_17@yahoo.com
Abstract: Information Communication Technology has exceptional effects on our lives. It has made our lives effortless
and easy. The research focused on the institution of family under the influence of Information Communication
Technology. The study aimed at studying the respondents attitudes toward ICT gadgets and its effects on family ties.
The locale of the study was PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. The nature of the study was qualitative and
data was collected through semi structured questionnaires from a sample of 70 respondents through convenient
sampling. The results demonstrate that the variables identified were significantly correlated. ICT has absolutely affected
the life of people in a way by playing an important role in bringing the people closer through cell phone and social
media.

Key Words: ICT, Family ties, Communication, Family Institution

INTRODUCTION
Todays world is the world of technology.
Technology is the introduction of such techniques
or devices that can make our life easy and
comfortable. The use of technology has modified
our lives, lifestyle, family structure and
communities. We cannot deny the importance of
technology in our life. ICT (information and
communication technology) comprises of any
communication devices, applications including
radio, television, cell phones that help us to
communicate with people.
Family is the group of people who are connected
through emotions, values, blood and culture. The
family members share their sorrows and happiness.
For family members it is not necessary that they
should be tied biologically instead keeping in touch
with each other is more important. Human beings
have a strong desire to make social relations due to
their intermingled requirements and dependence
upon each other in times of need and as it is also a
source of happiness (Baumeister and Leary
1995).Communication is the lifeline of all the
relations. Communication plays an important role
in maintaining social relationships and emotional
closeness. Communication is possible through
technology. Thus, technology brings people closer.
It keeps people tied even when they are miles away
from each other through cell phones and social
networking (Flora and Segrin 2005).Internet
provides the facility to all the extended and

transnational families to stay in touch with each

other; they can share their pictures and videos
through web cameras and have online
conversations. They can communicate all the time
regardless of distance and time (Ito, et al. 2013).
Before internet it was not possible to communicate
as frequently today. It has reduced distances and
brought people closer. Internet enhances the social
relationships (Wellman and Haythornthwaite 2002).
People can have face to face interaction using a
wide range of ICT devices which include mobile
phones, laptops using the internet. There are many
social websites by which we can make face to face
interactions like skype (Boase 2006). Now a day the
use of internet for communication is becoming
more common in homes. Social networking is
becoming a part of our culture. People use these
cultural tools to communicate with the family
members and friends living in different parts of the
world (Rogoff 2007).
Video calling is an important way of
communication. It allows people to communicate in
more natural way. Video calling enables people to
make face to face interaction. We can see the body
language, facial expressions of other person even if
he is miles away from us. It gives us the feeling that
we are near and sitting together (Molyneaux, et al.
2012).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was designed to find out how ICT
strengthen the family ties. For this purpose 70

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people were interviewed through convenient

sampling method. The sample of study was 70.
Both qualitative and quantitative techniques are
used in this research. Research was conduct in Arid
Agriculture Rawalpindi. Data was entered in SPSS
and variables were ten correlated.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table. 1: Correlation between ICT use and Social
Relationships
Independent
Dependent
Correlation Sig.
Variable
Variable
(2 tailed)
Social media helps
Communication
interacting
with
.000
is the lifeline of
friends
all the relations
Social media keeps
.003
in touch with family

The preliminary and most significant social

institution in our culture is family which is not only
responsible for the procreation but also serves its
purpose for orientation of its offsprings in a
society. The role is being taken over by mass media
since it has become more of a parent, peer and
mentor (Zeeshan 2015). The co relational value of
social media keeping in touch with friends/relatives
who live in far countries since communication is the
lifeline of all the relations was .000<.005 which
shows a positive correlation between the two
variables. 82.9 percent respondents agreed that
social media with the help of ICT plays an integral
part in communication. Internet connectivity and
the cell phones connect the people and provide
social support and help in maintaining the
meaningful relationships regardless of time and
location (Rainie and Wellman 2012).
The correlation values of variables social media
strengthen the family ties and communication is
the lifeline of all the relations was .003<.005 which
marks
a
positive
correlation
between
communication and social media in strengthening
the family ties. 55.7 percent respondents supported
this result that social media strengthen the family
ties. ICT devices provide the platform to
communicate with their members living abroad.
The internet helps the transnational families to stay
in touch with each other (Ito, et al. 2013).
Table. 2: ICT Use and Social Interaction
Questions
ICT has played significant
role
in
maintaining
relationship
ICT has affected nuclear
families
ICT
has
affected
transnational families

Yes

No

85.7

14.3

18.6

81.4

82.6

17.4

According to percentile analysis 0f ICT has played

significant role in maintaining relationship 85.7
percent respondents said yes and 14.3 percent
respondents said no. ICT has affected our lives in
many ways. It has affected our ways of
communication. We can communicate with any
person living anywhere in the world, it reduced
distances among people. As communication is the
bond of all the relations. It keeps the relatives
closer. Communication is necessary to maintain
relation and it strengthen the relations (Flora and
Segrin 2005).
According to the percentile analysis of ICT has
affected nuclear families 18.6 percent respondents
said yes and 81.4 percent respondents answered in
no. There is no positive affect of ICT on nuclear
families. All the members of the family have
separate communication devices like cell phones
and laptops. They do not communicate with each
other and do not spend time together rather they
are connected with their own friends. (McGrath
2012) said that there has been a decline in
traditional nuclear family households as people
have become more individualistic, this quotation
was quoted by (Scott 1997).
According to percentile analysis of ICT has affected
transnational families 82.6 percent respondents
said yes and 17.4 percent respondents denied it.
ICT played an important role in connecting the
people who live in far countries. They can
communicate to their family anytime and
anywhere. We can share any kind of information
easily in less time. We can share pictures and
videos through internet (Ito, et al. 2013). ICT is used
by the labor migrants to maintain connections to
their families and home country (Pearce, et al.
2013).
CONCLUSION
This paper shows the impact of ICT on family ties.
As the people of todays world are busy in their
lives that do not have time to communicate with
each other. Some people live in abroad for different
purposes; they are far away from their family. ICT
solved this problem of distance and provided the
path of communication. Through cell phone and
social media we can contact with our loved ones
and friends just in few seconds. We can even have
face to face interaction through video calling which
gives the feelings of presence. ICT reduced the
distance among people and brought them closer
which strengthen the family ties. It does not affect
the nuclear families rather it weakened the nuclear
family relations.

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