Study on Changing Trends in Parenting with The Advent of Social Media

Abstract

Parents, especially those in the urban middle class, have tremendously been affected by social media in their parenting responsibilities. This paper aims at exploring shifts in child rearing practices with children aged between 3 and 12 years focusing on effects of social media on parents and children. Through the conduct of cross-sectional surveys and interviews both quantitative and qualitative, this research reveals changes in parenting practices and control, time spent on screen, and for child welfare. Studied outcomes show parents turning to the social media for advice and instructions on parenting and discovering new paradigms of parenting in the context of the social media with positive and negative effects on children’s interpersonal skills and performance. Intervention strategies/ideas are recommended for use by social workers included; Spending lesser time on screen, spending more time outdoors, and managing the impacts of screen time on the mental health of individuals. Some directions in managing social presence and reducing screen time are offered to possibly promote more enhancing approaches to parenting.