Networked Families and Digital Technologies

 Hi Everyone! I hope you are enjoying the content approach so far!

 

Today, let's talk about Rainie and Wellman's (2013) concept of "networked families," which resonated deeply with me, particularly the shift from households as isolated units to dynamic, digitally connected nodes. The authors compellingly illustrate how the Triple Revolution — social networks, internet, and mobile technology — has not only restructured family communication but also redefined the meaning of "togetherness." What struck me most is the portrayal of families as networks of semi-autonomous individuals who coordinate through ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) rather than convene physically — a notion that challenges traditional assumptions about intimacy, presence, and familial roles.

For our deeper understanding, I brought the example of Tracy Kennedy, which I found especially illustrative of how digital tools can simultaneously foster independence and maintain cohesion in modern households. It made me reflect on how this technological mediation shapes emotional labor, parental control, and even the generational transmission of values. I wonder, however, to what extent these changes have deepened class, gender, or racial inequalities in access to connectivity, and how these disparities influence family structure and function across diverse communities. From my perspective, this reading invites us to reconsider what family support looks like in the digital age and how social policy might respond to this new "social operating system." What are your thoughts of how digital tools can simultaneously foster independence and maintain cohesion in modern households?


See you soon!

The Great Gatsby


Reference:

Rainie, L. & Wellman, B. (2013). Networked: The new social operating systemLinks to an external site.. Boston, MA: MIT Press.

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