Internet, Cell Phones Keeping Families Connected

The Internet and cell phones have become a central part of modern family life. Among all household types, the traditional nuclear family has the highest rate of technology usage and ownership according to a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.


The majority (89%) of married-with children households own multiple cell phones, and close to half own three or more mobile devices.


Over half (66%) of married-with-children households have a high-speed broadband Internet connection at home, well above the national average for all households of 52 percent.


Both spouses and at least one child go online in 65 percent of married-with-children households. Fifty-eight percent of married-with-children households have tow or more desktop or laptop computers.


The survey indicates that these high rates of technology ownership affect family life. Specifically, cell phones allow family members to stay in touch regularly when they are not physically together. Also many members of married-with- children households view content online together.


“Some analysts have worried that new technologies hurt family togetherness, but we see that technology allows for new kinds of connectedness built around cell phones and the internet,” noted Tracy Kennedy, author of the new report about the survey called “Networked Families.”


“Family members touch base with each other frequently with their cell phones, and they use those phones to coordinate family life on the fly during their busy lives.”


Less than half (42%) of parents contact their child/children on a daily basis using a cell phone, making cell phones the most popular communications tool between parents and children.


Kennedy added: “A lot of families treat the internet as a place for shared experiences. They don’t just withdraw from the family to their own computer for private screen time. They often say, ‘Hey - look at this!’ to others in the household.”


Over half (52%) of Internet users who live with a spouse and one or more children go online with another person at least a few times a week. Another 34 percent of such families have shared screen moments at least occasionally.