The Impact of Social Media on Family Relationships

Not so long ago, when we were children living without the need for alternative means of communication, family relationships were built on daily gatherings, calm conversations, and sitting around one table where family members shared the details of their day and their small dreams. The television was turned off at set times, landline phones sat in the corners of houses, and physical presence meant complete emotional presence. A child would naturally acquire social qualities and different concepts through accompanying their father in daily activities such as shopping or going to work, turning the home into an environment rich with vocabulary and life situations. Through daily interactions with parents, peers, and relatives, the child learned and developed social and linguistic skills within a supportive and stimulating family environment.

Today, however, with the era of modern technology and the emergence of social media, the features of family life have changed. Each individual lives in their own digital world, communicating with dozens of people through a small screen that lacks the genuine meaning of emotions that truly touch the heart—while at the same time, one may be absent from the closest people to them in the same room. This has negatively affected children’s development today; they have become less interactive even with those closest to them, clearly influencing their language and behavioral growth. The family meetings and conversations once built on a father’s wisdom, wrapped in a mother’s affection, and held together by sibling bonds have faded. Conversations we were used to hearing that represented the solid foundation of every home and family.

Phones have now become part of the daily routine, even more than family dialogue itself. They have become an essential element in our lives, one that we cannot live without. In fact, we are more willing to give up people than to give up our phones. This makes us ask:

How has social media affected family relationships? And does the family still maintain its cohesion amid the rise of social media?

In an era where technology has become an inseparable part of daily life, social media has imposed itself as the main medium for interaction and communication with others. While it was designed to bring people closer and ease the exchange of thoughts and feelings, unconscious use has negatively impacted one of the most important human-family relationships.

Social Media: Between Conscious Use and Harmful Excess

The many benefits of social media cannot be denied. It bridges distances between relatives in different countries, allows parents to keep track of their children’s activities even while at work, contributes to the spread of knowledge and education everywhere, and provides valuable educational and cultural content for families.

On the other hand, smartphones have begun to replace real faces. We speak to those behind screens while ignoring the people sharing the same room with us. Families that once gathered around the dinner table for conversations and interaction now find each member absorbed in their phone, engaging with the outside world more than with their closest loved ones.

Phones were meant to make life easier and provide benefits—not to strip us of ourselves. Yet, through overuse, they have stolen our time, our families, our true emotions, and the joy of gatherings. Many children have been deprived of expressing their needs. How many children have become prisoners of screens, uninterested in family gatherings or even eating meals? How many children have developed stubbornness, irritability, and boredom after being detached from their surroundings and real-life interactions?

Parents, know this: your children’s eyes need the light of your gaze more than the glow of a screen. Their small hearts beat not for what is posted online, but for the warmth of your words and the closeness of your presence. Dedicate some of your time to them—make them feel safe.

Let your homes be true havens, your stories bridges to wisdom, and your listening nourishment for their souls.

Words spoken face-to-face, and shared laughter, cannot be replaced by thousands of messages or millions of likes.

Let technology be a tool—not a substitute.

Let our hearts be open before our phones, and our souls close before our screens.

Main Negative Impacts

Weak Family Communication:

Constant preoccupation with phones weakens dialogue between family members and creates a gap between parents and children.

Jealousy and Comparisons:

Watching others’ lives on social media may lead to unrealistic comparisons within the family, especially between spouses.

Neglect of Family Time:

Leisure time has turned into moments of silence, where some prefer apps over genuine family interaction.

Transmission of Negative Values:

One of the most dangerous outcomes of unregulated social media use is children’s exposure to content containing foreign values and ideas that clash with cultural and social identity, leaving them vulnerable to influence without adequate awareness.

Behavioral and Mood Disorders:

The most common issues include anxiety, stress, and anger outbursts when posts receive little interaction, or when one compares themselves to others—leading to unhealthy personalities.

Delayed Speech or Weak Vocabulary:

Many children, due to excessive social media use and reduced verbal and social interaction with peers and adults, fail to acquire many skills such as new vocabulary, problem-solving, cooperative play, and proper verbal communication. The lack of meaningful conversations and the dominance of screen time deprives them of experiences that require self-expression, planning, and execution.

How Do We Create a Safe Environment for Social Media Use?

Set device-free times, such as during dinner or family gatherings.

Be a good role model: Parents should reduce their phone use during family time so that children naturally learn to value and respect these moments.

Have open discussions with children: Dedicate time to talk about what they watch and share online. These discussions allow parents to understand their children’s interests and guide them toward safe, conscious use without imposing strict control.

Use technology purposefully: Watch beneficial content together as a family, turning device time into an opportunity for closeness and learning rather than distraction.

Create a rich family environment: Provide daily opportunities for children to interact, express themselves, and participate in shared experiences such as group games, family visits, and open conversations. These moments strengthen social skills and nourish children’s emotional and linguistic growth.

Give your child attention and appreciation: A child deprived of affection may post frequently online to seek approval and validation. For them, the number of “likes” or “followers” becomes a measure of self-worth.

Conclusion

Social media is a double-edged sword—an instrument shaped by the hands that hold it. If we use it wisely, it can be a means of connection and closeness, helping us grow and supporting us wherever we need. But if we misuse it, it becomes a destructive factor leading to family breakdown and distance.

The solution does not lie in rejection or prohibition, but in achieving balance, fostering awareness, and instilling responsibility in its use. In this way, we can reap its benefits while avoiding its harms.