Is social media the scapegoat for weakening the family bond?

This thesis explores how social media usage affects family connectedness in Dutch families, focusing on young adults (aged 18-26) and their parents/main caregiver. The study addresses the research gap in explaining the (distancing) intergenerational relationships among Dutch families from the perspective of social media use, taking into account the parental control monitoring behavior regarding social media use. Using a quantitative deductive approach, the study surveyed Dutch families (N = 158) and collected data from one parent and (one of) their children in their early adulthood about their social media habits, perceptions of family connectedness (towards the child), and (perceived) parental monitoring control during the child’s adolescence. The results show notable generational differences in social media use and its impact on perceived family connectedness. Young adults reported higher levels of social media integration than their parents but felt less connected to their families than their parents did. Specifically, Social media usage integration (SMUI) negatively affected providing emotional/instrumental support among children. While SMUI did not significantly impact overall connectedness or other dimensions, such as openness and expressing affection, restrictive mediation and authoritarian mediation were found to fully mediate the relationship between SMUI and emotional support among children. On the other hand, active mediation and non-intrusive inspection did not show significance mediation effects. The study also emphasizes how different parental monitoring control dimensions can influence family bonds in a positive or negative way. For parents, results showed that SMUI has no significant impact on any dimensions of family connectedness. Comparative analysis within families showed that parents reported higher active mediation and lower non-intrusive inspection compared to their children’s perceptions. Additionally, parents perceived higher levels of openness, expressing affection, and providing emotional/instrumental support than their children. This study highlights the importance of responsible social media usage and employing practical parental mediation to improve family connectedness in the digital era.