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← 407 | 408 → Parents’ Use of New Media for Communication about Parenting

A Consideration of Demographic Differences

JODi DWORKINSUSAN WALKERJESSICARUDIJENNIFER DOTY

University of Minnesota

Introduction

Over the past 15 years, use of the Internet and social media has multiplied at a rapid rate. The Pew Internet and American Life Project (2014) reported that, as of September 2013, 86% of American adults were using the Internet. Additionally, in September 2013, 73% of adults reported using online social media, and 42% of adults used multiple social networking websites (SNS) (Duggan & Smith, 2013). Similar to the broad population, parents are increasingly using new media technologies (Allen & Rainie, 2002; Plantin & Daneback, 2009), and their use is diverse (Rothbaum, Martland, & Jannsen, 2008; Walker, Dworkin, & Connell, 2011).

However, parents have different needs for communication using new media than do adults who are not parents. Healthy and effective parenting involves household management and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, and evidence increasingly suggests that new media aids in these efforts. As parenting models inclusive of the social context suggest (e.g., Belsky, 1984), these parenting activities are accomplished through bidirectional relationships with children and other family members and with others who influence the well-being of the children (e.g., teachers). Smith, Cudaback, Goddard, and Myers-Walls (1994) classified parenting ← 408 | 409 → roles as involving activities such as caring for oneself, managing resources (e.g., money, housing, and food), guiding and motivating children, and connecting...