The Impact of Digital Technology on Children and the Family: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

In the era of digital transformation, technological advances are profoundly reshaping family dynamics, educational practices, and social behaviors. The widespread adoption of digital technologies, including connected devices, educational platforms, social media, and communication applications, has significantly influenced family interactions, children's socialization processes, and the transmission of values and social norms. While these technologies provide valuable opportunities by facilitating access to knowledge, promoting interactive learning, and strengthening intergenerational communication, they also raise concerns regarding their effects on children's cognitive, emotional, and social development, as well as on the quality of family relationships.

This article presents an integrative narrative review of the theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of digital technologies on childhood and family life. Drawing on perspectives from family sociology, developmental psychology, and educational sciences, it examines the transformations driven by the rapid expansion of digital technologies. The study aims to identify the main trends highlighted in recent research and to explore their implications for family relationships, educational practices, and demographic changes. It also discusses the challenges faced by contemporary families while emphasizing the opportunities offered by digital technologies to promote children's development and well-being in an increasingly digital environment.

Although a substantial body of research has examined the effects of digital technologies on children or on educational practices separately, relatively few studies provide an integrated analysis that simultaneously addresses the transformations of family relationships, educational practices, and child development. This article seeks to fill this gap by offering a critical, interdisciplinary synthesis of the existing literature.

Classification JEL: F68, I21, K00, K10, K36

Paper type: Theoretical Research