“Social Media Is an Extension of Communication”: Cultural Perspectives on Social Media and Family Communication

Abstract

The influence of social media on adolescent well‐being has become a growing area of interest, with studies highlighting both its positive and negative effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the intersection of social media, family communication, and culture, which are often studied independently, and to understand how they all influence one another. We conducted a series of semi‐structured interviews followed by workshops with parents ( n  = 19) and adolescents between 13 and 18 years old ( n  = 16). Parents and adolescents recognized that social media could pose both benefits and harms. They expressed that there should be greater recognition and conversation around how this tool can be best used, rather than trying to resist its presence in our lives. We found that participants who identified mostly with Western cultures raised more concerns with social media use compared to their non‐Western counterparts. This study highlights the potential for social media to be used as a tool to better facilitate conversations at home. Insights from this study can inform future approaches to facilitate more responsible and effective social media use for youth and their families.