Premium
Family Conflicts and Technology Use: The Voices of Grandmothers
Author(s) -
Ivan Loredana,
Nimrod Galit
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/fare.12530
Subject(s) - grandparent , embarrassment , competence (human resources) , nuclear family , psychology , information and communications technology , context (archaeology) , developmental psychology , extended family , immediate family , social psychology , sociology , political science , geography , archaeology , anthropology , law
Objective Our aim was to understand family conflicts, specifically those involving grandmothers, related to use of new communication technologies. Background Research shows that tension between family members in intergenerational contexts arises in relation to technology. This is especially common when attitudes toward technology differ among family members. Differing opinions around technology use create gaps in skills and perceived competence. Grandparents' voices about the challenges of perpetual connectivity in family settings are absent in the research on technology domestication and mediation. Method To fill this gap, semistructured group interviews were conducted with women in Canada, Colombia, Israel, Italy, Peru, Romania, and Spain. All women were aged 65 years and older, had grandchildren, and used information and communication technology (ICT). Results Grandmothers experienced conflicts when interacting with grandchildren due to ginability to recognize online threats. Asking for help in managing different applications could be a source of family conflicts. Embarrassment and unease is reduced when grandmothers call grandchildren for help, rather than receive assistance from their adult children. Conflictual moments also emerged around the use of ICT at family dinners or other gatherings, with grandmothers showing more tolerance in this context for grandchildren than for their adult children. Conclusion Family conflicts over technology use may differ when involving adult children versus grandchildren. Implications The voices of grandmothers express the importance of permanent and affordable opportunities for people to receive assistance in technology use outside of family contexts.