More than half of Spaniards believe that ICTs increase family conflicts
How do you take your family and you with the new technologies? Do you think that these bring more conflicts to your home? Well that's what more than half of the Spanish think (specifically, 51.5 percent), according to the last barometer of March prepared by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS).
In addition, 67.9 percent of citizens say that ICT (Internet, Smartphones, etc.) have reduced communication between parents and children, and more than 80 percent think that with them decreases the protection of privacy.
According to the data of the surveys made to the Spanish population, the immense majority, 93.7 percent, believes that new technologies have changed the daily life of families. In particular, the mobile and the Internet connection seem to be the technologies with the greatest impact.
Of course, not everything was going to be bad: also a high percentage (63.5 percent of those questioned) said that new technologies have helped them to increase their relationship with relatives who live far away, or with their friends from all over the world. life (57.8 percent).
New technologies in daily life
In the March barometer, respondents are also asked about their use of new technologies, and here the data are again revealing: 51.8 percent of those questioned say that they spend more time with them, and 51.1 percent, that they isolate themselves more from those around them, which is in line with the majority opinion that negatively affect family communication.
Likewise, more than 60 percent of Spaniards say that, since using new technologies, they spend less time reading books, newspapers or magazines on paper, and about 48 percent say they look for less information in libraries. Of course, about 43 percent say that thanks to new technologies is less time doing nothing (there is always some WhatsApp to answer or a tweet to look, for example).
The need for the mobile phone
The mobile phone seems to be the most necessary electronic device for Spaniards: this is what 80.1 percent of respondents say. The mobile is followed by the Internet connection, email and personal computer. On the opposite side are social networks and tablets or electronic books, which appear as "dispensable" in more than 67 percent of cases.
On the frequency of use of new technologies, 94.4 percent said that it makes daily use of WhatsApp and similar applications, 88.1 percent of the mobile phone and 79.4 percent of the laptop.
Specifically, in the last six months 92.9 percent of respondents admit to having used their mobile phone, and 69.6 percent to WhatsApp or similar applications. By contrast, 62.8 percent say they have not used tablets or e-books, and only seven percent deny having used the phone in recent months.
The messages through new technologies
About the messages that are sent through these new applications, only 15 percent admit not having sent any message by mobile in the last semester. In addition, only 9.8 percent say they regret any message, video or photo they have sent through these technologies. 5.4 percent also admit having had some problem with the contents that others have sent over them through these applications.
More than 80 percent of parents say they have talked with their children about the uses and risks of new technologies compared to 18.3 percent who have not. In addition, 70.5 percent of Spaniards have ever asked for help from their son about problems with the mobile phone, a percentage that drops to 43.6 percent in the case of those who ask for help with the computer or internet.
These surveys have also asked parents about how they negotiate with their children their use of new technologies. The result says that 30.3% prevail their opinion against that of minors, while 19.7% of cases are what the child wants. 12.4% do not talk about the issue. Almost 65% of parents share a group of instant messaging with their offspring, but less than half (42.6%) are in the social networks in which their children are.
The initiation to new technologies and the family
When is the best age to use these new technologies? On this they have also asked in the CIS survey: 59.5 percent of those asked say that the most appropriate age to have a mobile is around 12 and 15 years. Meanwhile, the six and eleven years is the perfect age to start using the computer for 37.6% of respondents, compared to 35.5% that rises to the range between 12 and 15 years.In turn, 40.4% believe that social networks should be used after 16 years.
How do ICTs influence the education of children? There is a lot of talk about the pros and cons of new technologies at home and at school, and the risks of young people being addicted to technology, and that is precisely what the respondents say.
85.9 percent of Spaniards think that young people are too dependent on new technologies, which creates a problem for education within the family. Also, 83.2 percent believe that parents should know how to use new technologies to be able to educate their children in them.
Interestingly, 70.4 percent of respondents believe that the information young people receive through these new technologies has a greater influence on them than their parents can say.
And, speaking of parents, it is noteworthy that in this barometer of the month of March has been asked about the important things for the lives of Spaniards. Their answers show that 98.3 percent say that emotionally supporting the family is the most important thing, followed by maintaining cordial relations with their family members, and 97.2% taking care of their parents when they are older. On the other hand, for 19.1% it is not important to have a partner, for 15.3% to have children and for 15.2% to live close to the family.
Angela R. Bonachera
