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Impact of Virtual Selves on Familial Cohesion and Amity

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Volume 3 Issue 2 2022

Author(s):

Muhammad Farrukh
The University of Lahore, Pakistan
mufch125@gmail.com

Wajiha Raza Rizvi
Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan
wajiharaza@fulbrightmail.org

Maleeha Ameen
The University of Lahore, Pakistan
maleeha.ameen@soca.uol.edu.pk

Abstract While the extensive incorporation of virtual life has opened new hallways and unique prospects for users to explore and experiment with newer identities, it has also left negative effects on their real-life relations, familial cohesion and amity. This study examines if users are too involved in ideally presenting and building their self-image and sharing details of their day-to-day routines with old and new friends on free and converged (social) media applications and websites to pay attention to their families. It found a gap in literature on the impact of virtual life on Pakistani family relations and amity. It used a survey questionnaire to collect data from 650 students enrolled at University of Lahore to study the effect of virtual life, time, social engagement, and ideal self-presentation on deteriorating real-life relations, family interactions, and bonding. It was found that virtual life has a negative effect on real life and relations. The users spend more time online building their social media personae and relationships than investing their time in constructing real-life identity, and interactions and bonding with the family. The family interaction and social bonding (dependent variables) were tested against time spent on social media (independent variable). The linear regression analysis showed that time consumed on social media significantly predicts deterioration in family interaction and family bonding, F=62.757, p<0.05. It indicated that the time consumed on social media played a significant negative role in shaping family interactions and amity (family bonding) (b=0.794, p<0.05). The results pointed to the negative impact of time spent on social media on family interactions. R 2 =.073 reflected a 7.3% variance in family interactions and family bonding. They pointed to a dire need to guide youth to balance their association with social media sites and improve their family interactions and family bonding.
Keywords Online identity, family interactions, family bonding, real-life identity
Year 2022
Volume 3
Issue 1
Type Research paper, manuscript, article
Journal Name Journal of Media & Communication (JMC)
Publisher Name ILMA University
Jel Classification -
DOI --
ISSN no (P, PRINT) 2707-8906
ISSN no (E, Electronic) 2788-8304
Country Pakistan
City Karachi
Institution Type University
Discipline Media, Advertising, Social Science, Multidisciplinary
Journal Type Open Access
Manuscript Processing Blind Peer Reviewed
Format PDF
Paper Link http://jmc.ilmauniversity.edu.pk/arc/Vol3/3.2/2.pdf
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