Technology has changed the way we communicate. It’s captured our attention and opened up new ways to share information. And now, it’s making it easier than ever for families to stay connected.
The way we communicate is evolving rapidly, and cell phones are one of the most significant contributors to this change. But there are other ways families are connecting. Email, Skype, social media, and more have all added to the ways people stay in touch. And because of these advances in technology, it’s easier than ever for families to stay connected. Families don’t have to live within driving distance or even within the same country anymore! We can keep up with our kids on their first day at school from halfway around the world if we want to.
Now today’s younger generations are being raised with technology. As a result, they’re using technology to communicate. And because of this, they’re able to stay in touch with their family and friends through social media like Facebook and Twitter.
What’s happening is that more and more of our children and grandchildren are growing up with technology at their fingertips. That means they’ll be able to stay connected with their families when getting together for holidays or birthdays. Family reunions are one thing that the Internet has changed for us today. Grandparents can see pictures of their grandchildren on Facebook. Parents can Skype with their kids so they can “see” grandma and grandpa…
And for older adults, especially those who are lonely or living alone, technology is helping them too. Many seniors now have cell phones with text messaging, email, and even Skype available to them. They’re also signing up for social media sites to connect with other people. Even video games can be a way older adults keep in touch with their family and friends…
There’s no doubt that technology has changed the way we interact. And it’s changed the way we communicate and connect with our families.
According to the United Nation’s Population Fund, the world’s population is expected to rise from 7.75 billion today to nearly 9.74 billion in 2050. And that means our world will be even more connected than it is now. So if you’re looking for ways to stay connected with your family and friends, consider the ways technology has created for us.
Revolutionary apps that have helped ease communication:
- Skype – Internet telephony
- Email – Posting and receiving all types of text (emails, images, videos), audio (voice chat, music, podcasts), and video (video calls, online presentations)
- Google Hangouts – Facetime-like video chat for free; one-on-one or small group chats
- Facebook Messenger – Chatting with friends on your mobile device (messages are limited to 160 characters). You can also chat with Facebook groups. You can also send photos or videos within the conversation. The app is available on iPhone and Android devices.
- Whatsapp – Send complimentary text messages to other Whatsapp users. Available on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Symbian devices.
- Viber – Available across all mobile and desktop platforms that support modern web browsers. Offers “chat”, “call”, and “video call” functionalities similar to Skype. It also supports sending pictures, voice notes, files, location information.
Although the majority of the world’s population now has access to email, text messaging, mobile calls, Skype calls, social media platforms, and video calling software so that they can stay connected with their families and even distant relatives or friends around the world, there are still millions of people who are not lucky enough to have these so-called “modern” ways for staying in touch.
Many parents have to battle against age-old superstition that says sending photos or talking too much on the phone could somehow harm their children. For older adults living alone or experiencing loneliness, staying in touch with family members is not as simple as it used to be twenty years ago. It is clear that many older adults and young parents still prefer to send letters or cards through postal services to maintain their familial relationships.
When we communicate with others, we tell them how we feel about them, and we let them know what kinds of activities are happening in our lives. However, it would be exciting to see how our children will use new technology in theFor example, studies. Studies show that most children are more likely to use social network sites like Facebook rather than email or telephone calls to stay in touch with friends or family members.