Navigating the Digital Divide Maternal Technoference and Its Reverberations on Children's Moral Development

Abstract

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the extensive maternal social media engagement has introduced a unique intersection between their online presence and their role as caregivers, influencing their children's moral development. Mothers spending a lot of time on social media can influence their children’s understanding of right and wrong. In today’s digital era, the exploration of how mothers teach moral values and behaviors to their children along with the distracting social media usage is crucial. This research explores the influence of maternal social media usage on children's moral development, delving into strategies employed by mothers to shape their children's moral behavior in the context of digital distractions. Grounded in the social constructivist and interpretivist philosophical approach, the present study utilizes a qualitative case study design within cultural context of Pakistani society, involving educated housewives caring for their children aged 5 to 12 in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The findings highlight the essential role of mothers in moral development of children, with the need for mindful parenting, including religious education, positive reinforcement and meaningful interactions with children to nurture the moral growth of children.