Technological Drivers and Sociocultural Change

Abstract

In this chapter, the suggestion is made that the relevance and timeliness of the concept of digital family is owing to certain advances in personal communication technologies that, together with wider social changes in the developed world, facilitate people's participation in a digital society. First, we take a look at recent technological advancements in personal communication technology and social media applications, after which we examine more in-depth some of the major sociocultural transformations to have paved way for the emergence and rise of the digital family.