The digitalization of family life: A multilevel conceptual framework

Abstract

The internet and digital technologies have penetrated all domains of people's lives, and family life is no exception. Despite being a characterizing feature of contemporary family change, the digitalization of family life has yet to be systematically theorized. Against this backdrop, this article develops a multilevel conceptual framework for understanding the digitalization of family life and illustrates the framework by synthesizing state‐of‐the‐art research from multiple disciplines across global contexts. At a micro level, as individuals “do” family online, digitalization influences diverse aspects of family practices, including family formation, functioning, and contact. How individuals “do” family online is not free‐floating but embedded in macro‐level economic, sociocultural, and political systems underpinning processes of digitalization. Bridging the micro–macro divide, family‐focused online communities serve as a pivotal intermediary at the meso level, where people display family life to, and exchange family‐related support with, mostly nonfamily members. Meso‐level online communities are key sites for forming and diffusing collective identities and shared family norms. Bringing together the three levels, the framework also considers cross‐level interrelations to develop a holistic digital ecology of family life. The article concludes by discussing the contributions of the framework to understanding family change and advancing family scholarship in the digital age.

Exploring the Journey of Sociovirtualization: Understanding the Process of Socialization in a Virtual Context

“…The advent of sociovirtualization marks a watershed moment in the history of human connection, as the distinction between physical and digital domains blurs, resulting in The internet ushered in a new era of connection, breaking down geographical borders and allowing people to communicate virtually on a worldwide scale (Qian & Hu 2024). Early internet forums and bulletin board systems lay the framework for online communities, allowing people to connect over common interests and engage in conversations, paving the way for the formation of virtual social environments.…”