Problems of children caused by using modern technology (like TikTok), and a suggested idea from the perspective of family therapy to deal with them A study on a group of parents in the Basma area

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the problems children face as a result of using modern technology, with TikTok as a model, and to propose a vision from the perspective of family therapy to address these issues. It also sought to determine whether parents’ perspectives on these problems differed based on variables such as gender, age, educational level, place of residence, number of children, monthly income, and the mother's employment status. The study used a descriptive analytical approach and was conducted on a population of 4,800 parents in the Basma region, with a randomly selected sample of 296 participants. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used to collect data. The findings showed a high overall rating of the problems caused by TikTok use, with a mean score of 4.44 and a percentage of 88.8%. The mean scores across study domains ranged from 4.42 to 4.46, with “social problems” ranked highest (mean = 4.46, 89.2%) and “psychological problems” ranked lowest (mean = 4.42, 88.4%). Key issues highlighted included reduced interaction between children and family members, promotion of superficiality over self-development, distraction during study time, and social media addiction. The study found no statistically significant differences based on gender, age, or mother's employment, but significant differences were found based on educational level, residence, number of children, and income. The study recommended setting specific time limits for TikTok use, monitoring the content children view to ensure it aligns with their age and family values, and adopting the proposed intervention program.