Digital Parenting in the Urban Millennial Era: Social Change in Young Parents' Child-Rearing Practices Using Mobile Touch Screen Devices in Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

In the digital era, parenting methodologies are experiencing considerable evolution, especially within metropolitan millennial households. The extensive utilization of Mobile Touch Screen Devices (MTSDs) has transformed parental interaction and child-rearing practices. In Makassar, Indonesia, a culturally affluent yet swiftly modernizing city, young parents progressively incorporate MTSDs into their daily parenting practices. Nevertheless, scant study investigates the intersection of this shift with conventional child-rearing standards. This study examines the justifications, interactional changes, and cultural debates related to MTSD utilization in parenting among young urban parents. Utilizing a qualitative case study encompassing interviews, observations, and document analysis, we elucidate the application of MTSDs as educational instruments, behavioral facilitators, and pragmatic solutions to contemporary life challenges. The findings indicate a transformation in parenting responsibilities and conventions, characterized by cultural adaptability and emotional ambivalence. This study emphasizes the necessity for equitable digital parenting strategies and advocates for additional research into its long-term developmental and sociocultural effects.