Parent–Child Communication on Facebook: Family Communication Patterns and Young Adults' Decisions to “Friend” Parents

Abstract

The role that family communication patterns (FCPs), sex, and Facebook® use play in young adults' decisions to “friend” their parents on Facebook was examined, as well as whether students who friend parents adjust their privacy settings. Results from an online survey of college students (N = 189) indicated that young adults who friend their parents are more likely to be female and report higher conversation FCPs than those who do not friend their parents. In addition, young adults who adjust privacy settings after friending parents (25.3%) update their profiles more often and report lower conversation and higher conformity FCPs than young adults who do not adjust privacy settings.

Keywords:

• Facebook
• Family Communication Patterns
• Parents
• Privacy
• Young Adults

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hannah Ball

Hannah Ball (M.A., West Virginia University, 2013) is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Melissa B. Wanzer

Melissa B. Wanzer (Ed.D., West Virginia University, 1995) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Canisius College.

Timothy J. Servoss

Timothy J. Servoss (Ph.D., University at Buffalo, 2012) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Canisius College.