Digital Kinship: The Reconfiguration of Family and Friendship Networks in the Networked Society
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33830/osc.v3i1.6976Keywords:
digital kinship, family networks, friendship formation, networked society, technological intimacyAbstract
Digital transformation has fundamentally altered how individuals conceptualize, maintain, and experience kinship relationships in the contemporary networked society. This study analyzed the mechanisms of family and friendship network reconfiguration through digital communication technologies, employing Systematic Literature Review methodology on ten peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and SINTA databases spanning 2021-2025. An interpretivist approach was applied to understand meaning construction in technology-mediated relationships. Findings revealed the emergence of digital kinship as a hybrid phenomenon creating new forms of intimacy operating through spatial, temporal, emotional, and functional modalities. Digital friendship formation follows four systematic stages: orientation, emotional exploration, emotional exchange, and stable exchange. Cross-cultural variations indicated that collectivist societies require greater institutional intervention compared to individualist contexts. Professional digital kinship networks demonstrated more positive outcomes than personal networks due to clearer functional purposes. The study recommends developing comprehensive digital literacy programs and institutional support frameworks for family harmony in the digital era.References
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