Families Behind the Filter: How Social Media Influences Undergraduate Students Perceptions of Parenthood

Résumé

Social media is an influential and informational tool that has gained immense prevalence, particularly among youth and adolescents. On many social media platforms, parenthood has become a popular topic and highlights the lived experience of parents. This study explores how social media impacts undergraduate students’ perceptions and attitudes towards parenthood. We seek to uncover the dominant messaging and themes surrounding parenthood on social media and explore the extent to which undergraduate students conform to online opinions. Previous research has yet to examine the relationship between social media and attitudes towards parenthood. In addition, very few studies have looked at how undergraduate students conceptualize parenthood in this digital age. We conducted an online anonymous survey via the LimeSurvey platform using both open-ended and closed-ended questions. This research is qualitative in nature as it concerns undergraduate students’ experiences on social media and their personal views and opinions. This study has been reviewed and approved by the McMaster Research Ethics Board. Our findings reveal that social media influences undergraduate students’ stance towards having kids, as well as feelings of fear and/or anxiety towards birth, pregnancy, and having children. Furthermore, social media sustains this influence on undergraduate students’ perceptions of parenthood regardless of skepticism towards social media, interest in parenthood, or other demographic factors. This research serves as a foundation for understanding the dominant ideologies surrounding parenthood on social media, and how they may permeate personal attitudes and lifestyle choices.