Raising children matters: an exploration of family online social media networking experiences

Australian families raising children today are turning to the internet for parenting information and support. As the wellbeing of children and families is connected with the support families receive (Grace, Hayes, & Wise, 2017), research into online support being accessed by families with children is warranted. Content analysis of postings on the online forums within the Raising Children Network over a six-month period was conducted to ascertain insights about respondents' interests regarding raising children in Australia today. To gain further insights into how participation in social networking sites may influence family experiences, parents utilising social media were also invited to complete an online survey. Online behaviours such as passive support and cyber lurking were found within the online forum postings analysed, and were also reported by the survey respondents. These findings can inform those managing online parenting networks about aspects that require better monitoring and moderation of participation in social media forums aimed at supporting those raising children today. These findings can also be used by educators to advise and assist families in early childhood settings to adopt a variety of strategies for online interactions, optimise the potential social supports available through social media, and enhance knowledge sharing within cyber communities.