The Digital Media Consumption, Dependency and its Self Perceived Effects on Familial and Peer Interpersonal Relationships of the Filipino Youth
Emergence of digital media has altered the way people live. People exist in a phase where the entire domain of earth is reachable. In a few clicks, individuals can contact anyone at any given time. Digital media changed the way people communicate and interact with their family and friends. Thus, this quantitative study sought to find out the digital media consumption and dependency of the Filipino youth and know its self perceived effects on their interpersonal relationship among family and friends. The study used quantitative research approach, specifically descriptive and correlation method, to analyze the gathered data the researchers employed a survey form administered to the Filipino youth. A total of 353 Filipino youth in the College of Communication of Polytechnic University of the Philippines were randomly selected to answer the survey questions. Findings revealed that respondents have a high level of digital media usage but low level of digital media dependency. There is a positive significant correlation between the digital media consumption and digital media dependency of the respondents. Results also revealed that digital media affects the interpersonal relationship of the Filipino youth. It has more positive effects on their peer interpersonal relationship and somehow negative impact on their relationship with their family. Keyword digital media, digital media dependency, interpersonal relationship, family, friends, Polytechnic University of the Philippines INTRODUCTION People exist in a phase where the entire domain of earth is reachable. In a few clicks, individuals can contact anyone at any given time. Computer mediated communication or CMC is a procedure that follows the usual exchange of messages through Linked telecommunication systems [1] It can also influence communication patterns and social networks which can lead to social effects. With the rise of computer technology, people are experiencing a dramatic change in learning. It can be exciting, threatening and unsettling at the same time. Individuals can ask if the Internet can lead to a radical transformation of learning. In the latest study conducted by ITU World Telecommunication, 40% of people all over the world are using the Internet [2] Furthermore, predicting the progress since last year, by the end of 2015, about 3 billion people or will be using it. Additionally, from ages 16 64 or mostly adults have their desktop, laptop, and smartphones. Media in general has affected people from all over the world since its discovery. Some of these effects include a range of behavioral and habitual vicissitudes from all the media exposed people [3] Although some considered damaging started out to be harmless ideas to promote convenient conversations. Nonetheless, there had been continuous conflict whether it encourages better relationships or not. People are born passionate and caring. Extending these virtues are the need to call our parents and figure out how they're doing and the simultaneous messaging of our friends to know how our day has gone. Following these, media has provided a convenient way to do so. But in a way, its exposure has applied an impact on everyone's particular judgments. Also, it outlined a standard of evaluation, engraved on each individual [3] In an article entitled "Social Media and Society: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" Ann Smarty Bristol et al. The Digital Media Consumption, Dependency and its Self Perceived Effects on Familial. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 92 P ISSN 2350 7756 E ISSN 2350 8442 www.apjmr.com Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 4, No. 1, February 2016 (2013) argued that one adverse consequence of social media, in particular, are the ways it has controlled over our own and has laid us behind screens and limits our actual socialization [4] She believed that social media has given us the illusion of being social without the actual face to face interaction. In the same attitude, it pushes the idea to people's head that a ton of friendships is developed without having to deal with adversaries to build on said friendships. All of which is true consequently leading to the conduction of this study. Media dependency states that people in a specific state of vulnerability are more reliant on mass media for data and such are more predisposed to their effects. As empirical evidence has shown how people have routinely democratized countries, it only demonstrates that these individuals' usage of media is not only for the venal reasons but deliberate plans to find [5] In the Philippines, the most valued are familial and peer relationships. In the culture of extended families and endless virtues, it is never unfamiliar to see people doing their best to keep in touch. Beneficially, media, in general, has helped these virtues go even under difficult circumstances. Alas, to say that Filipinos are dependent in media is an underrated statement. Digital media have been a segment of the Filipino transformation in how individuals organize events and communicate with each another. Adequately than physically socializing, they can post a comment about how they react to each other's lives. Filipinos love to keep in touch. It has given them the chance to rekindle friendships, all while making new others and still being able to keep their interests. Most of the time, Filipinos use it to connect new relationships, and although some don't plan on meeting those newly made friends online, they still like to keep in touch [6] The amount of information you put out on the Internet over social media, intended or not, affect you in the real world. Counting the online activities in a week of the Filipino youth, statistics by PEP Talk Asia shows that they are not one to live without digital media. In all of the Asia, the Filipino youth, in particular, are the most inclined to social networking. All 80% of them are involved which is about 51% on all youth in Asia. Furthermore, 3 in every 10 Filipino youth have and maintain their blog. They are also the top group in tagging web pages and online photos, 23% of Filipino youth have done this in the past seven days. Furthermore, 28% of said Filipino youth has actively participated in online forums and discussions [7] In 2013, it was established by the study on media use and youth lifestyle by Dr. Grace Cruz, that 3 out of five Filipino youth are regular internet users. Most of them have used and are currently active in social networking sites, and 78% are users of mobile phones. Regularly, they devote 6 hours each week online. Some of them even spend up to 35 hours on the internet [8] This particular use of internet and information technology is said to contribute on how youth form their relationships. Additionally, one in every three Filipino young people admitted having made friends with people they met online. Furthermore, 25% of them have made friend with people through text even if they had not met these people personally. Digital media has transformed the usual method people interact. In many ways, it has led to progressive modifications in the way individuals' converse and share information. Nevertheless, it has a destructive side, as well. Digital media can occasionally affect people in negative outcomes and some with long term consequences [9] OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY This study aimed to know the Filipino youth's level of digital media consumption and digital media dependency. Moreover, the relationship between the two variables was identified. Additionally, this study was able to determine the self perceived effects of digital media on familial and peer interpersonal relationship of the Filipino youth. METHODS This study employed descriptive method type of research to provide information and describe the level of digital media usage and digital media dependency of the Filipino youth and its self perceived effects on their interpersonal relationship. Moreover, this study used a quantitative research approach. This approach allowed the researchers to generalize the results of the data on the whole population based on the results draw from the sample. The sample respondents of the study are the communication students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The researchers utilized Slovin's formula in obtaining the sample size. From the total population of 2,954 enrolled students in Bristol et al. The Digital Media Consumption, Dependency and its Self Perceived Effects on Familial. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 93 P ISSN 2350 7756 E ISSN 2350 8442 www.apjmr.com Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 4, No. 1, February 2016 College of Communication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 353 students were randomly selected to be the respondents of this study. Table 1. Sample Breakdown Course Population No. of