Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) broadly designate hardware devices (e.g., computers, smartphones, webcams) as well as software and applications used on these devices (e.g., email, videoconferencing, online social networks) which underpin digital culture [1,2]. Given the exponential growth in the use of these resources over the last two decades, ICTs nowadays represent an integrative part of contemporary family life [2,3]. According to Eurostat’s last publication [4], 81% of European households had computers with internet access in 2014. This is particularly true for 93% of the households in Norway, 90% in the U.K., 74% in Spain and 65% in Portugal. Regarding the USA, 87% of adults used the internet in 2014 [5]. More recent data indicate that 92% American adults have a cell phone, 68% have a smartphone and 45% have a tablet computer in 2015 [6]. Naturally, the rapid incorporation of ICTs into families’ lives has created new interactions scenarios as well as rearrangements in current family relational patterns [1,3]. As a result, the interface between ICTs and family dynamics arises as a prominent topic of research. Thus, new and important questions are raised, such as: how are families dealing with the ubiquitous integration of ICTs on their lives? How do ICTs and family dynamics interact? What are the implications associated with this interaction? This paper provides a note about a recent literature review of existing literature on the topic [7] and then presents some specific implications and suggestions to be integrated into future studies in the field of ICTs and family systems.