Conceptualizing technology-mediated familial bonding: insights into family use of social messaging system / Fazillah Mohmad Kamal

The role of social messaging system (SoMeS) as a connecting technology in facilitating
familial bonding has increased substantially in recent years. In the field of HCI,
investigations of SoMeS for the domestic environment reveals that interesting family
behaviour and experiences arising out from the technology use have been transformed.
Technology-mediated familial bonding (TFB) that refers to the establishment of group
property emerged from family ritualistic interaction within specific setting that bind
family members to each other which goes beyond mere communication and information
has emerged in response to contemporary technological opportunities. Consequently,
understanding TFB via SoMeS is set to become an increasingly important concern.
However, empirical investigations about the SoMeS mechanism in giving rise to TFB
is a challenging research domain, as the experiences of both individual and group
members of a family are shaped and influenced by a number of delicate and
interconnected issues, which relate to varying family behaviours and nuanced
experiences. Fundamental understanding of the TFB is relatively heterogeneous leading
to various often unrelated directions with the underutilization of theoretical lens from
more established fields. The research presented in this thesis explores how SoMeS gives
rise to TFB of which can be rationalized as part of overall interface design strategy and
specific family behaviour. The research centres on the belief that interaction is
phenomenology-situated that involves the researcher’s participation as an intimate
insider in the investigation of TFB enactment as they are embodied in the lived
experience and situated use of SoMeS. Using common HCI qualitative methods
including behavioural logging via WhatsApp and qualitative inquiries such as focus
group and individual interviews, the findings disclose how TFB is given rise by SoMeS
through the presence of eight foreground and seven background elements comprising
of three constituent dimensions: shared setting, content merit and sustainable praxis;
and one outcome dimension: bonding experience. The contributions of this thesis lie in
providing a descriptive analysis of the TFB enactment through SoMeS and developing
an understanding of how SoMeS gives rise to TFB that will inform the development of
insights for future SoMeS design that is sensitive to the nuances of family live, mobility
and technology practices. From the practical point of view, the outcome contributes
further through prescribing specific design recommendations that can help designers of
SoMeS in their design decision in pursuit of TFB.