Intergenerational Relations and the Digital Economy: Educational Transformation of Urban Families

Authors

  • Jepri Utomo Pascasarjana Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
  • Karta Jayadi Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
  • Idham Irwansyah Idrus Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
  • Supriadi Torro Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
  • Syamsu Andi Kamaruddin Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
  • Md. Faisal-E-Alam Department of Management Studies, Begum Rokeya University, Bangladesh

Keywords:

Digital Economy, Family Education, Intergenerational Relations, Social Capital, Urban Families

Abstract

The rapid growth of the digital economy in the era of Society 5.0 has significantly reshaped family dynamics, particularly in urban contexts where intergenerational relations play a central role in education. This study explores how urban families in Mataram City negotiate authority, social capital, and digital capital within the context of educational transformation. Using a qualitative descriptive approach with a multi-unit case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and field notes involving five urban families. Thematic and interactive analysis guided by Bourdieu’s theory of capital revealed three major findings: first, the fragmentation of family communication as members spend more time on individual digital devices; second, the shift of educational authority from parents to digital systems that offer instant knowledge and guidance; and third, the erosion of family social capital, resulting in weakened emotional closeness and reduced parental legitimacy. Despite these challenges, the study also found that harmony is not lost when families can create reflective spaces, negotiate authority, and engage in reciprocal capital conversion between generations. These findings highlight the importance of rethinking family education not only from a technological perspective but also from a socio-economic standpoint, positioning urban families in Mataram as critical arenas for understanding how digital economies reshape intergenerational relations.

References

Akman, E., İdil, Ö., & Çakır, R. (2023). An Investigation Into the Levels of Digital Parenting, Digital Literacy, and Digital Data Security Awareness Among Parents and Teachers in Early Childhood Education. Participatory Educational Research, 10(5), 248–263.

Akter, S., & Bhattacharjee, S. (2025). Beyond Storytime: Oklahoma Public Libraries’ Comprehensive Approach to the Resilience of Refugee Children and Their Families Support. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(8), 1298.

Alqaysi, M. E., Albahri, A. S., & Hamid, R. A. (2022). Diagnosis-Based Hybridization of Multimedical Tests and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, 2022, 1–26.

Archer, C., & Delmo, K. M. (2023). Play Is a Child’s Work (On Instagram). M/C Journal, 26(2).

Berg, V., Arabiat, D., Mörelius, E., Kervin, L., Zgambo, M., Robinson, S., Jenkins, M., & Whitehead, L. (2024). Young Children and the Creation of a Digital Identity on Social Networking Sites: Scoping Review. Jmir Pediatrics and Parenting, 7, e54414. https://doi.org/10.2196/54414

Bezzo, F. B., Raitano, M., & Vanhuysse, P. (2023). Beyond Human Capital: How Does Parents’ Direct Influence on Their Sons’ Earnings Vary Across Eight OECD Countries? Oxford Economic Papers, 76(2), 375–394.

Bullock, G. S., Ward, P. S., Impellizzeri, F. M., Kluzek, S., Hughes, T., Hillman, C. C., Waterman, B. R., Danelson, K. A., Henry, K., Barr, E., Healey, K., Räisänen, A. M., Gomez, C., Fernandez, G., Wolf, J., Nicholson, K. F., Sell, T., Zerega, R., Dhiman, P., … Collins, G. S. (2023). Up Front and Open, Shrouded in Secrecy, or Somewhere in Between? A Meta Research Systematic Review of Open Science Practices in Sport Medicine Research.

Carenzio, A., Ferrari, S., & Rasi, P. (2021). Older People’s Media Repertoires, Digital Competences and Media Literacies: A Case Study From Italy. Education Sciences, 11(10), 584.

Chan, G. H. (2024). Enhancing Digital Literacy in Education: Educational Directions. Education + Training, 66(1), 127–142.

Cho, H., & Demiris, G. (2024). Addressing Digital Literacy in Telehealth Interventions for Persons With Dementia.

Choukou, M.-A., Olatoye, F., Urbanowski, R., Caon, M., & Monnin, C. (2023). Digital Health Technology to Support Health Care Professionals and Family Caregivers Caring for Patients With Cognitive Impairment: Scoping Review. Jmir Mental Health, 10, e40330.

Correa, T. (2013). Bottom-Up Technology Transmission Within Families: Exploring How Youths Influence Their Parents’ Digital Media Use With Dyadic Data. Journal of Communication, 64(1), 103–124.

Couturier, Y., Lanoue, S., Karam, M., Guillette, M., & Hudon, C. (2022). Social Workers Coordination in Primary Healthcare for Patients With Complex Needs: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Care Coordination, 26(1), 5–25.

Díaz, M. J. S. (2021). Emergency Remote Education, Family Support and the Digital Divide in the Context of the COVID-19 Lockdown. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 7956.

Ellison, T. L. (2023). Normalizing Black Students/Youth and Their Families’ Digital Literacies. The Reading Teacher, 76(5), 594–600.

Ertenlice, A. (2024). Social Media Interaction of Publications in the Field of General Surgery: A Comparative Analysis of the Twitter Performances of Q1 Medical Journals With Their Impact Factor. Archives of Current Medical Research, 5(1), 21–27.

Fang, M., Jandigulov, A., Snezhko, Z., Volkov, L., & Dudnik, O. (2021). New Technologies in Educational Solutions in the Field of STEM: The Use of Online Communication Services to Manage Teamwork in Project-Based Learning Activities. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (Ijet), 16(24), 4–22.

Ferreras-Listán, M., Gómez, C. I. H., Moreno-Crespo, P., & Fernández, O. M. (2021). School–Family Relations: An Educational Challenge in Times of COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10681.

Fesenko, I. (2022). Similar Evolutionary Steps: Journal of American College of Surgeons and Journal of Diagnostics and Treatment of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Journal of Diagnostics and Treatment of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 6(1).

Freeman, S., Marston, H. R., Olynick, J., Musselwhite, C., Kulczycki, C., Genoe, M. R., & Xiong, B. (2020). Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights From an International, Multi-Site Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5711.

Gagné, A., Bigras, N., Charron, A., & Lemire, J. (2022). The Integration of Affective Characteristics of the Family Environment for a More Comprehensive Explanatory Model of Reading Abilities. Frontiers in Education, 7.

Gedik, C., & Sahan, G. (2024). Evaluation of Parents’ and Teachers’ Views on Digital Parenting Skills. International E-Journal of Educational Studies, 8(16), 87–106.

Gerrand, V., Lam, K., Magee, L., Nilan, P., Walimunige, H., & Cao, D. (2023). What Got You Through Lockdown? M/C Journal, 26(4).

Gonzales, G. C., Machado, E., & Plitkins, L. (2023). “I Bring Them Here to Tell Their Stories”: Transnational Latina Mothers’ Critical Literacy Practices in an Intergenerational Storytelling Workshop. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 66(5), 308–318.

González-Sala, F., Osca-Lluch, J., & Osca, J. H. (2019). Information Resources: Differential Characteristics Between Ibero-American and Dutch JCR Psychology Journals From 1998 to 2017. Resources, 8(2), 111.

Green, L., Dudek, D., Cohen, L., Ólafsson, K., Staksrud, E., Jacques, C., & Jaunzems, K. (2022). Tox and Detox. M/C Journal, 25(2).

Grossman, R. C., Sgarbură, O., Hallet, J., & Søreide, K. (2021). Social Media in Surgery: Evolving Role in Research Communication and Beyond. Langenbeck S Archives of Surgery, 406(3), 505–520.

Guo, Y. (2025). Is Political Capital the Most Important Factor? How Do the Children of Civil Servants Form Aspirations to Become Civil Servants? Chinese Journal of Sociology, 11(3), 374–395.

Hwang, W., Fu, X., Brown, M., & Silverstein, M. (2022). Digital and Non-Digital Solidarity Between Older Parents and Their Middle-Aged Children: Associations With Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12560.

Hwang, W., Fu, X., Brown, M., & Silverstein, M. (2023). Intergenerational Solidarity With Digital Communication and Psychological Well‐being Among Older Parents During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Family Process, 63(3), 1356–1372.

Hwang, W., Min, J., Brown, M., & Silverstein, M. (2023). Intergenerational Solidarity and Digital Communication During the Covid‐19 Pandemic in South Korea: Implications for Dyadic Well‐being. Family Process, 63(2), 912–931.

Jin, S. J., Abdullah, A. H., Mokhtar, M., & Kohar, U. H. A. (2022). The Potential of Big Data Application in Mathematics Education in Malaysia. Sustainability, 14(21), 13725.

Katz‐Wise, S. L., Godwin, E. G., Medzhitova, Y., Moore, L., Parsa, N., Hill, A., Oparah, N., Bogart, L. M., Rosal, M. C., Sansfaçon, A. P., Ehrensaft, D., Nishman, M. M., & Austin, S. B. (2024). Development of a Family-Level Intervention for Families With Transgender and/or Nonbinary Youth: Lessons and Recommendations. Journal of Family Psychology, 38(7), 995–1006.

Kim, D. H., Jeon, K., & You, S. C. (2025). Evaluating Regional Diversity in Scientific Communication: A Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Preprints and Peer-Reviewed Publications.

Lau, B. H., Shum, E. N., Kwok, A. P., Liu, B. C., Chan, C., Kwan, R. Y. C., Fong, F. K., Lam, G., Tsang, C. L. N., Leung, D., Cheung, J. C., Chow, J. W. M., Wong, P. P., & Gietel‐Basten, S. (2025). Revealing the Nuances of ‘Grey Digital Divide’ in Hong Kong: A Latent Profile Analysis. Plos One, 20(7), e0326413.

Lewis, T., Markham, A., & Holcombe-James, I. (2021). Embracing Liminality and “Staying With the Trouble” on (And Off) Screen. M/C Journal, 24(3).

Lin, X., Xu, G., & Xiong, B. (2025). Artificial Intelligence Literacy, Sustainability of Digital Learning and Practice Achievement: A Study of Vocational College Students. Plos One, 20(10), e0332175.

Muminovna, M. M., & Abdugapparovich, N. U. (2021). Ensuring Economic Growth through the Development of Digital Technologies in Uzbekistan. Indonesian Journal of Innovation and Applied Sciences (IJIAS), 1(1), 77-81.

Najmah, N. A. (2023). Analisis Tematik pada Penelitian Kualitatif. Salemba Empat.

Oliveira, A. F., Brites, M. J., & Cerqueira, C. (2022). Intergenerational Perspectives on Media and Fake News During Covid-19: Results From Online Intergenerational Focus Groups. Media and Communication, 10(4), 277–288.

Peng, Y. (2022). Gendered Division of Digital Labor in Parenting: A Qualitative Study in Urban China. Sex Roles, 86(5–6), 283–304.

Perera, K., & Nilaweera, L. (2024). Sybil and the Screen: A Very Young Child’s Digital Literacy Practices in a Home Environment. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 23(1), 3–17.

Premanandan, S., Ahmad, A., Cajander, Å., Ågerfalk, P. J., & Gemert‐Pijnen, J. E. v. (2024). Designing and Evaluating IT Applications for Informal Caregivers: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e57393.

Ragnedda, M., Ruiu, M. L., & Addeo, F. (2019). Measuring Digital Capital: An Empirical Investigation. New Media & Society, 22(5), 793–816.

Serra, S., & Revez, J. (2023). Social Inclusion of Refugees and Asylum Seekers: The Role of Public Libraries in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 56(2), 397–414.

Sugiyono. (2020). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Till, S., Mkhize, M., Farao, J., Shandu, L. D., Muthelo, L., Coleman, T., Mbombi, M. O., Bopape, M. A., Klingberg, S., Heerden, A. v., Mothiba, T. M., Densmore, M., & Verdezoto, N. (2023). Digital Health Technologies for Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Other Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Cross-Disciplinary Scoping Review With Stakeholder Consultation. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e42161.

Upe, A. (2023). Innovation and Technological Adaptation of Business Actors in the Digital Age: A Digital Sociology Perspective. Indonesian Journal of Innovation and Applied Sciences (IJIAS), 3(3), 218-227.

Wang, J., & Wu, Y. (2023). Income Inequality, Cultural Capital, and High School Students’ Academic Achievement in OECD Countries: A Moderated Mediation Analysis. British Journal of Sociology, 74(2), 148–172.

Wang, X., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Intergenerational Care and Rural Childhood Obesity in the Digital Era: Based on Screen Exposure Perspective. SSM - Population Health, 27, 101694.

Wang, Y., Zhao, Y., Lu, J., & Gao, Y. (2024). Young Children’s Digital Literacy Practices With Caregivers in the Home Environment: Voices of Chinese Parents and Grandparents. Sustainability, 16(8), 3300.

Warmansyah, J., Ismandela, A., Nabila, D. F., Wulandari, R. T., Wahyu, W. P., Khairunnisa, K., putri, A., Komalasari, E., Sari, M., & Yuningsih, R. (2023). Smartphone Addiction, Executive Function, and Mother-Child Relationships in Early Childhood Emotion Dysregulation. Jpud - Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, 17(2), 241–266.

Wibowo, A., Gularso, D., & Purwaningsih, O. (2024). The Importance of Social Capital in Developing Students’ Literacy Skills in Elementary Schools. Indonesian Journal of Educational Research and Review, 7(1), 116–127.

Woolley, K. E., Bright, D., Ayres, T., Morgan, F., Little, K., & Davies, A. (2023). Mapping Inequities in Digital Health Technology Within the World Health Organization’s European Region Using PROGRESS PLUS: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e44181.

Zahari, I., Östbring, K., Purhagen, J., & Rayner, M. (2022). Plant-Based Meat Analogues From Alternative Protein: A Systematic Literature Review. Foods, 11(18), 2870.

Zeng, A., Tang, Q., O’Hagan, E., McCaffery, K., Ijaz, K., Quiroz, J. C., Kocaballı, A. B., Rezazadegan, D., Trivedi, R., Siette, J., Shaw, T., Makeham, M., Thiagalingam, A., Chow, C. K., & Laranjo, L. (2024). Use of Digital Patient Decision-Support Tools for Atrial Fibrillation Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, 30(1), 10–21.

Published

2026-01-15

How to Cite

Utomo, J., Jayadi, K. ., Idrus, I. I. ., Torro, S. ., Kamaruddin, S. A. ., & Faisal-E-Alam, M. . (2026). Intergenerational Relations and the Digital Economy: Educational Transformation of Urban Families. Indonesian Annual Conference Series, 5, 70-78. Retrieved from https://ojs.literacyinstitute.org/index.php/iacseries/article/view/2329