Algiers, DZWatch – The rapid digital transformation sweeping through Algeria is reshaping family dynamics and parenting practices, creating a ‘silent disconnect’ within Algerian households. Experts highlight a growing chasm between tech-savvy children and parents struggling to keep pace, leading to strained communication and new forms of educational tension.
Sociological studies point to the rise of a ‘digital generation gap,’ a subtle conflict stemming from differing values, perspectives, and ways of interacting with the world, particularly as children enter adolescence. This gap extends beyond mere knowledge differences; it signifies a decline in effective family communication and the emergence of new challenges in raising children.
Dr. Soraya Tijani, Head of the National Organization for Family Guidance and Professor of Sociology at the University of Algiers 2, observes that traditional parenting models are increasingly ill-equipped to address the demands of the digital age. She notes a decline in the effectiveness of traditional disciplinary methods in the face of digital influence, an increase in undisciplined behavior among some children due to inadequate monitoring, and a limited ability for families to maintain educational consistency due to shifting values and a lack of intergenerational harmony.
“It’s not a collapse of parenting, but a mismatch between traditional tools and the new digital environment,” Dr. Tijani explains.
Technology itself plays a dual role in shaping the Algerian child’s personality, presenting both positive and negative impacts. On one hand, it accelerates cognitive development, broadens knowledge, and enhances information access and analytical skills. On the other, it fosters a reality based on virtual content rather than direct experience, limits face-to-face social interaction, and encourages the uncritical acceptance of digital information.
This creates a situation where children exist in a separate digital world within their own homes, weakening family bonds and necessitating a renewed approach to parenting in the digital age. DZWatch will continue to monitor this evolving situation and provide insights into navigating the challenges facing Algerian families.
