Alhaj Md. Abu Yusuf: This episode of "Virtual World: Possibilities and Fears" discusses the "impact of the virtual world on the family."

People are now spending a lot more time behind the internet based social media. We are not saying that there is no need for this. But its use is much more than necessary. The distance between the child and the parents is increasing as the family members spend a lot of time behind the internet. The distance between husband and wife is also increasing. The tendency towards virtual world is comparatively higher among the youth. Due to this a kind of self-centeredness is going to be noticed in the young society. Young people addicted to social media are no longer as keen on gossip as they used to be. As a result, intimacy and tension between family members are reduced.

As the distance between the members of the family increases, the foundation of the family becomes weaker. As a result, the incidence of divorce increases and differences and disagreements between members of different generations of the family are no longer tolerable. Family relations experts say that despite the increase in the number of educated people in the society, domestic violence is not decreasing. This is due to the lack of close communication and discussion between family members. As a result, they do not show the expected sympathy and quarrel over minor issues. At present, the virtual world is taking the place of intimate discussions and rumors among family members. In this situation, awareness about the harmful effects of the virtual world has become urgent to keep the family structure strong and strong.

The distance between husband and wife is increasing

As we have discussed before, the virtual world has now become a medium of interaction. Due to this, there is a big difference in the experience and attitude of the family members about life. The experience and guidance of adults is not as important to many as it used to be. The tendency to choose a partner based on emotions is also increasing day by day. Religious and social aspects are not taken into consideration especially in the selection of husband or wife. Incidents such as divorce or separation are on the rise as inexperienced young people do not take into account the views of family members when choosing a spouse. Internet-based conversations can never be a substitute for family meetings. Love and attraction among family members is sacred. Only on the basis of this love and attraction can family happiness be ensured.

We are talking about the various problems caused by the over-attraction and over-reliance on the virtual world. But at the same time, it is important to keep in mind that the factors behind the creation of dependence on the virtual world must also be identified. When both parents of a family are employed, they do not give much time to their children or even if they want to. In this condition the children suffer from loneliness. They take refuge in the virtual world to spend time. He started searching for his desired friends through various social media by entering the internet. They are sometimes deceived into entering such a world without the advice of adults.

Students do not mind in class

Getting involved through social media is now so easy that people of all ages can operate there. In this situation, the awareness of the parents of the family is important. Parents should spend some time with their children so that they do not feel lonely. The mistake that most parents make in today`s busy life is to give their child everything except time. Parents buy houses and cars for their children, enroll them in good schools, give them good food and clothes. But forget the time you need to spend with them, the religious and moral education you need to give them. Parents often do not know what their children are doing when they go to school or college, who their friends are or who they are making friends with on the Internet. As a result, many accidents happen without the knowledge of the parents. Such a trend is seen among Iranians as well as people in other parts of the world. For this reason, extensive research is being done in this country.

According to a survey conducted as part of the study, 18 percent of divorces in the first three years of marriage in Iran`s Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz and Gilan provinces are caused by social media. Researchers have found that divorce is more important when it comes to choosing a mate than emotion. Again, many do not know the correct way of life or do not apply it. This is one of the reasons why divorce happens between husband and wife. It is often seen that after marriage, the husband or wife tends towards social media. Many people look for artificial happiness in many cases due to worldly problems.

In this situation, some people go astray in search of healthy entertainment. Spending time through social media then seems more interesting than spending time with husband or wife. Then it becomes a kind of intoxication. As a result, the worldly problems that could easily be solved become more complicated with time. But keep in mind, the internet or social media has created many opportunities and possibilities for us. Depending on how we use it, for what purpose, we will benefit or endanger this world. The reality is that there is no way to avoid the virtual world. So we have to accept this world and use it consciously.  (To be continued...)

Author: Alhaj Md. Abu Yusuf is a Columnist, Literary and Chairman of Ababil Hajj Group