The evolution of the relationship of OFW [Overseas Filipino Workers] parents and their children through social media afforded communication.

Abstract

In 2012, the Commission on Filipino Overseas estimated that around 10.5 million Filipinos have worked overseas since the enactment of the Overseas Employment Program in 1974, and have left behind friends and most importantly, family. Distance made easy communication between OFWs with their family especially with their children only possible by computer-mediated means. In exploring the dynamics and the evolution of the relationship of OFW parents and their children, level of disclosure and the content of the messages from their primary means of communication, social media/social media apps, was studied. Three age groups of OFWs' children are considered in the study: kids aged 5-12, teens aged 13-19, and adults aged 20- onward. A survey instrument that measured the level of disclosure and evolution was used on both the OFWs and their children, as well as interviews from highest-scoring pairs in the survey. Results of the study showed that there is a strong link between disclosure and evolution and the disclosure level decreases between the pair as the children age but is disputed by the personal views of respondents that they become closer through social media communication. The implications of the study illustrate that online communication may enhance disclosure and act as an effective disclosure avenue in terms of relationship evolution.