What information do you consume on social media? Perhaps a news article, a delicious recipe, funny meme or the occasional cat video? Amongst the posts in your news feed, you may see the occasional mummy blogger sharing her views of parenting and her parenting choices. How much does that influence you and your decision making? How does it impact on your experience of parenting?
USQ’s Digital Life researchers are exploring how mothers use social media to share information and inform their decisions on children’s health topics such as vaccination and immunisation.
There’s no doubt our world is changing. Mums are having children later in life and returning to work sooner after birth. A declining fertility rate contributes to the mix, creating a sense of physical social isolation as mixed-age families are changing the average neighbourhood.
In the past, it may have been customary to join a neighbour for a cuppa whilst comparing birth stories and parenting woes, but the social landscape has changed. Today, local mothers’ groups reside part time in neighbourhoods, and part time in social media.