Technology plays an increasing role in keeping families united, a recent survey by Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals. The traditional American family living in modern times stays connected though Internet and cell phones, which have become central components in their everyday lives.

The married couples with children have the highest rates of Internet and cell phone usage, computer ownership and broadband adoption, the survey shows: 95 percent of these households have cell phone(s), 93 percent own computer(s), and 94 percent of them have at least one household member going online.

Furthermore, in married with children families, ownership of multiple gadgets is not an unusual thing: 58 percent of those living in such households own two or more desktop or laptop computers, while 63 of them also have a home network. In over three quarters of the married with children households, both spouses use the Internet, and so do 84 percent of the children aged 7-17.

Cell phones are also a permanent presence in married with children households: 89 percent of the households own multiple cell phones, while 57 percent of the children in these households, aged 7-17, own their own cell phone. However, children in these households also appear less likely to own a cell phone than they are to go online, the survey shows.

While some may still be reluctant to the idea that technology has a beneficial role in family life, instead of a destructive one, the reality shows that in a world where people are always on the go, always busy, and where family time has been drastically reduced, family members choose to stay connected through technology.

Technology was found to be beneficial for family life, according to the study, since families using the most technology are also more likely to share more moments with family members when they are online.

On the other hand, technology can also kill family time in some cases, as dual-income households have reported less family time, and more work, partly due to the use of internet. They are also less likely to participate in family leisure time or eat family dinner, a percentage that rises with the rate of technology ownership.

However, we can’t ignore the fact that technology enables new ways of communication: 70 percent of couples who both own a cell phone contact each other at least once a day, to say hello or chat, compared to just 54 percent of couples who own just one or no cell phone.

The Internet has shown both ups and downs for users: while one third of them believe it has improved their connection with friends, and 23 percent with family members, 11 percent of them have also said Internet now means more time spent at the office; but 19 percent of them have also said the Internet also meant more work from home.

We must admit that technology today plays an essential role in creating family networks, and although we see significant changes in family as a unit, we can also see that technological progress doesn’t necessarily mean tearing families apart. Technology provides new levels of communication, and in some cases, it is the solution that may save hard working family members from isolation.