ABSTRACT
The rapid development of digital technology has brought both opportunities and challenges for parents in
shaping their children's character. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of parental communication
strategies in shaping children's digital behavior and character development amid increasing online risks
and influences. The study uses a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design to explore parents'
lived experiences in communicating with their children to foster positive character development in the
digital era. Purposive sampling was employed to select six parents (three mothers and three fathers) with
children aged 10-15 years who actively use digital devices. Data were collected through in-depth semi-
structured interviews, and a thematic analysis was used to identify key communication strategies,
challenges, and parental roles in shaping digital behavior. The results showed that parents adopted various
effective communication practices, specifically maintaining open dialogue through regular family
discussions, implementing collaborative rule-setting, engaging in active mentoring through shared digital
activities, and modeling appropriate technology use behavior. The main challenges included gaps in
technological knowledge and limited quality time. Parents played roles as digital educators, supervisors,
and role models. Effective communication had a positive impact on children's awareness of online risks and
responsible use of technology. However, consistent implementation of rules and peer influence remain
challenges. The study highlights the importance of adaptive and supportive communication practices while
also addressing technological knowledge gaps and peer influences.
Keywords: Digital character; Digital parenting; Digital resilience; Media literacy; Parental
communication