Technological changes and social implications

In the 50s there was as yet no TV ,computers,I pads ,mobile phones etc.So how did people pass their time? It was common for the family to gather round after dinner and there would be a lot of banter and exchange of views or the head of the family would talk about certain things which he wanted the children to note.
The family was more united and close and there was good communication and therefore more understanding.That was how family bonds were built and strengthened.In our free time we indulged in outdoor activities or reading.Man is resilient and very adaptable.Those days we learned to make do with what tools we had and what the outdoors had to offer to pass our time.We used to listen with open mouths to the stories which mum and dad would tell us ,about how their parents came from China,the Japaneses occupation and things like that and through these sessions we learned a lot for in the process of the story telling dad and mum would interject with emphasis on certain values like to be filial ,respect for the elders,good manners,politeness etc.These may sound to be mere words but they actually carry a lot of meaning and are part and parcel of a man's character.
We learned about rationing and how fortunate we were to get rice and other essentials because of the fact that dad served the Japanese.This entitled him to a certain amount of rations whilst others who were of no use to the Japanese had to look for their own food using their own ingenuity .
Today we are in the era of technology and oldies like us cant help but notice the difference it makes in our lives.A family can be all sitting in the living hall and they do not communicate .Each one would be wrapped up in his or her own world playing with the gadgets,surfing the net,or e mailing their friends.It appears to be the trend today and this is leading to the disintegration of the family unit.If I had things my way I would declare that all such gadgets be used only in the study or bedroom and should be barred from the living room.But then again ,another change..parents are not what they used to be.Their status has also changed.Gone are the days when the head of the house laid down the house rules.As parents grow older they are considered less qualified to talk or give opinions so being wiser than they are given credit for parents just play the " be seen and not heard " game.
But its sad to note that the very core of society the family unit is no longer what it used to be.Is it caused by technological changes or by people who have so invariably been affected by all these changes that they have lost their basic values and perceptions about life?