KOMUNIKACIJA MEĐU PARTNERIMA U DIGITALNO DOBA: MOGUĆNOSTI OBITELJSKE MEDIJACIJE

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTNERS IN A DIGITAL AGE: FAMILY MEDIATION POSSIBILITIES7 ABSTRACT Digital tools enable numerous advantages in everyday life, and the usage of the Internet is increasing in all age groups. Communication through modern technologies is conducted in everyday private and professional relationships, and therefore digital environment brings numerous changes in the area of interpersonal relationships. The influence of the online environment on partner relationships is in the focus of researchers and practitioners alike. The aim of this paper is to present modern trends in the area of partner communication in the digital environment and to present the possibilities and challenges for family mediators in the contemporary digital age particularly significant in actual crisis of COVID 19 pandemic. The first part of the paper is focused on partner relationships in the modern, digital age and it presents the results of the research in the area of partner communication in the online environment, as well as the implications for the practitioners in the area of partner relationships. The second part of the paper presents the possibilities of family mediation in the online environment. Digital tools and possibilities of online communication have many benefits in the professional practice of helping professionals who, due to the additional demands of the online environment, have the responsibility to improve their digital competencies and to implement modern technologies in their daily practice. Since the online environment brings specific ethical challenges to professionals, this paper will present the ethical standards needed for the area of online family mediation. The paper briefly presents the digital tools and applications which can be useful to the partners and family mediators during the family mediation process. Key words: digital environment, partner communication, family mediation, digital tools.