New technology like Skype, Twitter keep families connected

CLEVELAND -- It was hard that freshman year for the Bogden family. Their oldest son went off to college at Miami University in Oxford.

"It was hard, and Jonathon was homesick,too," say Mark Bogden.

Now Jonathon is a junior at Miami and the family chats at least once a week through Skype. If you have a web camera, the service is typically free.

"It's great you can see whether he's had a good day by his expression, or if he's down," says Mark Bogden.

"They can see I'm in one piece. I don't have bruises, no broken bones. I'm still a healthy kid," says Jonathon.

Many parents are now using Skype, Twitter or Facebook to keep in touch, instead of phone calls.

"I use it to check in with my parents when I'm on the road for a game," says Anthony Sambula, a Cleveland State University student and baseball player.

He says it is cheaper than using the phone and that face-to-face connection makes you feel closer to family.