Navigating the Digital Playground: Understanding Children's Media Engagement

 Radhipa Fiona Perera on 4 Feb. 2024In today's world, kids easily use phones and computers. It's important for parents, teachers, and researchers to understand how kids use technology. It's not enough to just look at it quickly; we need to explore the ideas that affect how kids use media. 

Studies about kids using digital media show that technology is becoming a bigger part of their lives. How it affects them can be different depending on where they live and their culture. Digital media, like using computers or watching videos, does a lot for kids – it helps them learn, have fun, and connect with others. The studies also say that kids all around the world are spending more time using digital media.

How much time kids spend pasted to their screens can be different, with concerns that too much might mess up their sleep and physical activities. Research suggests that what kids watch and how they use media play crucial roles in shaping their behaviour. It's not uncommon for children to imitate what their favourite superheroes did on TV, and sometimes this can lead to risky behaviour. Learning apps can be a positive aspect to improve cognitive skills, but there's also a risk of seeing things that aren't age-appropriate and/or facing cyberbullying. 

Parents and caregivers should pay attention to what media their children see and help them understand what is real and what is not. Talking about the possible outcomes of certain actions and emphasizing the importance of safety can reduce risks. Also, encouraging positive role models and involving children in creative and constructive activities can be better options. Parental guidelines often suggest a balanced approach, which means choosing content suitable for the child's age, limiting screen time, and promoting shared activities. However, opinions about these guidelines can be different, as parents have various styles and cultural practices. 

Examples of social media platforms for kids include YouTube Kids, providing videos suitable for their age, and apps like TikTok designed for younger audiences. But, there are worries about whether the content is appropriate and how data privacy is handled. When studying these platforms, it's crucial to understand their effects on children's growth and stress the need for parents to be involved and for content creators to be responsible.

In Finland, groups like Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the National Audiovisual Institute help with research and guidelines for kids using digital media. Globally, organizations like Common Sense Media, PBS Kids, Sesame Workshop and HealthyChildren.org offer resources for parents to understand the digital world. It's important to weigh the good and bad of digital media, highlighting the importance of ongoing research and adaptive advice to keep up with changes in technology affecting children.

Want to read more on this? 

Modecki, K. L., Goldberg, R. E., Wisniewski, P., & Orben, A. (2022). WhatIs Digital Parenting? A Systematic Review of Past Measurement and Blueprint forthe Future. Perspectives on Psychological Science.

Nichols, S., & Selim, N. (2022). DigitallyMediated Parenting: A Review of the Literature. Societies.

Paus-Hasebrink, I. (2019). Therole of media within young people’s socialization: A theoretical approach. Communications.

Walrave, M., Verswijvel, K., Ouvrein, G., Staes, L., Hallam, L., & Hardies, K. (2022). TheLimits of Sharenting: Exploring Parents’ and Adolescents’ Sharenting BoundariesThrough the Lens of Communication Privacy Management Theory. Frontiers in Education.