Snapchat to Minecraft: What Content Are Children Consuming Online? 

Screens are everywhere, but not all screens are created equal. Children use screens and media for a variety of purposes; however, the quality of the content matters. There’s a distinction between learning from educational videos online versus mindlessly scrolling through YouTube Shorts for hours on end. Research shows that content heavily influences a child’s thoughts, actions, and beliefs. Thus, it’s important for parents to know how their child is utilizing devices. In this article, we’ll share existing literature that highlights what children are viewing and how they are engaging with the online world so that parents and caregivers can make informed decisions about their children’s screen use. We’ll also share some tips to help parents ensure that the content that children view is both safe and age-appropriate. 

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Youth media use today can roughly be broken down into three categories: educational, entertainment, and socialization. All three categories can be a tool that helps kids connect with others and learn. However, if children are not equipped with the resources and knowledge to navigate the digital realm in a safe, healthy manner, then all three could pose risks to children’s development and well-being. We’ll briefly discuss the potential risks and benefits of each category and talk about ways parents can mitigate the risks. 

EDUCATION. 

What Children Are Doing

With schools returning to in-person modality after the pandemic, kids no longer sit in remote synchronous courses for an extended period. However, they continue to use screens in and out of the classroom for educational purposes. According to a national survey, in 2022, young children and teenagers alike spent an average of 14 minutes per day on Kahoot!, an interactive and game-based learning platform. The survey also identified Duolingo (a language learning app), Quizlet (an AI-powered learning tool), and Photomath (a math camera solver app) as other popular digital learning tools used among students of all ages in the US. Websites like BrainPop and Khan Academy are additional educational tools where kids can take an assortment of online lessons on various topics. Platforms like YouTube also offer various free educational videos that users can watch and learn from. 

Entertainment Educational media, including television shows and gamified apps, are also becoming increasingly more prominent. These media types are usually created with an educational or prosocial goal in mind. PBS Kids is a well-known non-profit that produces a variety of children’s programs that center around quality education – creating content for kids, parents, and educators. For instance, Molly of Denali is a series that not only teaches kids how to solve problems using informational text but also teaches them about Alaska Native culture. Common Sense Media has compiled an ongoing list of educational television shows targeted at youth so that parents and caregivers can have a better understanding of what shows are developmentally appropriate and beneficial for their children. 

Concerns 

Generally, parents don’t have that many concerns over children’s use of educational tools. However, an issue that could potentially come up is young children being exposed to content that’s not age-appropriate or trustworthy, especially when viewing content alone. For instance, a child could accidentally come across a war documentary with violent or traumatic imagery geared toward a more mature audience. Studies have demonstrated that young children are more susceptible to experiencing media-induced secondary trauma when exposed to imagery or content – both fictional and nonfictional – that’s frightening (e.g., news reporting of a school shooting). 

Helpful Tips

We encourage parents to understand what their kids are watching during independent screen time to evaluate if the content is appropriate for their age and if the information comes from a reliable source. We also advise adults to use their discretion in deciding what content to expose their child to – keeping their child’s temperament, personality, and mental health in mind. Another option is for parents and caregivers to co-watch with youth when possible to unpack complex issues with them afterward – emphasizing their safety and validating the full range of their reactions. 

ENTERTAINMENT. 

What Children Are Doing

Another way in which kids use screens is for entertainment and relaxation purposes. As articulated in the previous article, entertainment media played a critical role in helping people – youth and adults  – get through lockdown measures during the height of COVID-19. Research shows that entertainment media activities such as listening to music, watching a film or video, and playing a video game can improve mood, strengthen friendships, and increase competence. 

In a study from 2021, researchers found that when forced to choose, more tweens and teens preferred YouTube over other popular entertainment sites. A study on children ages 0-8 years old from 2020 also parallels this finding; the data illustrated that watching online videos constituted “the largest proportion of children’s total TV and video viewing.” Watching content through subscription services (Netflix/Disney+/other) and Television (live/recorded/on demand) was also popular among younger kids since most don’t own their personal devices yet. Video gaming is another pastime and form of entertainment media that’s prevalent among kids of all ages. 

Concerns 

Concerns in relation to entertainment content tend to revolve around youth’s exposure to content that’s not developmentally suitable, such as violence and inappropriate language. In addition, since so many entertainment platforms now allow users to engage with others online via comments and live-chat functions, depending on the context, children’s digital safety could be jeopardized. 

A key finding from a recent study published in September 2023 indicated that TikTok is irresistible, offering “bite-sized pleasure and low-friction interaction that quickly adapts to the user’s interests or mood.” Apps featuring short-form videos (e.g., TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube shorts) can expose children to inappropriate content since videos just “start to play,” and users don’t need to make any decisions. After extended use, the algorithm of these apps simply “tailors” content that appeals to the user. Research findings from a study conducted in 2021 suggested that short-form videos can either undermine or enhance subjective well-being depending on the content of the videos (e.g., entertainment/relaxation vs. people/fashion) and the way they use the platform (i.e., posting or active use vs. watching videos or passive use). 

Helpful Tips

Context can matter as much as the content. Researchers recommend joint media engagement, a term that describes the spontaneous and designed experiences of people using media together. This could look like a parent playing a video game with their child while posing questions and communicating to reach a common goal. Parents and caregivers can consider how they can engage with their children when using screens and media. For instance, parents could watch TV shows or movies with their children and then discuss appropriate online behaviors and the consequences of inappropriate activity with their children. Understandably, not all parents and caregivers will always have the time to co-watch media with their children. In that case, they can use Common Sense Media, a resource that helps adults gauge the developmental appropriateness and quality of the media their child engages with

SOCIALIZATION.

What Children Are Doing 

Media offers us an efficient way to stay connected and communicate with one another. Friends and family living across the globe can now text or call one another in a matter of seconds. These digital features were crucial during the pandemic as they allowed people to socialize while staying safe and abiding by social distancing measures. Through social media apps, people can stay up-to-date on the lives of their loved ones. 

In a 2023 national survey on adolescents’ social media use, researchers found that YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are the top four apps that children use the most often. The report indicated that youth prefer apps and sites that offer short-format videos but also allow them to use direct messaging to communicate with friends. The findings also indicated that youth view their media use as a positive way to connect with others. Many said that social media, in particular, made them feel socially connected and emotionally supported by peers at least sometimes, and half reported that social media made their friendships better. 

Concerns

While adolescents value social media as a way to connect with others, parents and caregivers reported social media as the primary concern over their children’s screen use. A study from the PEW research center found that the top two concerns parents have over their child’s social media use are access to explicit content and time-wasting (e.g., “doom scrolling”). Children themselves also acknowledged the negative effects of social media. In a study conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital, teenagers admitted that social media could interfere with sleep and family time and impact their grades and body image. 

Helpful Tips

Having an open dialogue with kids early on about digital citizenship (the ability to navigate digital environments in a safe and responsible way and to actively and respectfully engage in these spaces) impacts how they engage in online spaces. Parents should talk to their children about online safety and manners and listen to their concerns about media use. When conversations around screen limits and responsible online behavior do not address a family’s specific needs, parents can consider using parental controls and setups. However, we urge parents to problem-solve alongside their children first and have honest conversations about why they’re setting limits around their children’s screen access. It’s also important for parents to know that the minimum requirement for most social media apps is 13 years old – this could potentially factor into decision-making over when to give a child their own devices. 

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS.

Media is a tool. When navigated in a safe and healthy manner, the use of screens can help kids acquire knowledge and skills, allow them to relax and have fun, and strengthen their social connections. However, when not utilized properly, screen usage could lead to sleep problems, unhealthy social interactions, heightened anxiety levels, or kids ignoring their daily responsibilities. We encourage parents to talk to their kids from an early age about how to develop healthy habits around screen use. Parents can watch together with their children to help them become more in touch with their emotions and reactions to specific content and answer any questions and concerns that may come up. As kids enter their preteens and teenage years, parents should still have an understanding of how their children are engaging with media and be aware of the content their children are consuming. If needed, parents can use parental controls as a way to monitor a child’s screen use. In this way, parents can minimize the risks associated with screen use and can help their children make the most out of their media experience.

Screen Time Usage: Pre-Pandemic, Pandemic, & the Present

Even prior to the pandemic, children’s access to and the duration of screen use has been on the rise. From 2015 to 2019, entertainment screen use went up by 3% for tweens and 11% for teens. Children’s engagement with certain types of digital devices varies by age, but television appears highly popular among kids of all ages. Between 1999 and 2009, the prevalence of televisions in children’s bedrooms increased from 65% to 71%. Now, with the use of streaming services, children can more easily access entertainment media content on their own devices, as more than two-thirds of kids own a smartphone by age 12. 

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Parenting in the Age of Screens

“I have noticed both my older children are quicker to anger after screens are taken away. They ask for screen time constantly and are in a terrible mood when I say no.”

– Parent Quote

“I don’t like how my son comes home from school straight to playing video games, but he says that his friends are all playing together. How can I limit screens without isolating him?” 

– Parent Quote

“My daughter says her entire soccer team is on Snapchat, but I worry that if I let her get the app, I’ll have no control over what she’s posting and seeing. I feel really torn.” 

– Parent Quote
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Getting Kids to Move with Alternative Sports

What are alternative sports and how can they benefit teens?

*Note* The five alternative sports highlighted in this brochure are only some of the opportunities that exist. If these are not the best fit for you or your teen, continue to explore and try new things!

Acknowledgments 

This brochure was prepared with the help of Andie Stallman, a graduate student at Tufts University’s Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development who concentrated on Clinical and Developmental Health and Psychology. A former collegiate athlete on the Tufts University Field Hockey team, Andie is passionate about finding ways to make sports and exercise more accessible, so that everyone can enjoy the numerous benefits of physical activity. Andie is particularly interested in developmental psychopathology, sibling relationships, and experiences of trauma. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology to help children and families develop skills that will enable them to confidently navigate life’s hardships and achieve their individual goals.

Getting Kids to Move: How Non-Traditional Sports Can Benefit Children with Social-Emotional and Learning Challenges

“I’ve tried to get my child to play soccer like I did when I was a kid, but she always stands at the end of the bench and doesn’t talk to anyone. Where can I find a sport where she’ll feel comfortable?

“After my kid comes home from school, he is exhausted and drained. All he wants to do is play video games. How can I get him moving?”

Continue reading Getting Kids to Move: How Non-Traditional Sports Can Benefit Children with Social-Emotional and Learning Challenges

Barriers and Benefits: Helping Teens with Autism increase their Physical Activity

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by difficulty with reciprocal social interactions and by a pattern of restricted or repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities.

While adolescents in general are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles, teens with ASD are at an even greater risk for decreased physical activity and weight gain. In fact, adolescents with ASD were found to be 62% less likely to engage in weekly physical exercise and 81% less likely to have participated in organized sports within the previous year, when compared to their peers without this diagnosis (McCoy & Morgan, 2020). Multiple barriers exist that make participation in sports a daunting task for adolescents with ASD. The social and physical demands of participating in an organized sport can often be intimidating for these youngsters.   Stepping outside of their comfort zone to try a new activity can also be a challenge. With thoughtful accommodations and creative solutions, however, these barriers can be overcome. Participation in sports will not only lead to a healthier lifestyle, but can also help teens with ASD improve their social skills and become more flexible in thinking and behavior.

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Team Spirit: Benefits of Organized Sports in Adolescence

Adolescence is a tumultuous time. Children have to adjust to their changing bodies, develop a unique, individual identity separate from their parents, and learn about the complexities of life and the world around them. Physical activity is proven to have many mental health benefits for teenagers, including a positive impact on well-being, resilience, and emotional functioning (Hale et al., 2021). A major avenue through which adolescents engage in physical activity is organized sports. Besides the obvious positive effects on physical health, organized sports can provide teens with a sense of peer belonging, help them develop a positive self-concept, and teach discipline. Thus, organized sports can help children master developmental tasks of adolescence and put them on a path towards becoming successful adults.

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How to Talk to Kids about War

Many of us have been affected by the current events in Ukraine.  As adults, we not only have to process these events ourselves but simultaneously figure out how to talk about it with the children in our lives.  Children who have been directly affected by war will need psychological support far beyond the scope of this article.  We wanted to focus on how to talk to children who have been exposed to war second-hand, for example via news, social media, family or peer connections. 

In this situation, the first thing to remember is that kids are resilient.  Most children who are exposed to war second-hand will be able to process this information without significant negative emotional impact.  Having said that, when talking to children about a topic as difficult as war, adults should consider the child’s individual characteristics.  In this article, we will examine how children understand the concept of war and discuss what to consider when talking to children about this difficult topic.

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Children and Screens During COVID-19

Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, children’s screen use was a point of concern for many caregivers and professionals alike. Children have watched T.V for decades now, and with the introduction of computers and laptops, followed by smartphones, tablets, and e-readers, children are being introduced to screens at younger and younger ages and relying on screens in their daily lives more and more. Parents and professionals have been asking questions for years about how much time children should spend on screens. In addition, they have been concerned about the content and its influence on children, amongst other concerns.

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