Youth Outlook: What Do Kids Say About Their Media Use?

In today’s digital era, screen usage often fuels parent-child conflicts, especially during adolescence. From disputes over owning a smartphone to signing up for social media accounts – these issues around media use can make it challenging to reconcile the tension between parental authority and child autonomy. However, screens are here to stay – making it critical for adults to understand and engage with youth to better support them. Now that we better understand how children interact with screens and media and the impact on their development, it is imperative for parents and caregivers to listen to where children themselves are coming from to help them become responsible digital citizens. Children are active agents who should contribute to and shape decisions made in their everyday lives. By acknowledging children’s views and involving them in conversations about media use habits, adults can strengthen the sense of trust and quality of their relationships with their children while promoting positive health outcomes.

Motives & Perspectives: Why Do Kids Use Screens?

Media is often villainized for its “detrimental” impact on children’s minds and development, regardless of the type of media platform (e.g., TV, video games, social media). The ever-changing media landscape is new terrain for many parents and caregivers, many of whom report not understanding the digital platform nor feeling familiar with it. While public opinions about screens and technology tend to sway in a negative direction, children today seem to have a more nuanced opinion regarding digital media.

Media is often villainized for its “detrimental” impact on children’s minds and development, regardless of the type of media platform (e.g., TV, video games, social media). The ever-changing media landscape is new terrain for many parents and caregivers, many of whom report not understanding the digital platform nor feeling familiar with it. While public opinions about screens and technology tend to sway in a negative direction, children today seem to have a more nuanced opinion regarding digital media.

In one study, tweens pointed to entertainment, boredom, and socialization as the main reasons for using media. Children say that the primary driver for their digital device use is to connect with friends, including gaming with peers or texting to continue in-person conversations from school. In fact, 41% of the children share that they play video games to spend time with peers. Interestingly enough, 45% of children also share that they watch television to spend more time with family.

Children can use media to learn and appreciate different perspectives and worldviews, which can help them better understand the world around them. For instance, social media can provide a positive community and connection with others who share interests, experiences, and identities while fostering creativity.

Although less research focuses on younger children’s views toward screen media, one study conducted with preschoolers found that, more often than not, kids prefer digital books rather than printed books. Young children may prefer digital books over print for a number of reasons. One key benefit is the interactive features built into this platform; many digital books today incorporate music and animations that encourage learning and reading for kids. Digital books allow for a more personalized reading experience that caters to a child’s unique learning style and needs.

Mental Health & Media: Do Kids Feel Media Use Affects Their Well-being?

While children tend to have a more optimistic view towards their overall media use, they admit that their actual experiences online aren’t always positive. When children are asked to reflect on the risks that media engagement poses to them, they talk about the effect of media on their mental health and well-being. As highlighted in our previous article, teenagers confess that their media use could negatively impact their sleep, family time, academics, and body image.

Research shows that technology instantly satisfies adolescents’ age-old developmental longings for peer attention, validation, and connection – and it can be especially alluring to teen girls. In a national survey conducted with thousands of girls from 5th through 12th grade, the percentage of girls who reported feeling confident has dropped from 68% to 55% over the last six years; girls who spent more time on social media reported a steeper drop in self-esteem. Research also shows that teens with pre-existing mental health concerns are more vulnerable to the harms of social media.

Adolescents often turn to the Internet as the primary source of information on health-related issues, including mental health, rather than going to a trusted adult (e.g., a parent). Teens share that media is not only a platform that can spread awareness, but it’s also a space where they go to seek support and connection. Considering how kids often use the internet to access mental health resources, it’s important to think critically about how they make sense of and consume the content they see online. One study found that teenagers often look for information in places like online chat rooms instead of reliable and research-based sources; this is worrying because the information they find might not always be accurate.

More specifically, there are common ideas about uncertainty and what’s considered “normal” when teenagers think about mental health. Many kids don’t have a good understanding of mental health and well-being, further exacerbated by pervasive stigmas about it in society. This is why it’s crucial for parents and caregivers to teach youth how to discern credible and trustworthy sources online while also having an open dialogue that aims to destigmatize taboos of mental health difficulties.

How Do Kids Feel About Their Parents’ Screen-Related Monitoring, Rules, & Use?

Parents have a strong influence on children’s media use, especially at a young age. A study of over 6,000 children found that more than one-third of children feel unimportant when their parents use their phones during family time. Children learn from their parents, and the types of devices and amount of time parents spend on screens are the strongest predictors of their children’s screen use.

Parents have a strong influence on children’s media use, especially at a young age. A study of over 6,000 children found that more than one-third of children feel unimportant when their parents use their phones during family time. Children learn from their parents, and the types of devices and amount of time parents spend on screens are the strongest predictors of their children’s screen use.

Children whose parents use screen time as a form of discipline (e.g., “If you don’t do well on this test, then you’ll lose your iPad for a week”) actually tend to spend more time using screens compared to children whose parents use other forms of discipline. In addition, one study also found that in families where parents use material rewards to control their children’s screen use (e.g., I’ll buy you ice cream if you stop playing video games), children end up spending more time on screens.

Teens generally prefer a balance between parental guidance and autonomy in their internet use. Adolescents have expressed feelings of discomfort and invasion of privacy when parents use controlling tactics, such as tracking software, on their personal devices. While parents often justify monitoring as a means to protect their children, youth perceive it as a lack of trust. Children are smart and arguably more tech-savvy than their parents. In many cases, when there are strict limitations imposed, teens will find other ways to access the internet. Developmentally speaking, children value autonomy more as they enter their teenage years; thus, many teenagers feel that excessive monitoring undermines their independence. Adolescents express a desire for parents to adopt an understanding and supportive approach rather than strict surveillance without explanation. In fact, teens who feel that there is open communication in their families about screen use report feeling less lonely and isolated. Especially when discussing sensitive topics (e.g., sexting), teens emphasize the importance of open communication and trust between themselves and their parents.

Surprisingly, researchers didn’t find a clear link between parental monitoring and teens’ mental health or self-perception. While some parental monitoring is expected, it does not necessarily result in improvements to teens’ well-being. Based on both the reports from teens and previous research, teaching tweens and teens how to set healthy boundaries and critically consume media content, rather than setting strict limitations on media use, seems to be a more effective way to help them develop healthy media habits.

Conclusion

Media and screens are integral parts of our lives, which can have both positive and negative impacts on children. As technology advances rapidly, it can be challenging for parents to keep up and know how to support their children in a media-saturated environment. It’s important for parents and caregivers to remember that media can fulfill various developmental needs for children, such as play, relaxation, socialization, and education. When used appropriately, digital resources can support the goals of child development. We hope that this series of articles can help parents find the right balance between on-screen and off-screen time, and between setting limits and giving kids the space to engage with media. In a fast-changing world, parents and caregivers can teach children healthy habits and critical thinking skills so that children can use media as a tool to help them learn, connect, and grow.