THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL MEDIATION ON CHILDREN’S DIGITAL CONTENT EXPOSURE

Abstract

Parental involvement plays a crucial role in helping children learn to manage media use while fostering their cognitive, emotional, and social development. This study examines various parental mediation practices including restrictive, active, co-use, creative, and preparative mediation to understand their impact on children aged 6 to 12 years in both urban and rural settings (Yu et al., 2021),  (Tan et al., 2025). Data collected through surveys from 200 parents, revealing that creative and restrictive mediation strategies were the most frequently employed. Findings indicate that as children grow older, parents tend to adjust their mediation approaches. Parents who are more knowledgeable about media and engage more actively in mediation are generally more confident in their children’s media literacy. The study also identifies strong positive relationships between appropriate media use and improvements in children’s cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes. Engaging in media discussions and co-viewing activities enhances children’s reasoning and emotional regulation (Taylor et al., 2024); however, adapting mediation strategies to evolving online platforms remains a challenge. A limitation of this study is that most participants were urban residents, and the data relied on self-reported responses. It is recommended that parents enhance their understanding of media, follow age-specific media guidelines, and utilize digital tools that support parents and child interaction. Future research should focus on long-term studies, include more diverse populations, and investigate how emerging technologies shape parental mediation practices. In conclusion, effective parental mediation is essential for nurturing healthy media habits and supporting children’s holistic development in the digital age.

Keywords: Parental Mediation, Children, Digital Content Exposure, Media Use.