How Media Affects Children Infographic

How Media Affects Children Infographic

Today’s children are deeply impacted and consumed by media and technology. The How Media Affects Children Infographic provides a deeper look into the effects of media and technology on kids eight and under in the U.S.

Kids’ Exposure to Media

Percent of children ages 0-8 who have each item in their bedroom

• TV 42%
• DVD/VCR player 29%
• Video game console player 11%
• Computer 4%

Children under 2 spend over 2x the time watching TV and videos as reading books.

• Average time spent on TV and Videos: 53 minutes/day
• Average time spent reading books: 23 minutes/day

How do our children spend their time with digital media? (ages 0-8)

Average Time Spent With Media (ages 0-8) daily on each device

- Watching TV, DVDs, or videos

• TV on a TV set 1:52
• DVDs 1:35
• TV/Videos on a computer :56
• TV/Videos on a cell, iPod or iPad :40
• Reading/being read to :47
• Listening to music 1:12

- Playing media games

• Console video games 1:15
• Computer games :57
• Handheld game player :59
• Cell/iPod/iPad games :30

- Other computer activities

• Educational software 1:01
• Homework 1:20
• Anything else :38
• Using any screen media 2:58

Percentage of daycare centers that use TV during a typical day: 70%

Parental Concerns

• 73% of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching
• 66% of parents talk to their child about the dangers of social media sites
• 53% of parents count on their children to tell them if a problem occurs
• 43% follow their children on the their social media sites
• 39% set parental privacy settings

Top Parent's Concerns of Social Media's Impact on kids: ages 1-12

• Violation of privacy 67%
• Sexting/Inappropriate sexual behavior 64%
• Cyber bullying/verbal abuse 56%
• Identity theft/fraud 54%
• Lack of ambition/enthusiasm 54%

42% were pessimistic, agreeing with a second statement that in 2020 young technology users would be easily distracted, lack deep thinking skills and thirst only for instant gratification

The Teacher's Perspective

• 79% teachers use media and technology as a teaching tool
• 74% say incorporating tablets into the classroom would be helpful to their students' learning
• 26% say it would mainly be a distraction to learning

Percent of teachers who say students' media use has hurt their:

• Attention Span 71%
• Writing 58%
• Face-to-face communication 59%
• Homework 48%
• Critical Thinking 42%

Teachers who say student's entertainment media use has a positive or negative effect:

• sexualization: negative 67%; positive 3%; hasn't made a difference 28%
• anti-social behaviors negative 61%; positive 2%; hasn't made a difference 34%
• ideas about the value of education negative 48%; positive 6%: hasn't made a difference 44%
• attitudes toward adults negative 61%; positive 2%; hasn't made a difference 34% Self-esteem negative 43%; positive 6%; hasn't made a difference 49%