A new study suggests that parents who spend a lot of time on their phones and mobile devices may be increasing their children's exposure to mature content.
The new study, led by Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, was published on Tuesday in the journal BMC Pediatrics.
Nagata said the team conducted the study to "explore parent rules and adolescents' exposure to mature content."
The researchers analyzed data taken from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which included more than 10,000 adolescents aged 12 to 13. The study had children's parents answer 14 questions, and they rated their agreement with statements like, "I try to limit how much I use a screen-based device when I am with my child."
On the other hand, adolescents self-reported their exposure to mature content by answering two questions: "How often do you watch R-rated movies?" and "How often do you play mature-rated video games?"
What Are the Study's Findings?
The researchers found that parents using devices in front of children and family rules regarding devices, in general, are linked to higher chances of kids accessing age-inappropriate content, such as R-rated movies or mature-rated video games.
Specifically, the study found that each unit increase in rating for the parents' questionnaires correlated with an 11% higher chance that their kids would be engaged with mature content. The researchers also discovered that children are more likely to look for ways to access mature content to establish independence if their parents take their devices away as punishment, Local12 reported.
Nagata added that the reason was a lack of research to help guide parents of young adolescents on the proper use of media. Nagata noted that while the American Academy of Pediatrics makes general recommendations for children ages five to 18, young adolescents are considered a unique developmental stage, according to CNN.
The researchers' findings are similar to those of a separate study that found that parents' regular use of devices that disrupt face-to-face interactions with their children impacts their children's mental health, cognitive development, and family relationships, as per the New York Post.
How Can Parents Properly Guide Children With Screen Usage?
Dr. Kara Alaimo, an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said that parents should still give their children a chance to be independent. She added that they found that when parents use screen time as a reward, children are less likely to try to access mature content.
Parents can effectively limit their children's exposure to mature content by taking a multi-layered approach that combines technology and communication. Setting up robust parental controls across devices, browsers, and apps allows them to filter out inappropriate content and monitor online activities.
These controls can be implemented on home WiFi networks, individual devices, and specific platforms like YouTube or social media apps. Additionally, establishing clear digital boundaries, including screen time limits and age-appropriate content restrictions, helps parents create a structured online environment.
Parents should regularly review and adjust these settings as children grow while maintaining open discussions about online safety and encouraging their kids to report any concerning content they encounter. Using kid-friendly platforms and search engines specifically designed for younger users can further reduce exposure to inappropriate material.
