Parents using screens in front of children can increase the chance of preteens engaging with mature content, a study has suggested.
Research from University of Toronto looked at data from more than 10,000 children aged 12 to 13 in the largest long-term study of brain development in the US – the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.
Parent’s screen use, including allowing screens during meals or at bedtime, significantly increased the chance of children viewing mature media. Bedroom screen use was the strongest predictor of mature media consumption.
Conversely, parental monitoring and clear media rules reduced the risk of consuming mature content. Perhaps surprisingly, using screen time as a reward resulted in less mature content exposure, while removing screens as punishment resulted in more exposure.
Lead author Dr Jason M. Nagata said: ‘Our findings reinforce the importance of setting clear, consistent rules around media use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that families create a family media plan to set limits and encourage screenfree time, especially at meals and bedtime.’
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