Key Takeaways
Higher parental screen use is linked to kids consuming more mature content
A lot of bedroom screen time and screen time at meals also increased their media exposure
Setting clear family media rules can help create healthier screen habits for kids
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Yikes! The way parents use their phones around their kids may influence how much inappropriate content kids consume.
Researchers reported Feb. 4 in the journal that the odds of kids watching R-rated movies or playing mature-rated video games rose with higher parental screen use and inconsistent family media rules.
The study analyzed data from more than 10,000 12- and 13-year-olds who were part of the .
69传媒淲e wanted to explore parent rules and adolescents69传媒 exposure to mature content because there69传媒檚 a lack of research to guide parents of young adolescents on media use,69传媒 lead author told CNN in an email.聽
69传媒淲hile the American Academy of Pediatrics provides general recommendations for ages 5 to 18, young adolescents are at a unique developmental stage -- they69传媒檙e not little kids anymore, but they69传媒檙e also not fully independent teens,69传媒 Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, added.
Parents in the study answered a 14-item questionnaire, rating their agreement with statements such as, 69传媒淚 try to limit how much I use a screen-based device when I am with my child69传媒 on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).
Meanwhile, kids self-reported how often they watched R-rated movies and played mature-rated video games, using a 0-to-3 scale (never to all the time).
Results showed that for every unit increase in parental screen use, the likelihood of kids consuming mature content rose 11%
"Our findings suggest that parental monitoring and limiting adolescent screen time are significantly associated with lower mature video game use and R-rated movie consumption in adolescents," the study concluded.
Certain behaviors increased kids69传媒 exposure to mature content, including frequent screen use during meals and high levels of bedroom screen time.
Experts urge parents to be mindful of their own screen habits, as kids tend to mirror what they see.
69传媒淧arents should practice what they preach,69传媒 Nagata told CNN. 69传媒淚f parents make a family rule to not text at the dinner table, they should follow it.69传媒
To create a healthy digital environment, the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) recommends that families create a set media plan with clear rules. APA suggests:
Limiting screens at meals and before bedtime.
Encouraging conversations about certain online content.
Avoiding screen time as a punishment, as it can drive kids toward riskier content.
Using screen time as a reward for balanced habits.
69传媒淭his (study) offers strong encouragement for us as parents to keep on monitoring and limiting our kids69传媒 use of screens, even when doing so is difficult and unpleasant because we get a lot of pushback from our kids,69传媒 , associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, told CNN in an email.
More information
The Mayo Clinic has more on .
SOURCES: BMC Pediatrics, Feb. 4, 2025; CNN, media report, Feb. 4 2025
What This Means For You
Teaching healthy screen habits and setting clear media rules can help guide kids69传媒 media choices.
