Media are omnipresent and play a central role in children’s everyday lives. The KIM study by the Media Education Research Association Southwest regularly provides insights into the media use of children between the ages of six and 13 in Germany. This article summarizes the most important findings of the latest 2022 study and provides tips on how parents can better support their children in dealing with media.
- Increasing Internet use and device ownership: Internet use and smartphone ownership increase significantly as children get older. While 38 percent of six to seven-year-olds use the Internet, almost all twelve to 13-year-olds do. From the age of 10 to 11, more than half of children have their own smartphone.
- Unaccompanied media use: A majority of children often use media without parental supervision. This applies to surfing the Internet, using tablets and watching television. Digital games and the internet in particular are increasingly being used alone, which has increased further since the coronavirus pandemic.
- Social media and apps: Popular platforms among children are WhatsApp, YouTube and TikTok. Despite age restrictions, many children use these services, which raises questions about parental control and supervision.
- Parental attitudes: Many parents recognize the potential dangers of the Internet, but rarely use technical security measures such as filters or special settings to protect their children. This shows a certain inconsistency in dealing with children’s media use.
- Media education and responsibility: Most parents see both the school and themselves as having a responsibility to teach children how to use media appropriately. Nevertheless, there is a need for more information and support for parents to develop effective strategies for media education.
What should parents bear in mind?
- Encourage communication: Actively have open conversations about the content your child sees online and who they communicate with online.
- Use media as a tool: Use age-appropriate apps and websites to encourage learning and support your child’s creative skills.
- Determine screen time: Set screen time rules together. Consider your child’s age, activities, and needs.
- Adjust security settings: Use parental controls to restrict access to inappropriate content.
- Be a role model: Check your own media use and adjust it if necessary.
- Stay informed: Find out about the devices and platforms your child uses. Regularly discuss media trends or your child’s activities.
In addition to this article, we also offer in-depth insights into the media use of younger children with the miniKIM study and the media habits of teenagers with the JIM study.
The results and further information on the KIM Study 2022 can be found in detail on the website of the Media Education Research Association Southwest.
