CHILDHOOD IN THE DIGITAL MEDIA AGE: PARENTAL OBSERVATIONS, PERCEPTIONS, AND MEDIATION APPROACHES FOR CHILDREN AGED 5–8

PALAVAN ÖZCAN

doi:10.22159/ijss.2025v13i5.55935

Authors

PALAVAN ÖZCAN Department of Child Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Avrasya University, Trabzon, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5830-0212

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijss.2025v13i5.55935

Keywords:

Digital media, early childhood, parental observations, cognitive development, social interaction

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to explore in depth parents’ observations, perceptions, and mediation strategies regarding the digital media usage of children aged 5–8. In the context of the digital age, where technology is increasingly integrated into the daily lives of young children, concerns have grown regarding its potential impact on attention, memory, and social development. Adopting a phenomenological design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 parents selected through maximum variation sampling. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. Seven main themes were identified: (1) screen time habits, (2) content and device use, (3) gaming and addiction tendencies, (4) cognitive effects, (5) social withdrawal, (6) parental attitudes, and (7) general attitudes. Parents reported that children often exceed the recommended screen time and show a strong preference for entertainment content. In addition, issues such as excessive gaming, attention deficits, weak verbal memory, reduced social interaction, and increased introversion were commonly noted. Parents implemented active mediation strategies, including time limitation and content filtering. This study provides valuable insights into the multidimensional effects of digital media on child development in the digital age. The original findings from the Turkish context offer meaningful contributions to the literature and can inform future policy development and targeted intervention strategies.

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