Parental mediation in Turkey: The use of mobile devices in early childhood

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the use of mobile devices including smartphones and tablets in terms of mediation types of parents who have young children. In this case study, which is one of the qualitative research methods, criterion sampling was adopted for the selection of the study group. The fact that parents of 4–7-year-old children who use mobile devices is determined as the principal criterion. Twelve children aged 4–7 and their parents participated in the study. Data were collected through child observations and parent interviews. The results indicated that children with the mediation of parental supervision had fewer problematic behaviors in the use of media and faced fewer online risks. Besides, children whose parents have general restrictive mediation were the most likely to exhibit problematic media use behaviors. Children whose parents have active mediation were also the most likely to face Internet risks. It was observed that children frequently played games and watched videos on mobile devices. Most parents considered their children’s use of mobile devices as risky and harmful, while it was considered as useful only by co-using parents. It was found that children’s use of mobile devices causes physical, psychological, communicational, and cognitive issues while improving their academic abilities, interests, and cognitive structures. Nevertheless, it was discovered that parents used mobile devices to convince their children to go through their daily routines such as eating, bathing, and sleeping or calm them down in the workplace or social environments.