Experts warn: “Children copy their parents' behaviour in their use of digital media!”

During the coronavirus pandemic, young people and children are more exposed to digital content, especially during self-isolation and during periods of intensified Covid-19 infections when more time is spent at home. On that occasion, experts in the field of communications, pedagogy and psychology, assistant professor Lana Ciboci, PhD, professor of psychology Sanda Puljiz Vidović and prof. social pedagogue Sanja Radić Bursać, discussed children's media literacy and mental health and advised parents on how to support their children during this period.

In their presentations, the panellists warned that children and young people today copy the behaviour of their parents in the use of digital media and pointed out that:

• The amount of time children spend on screens grows every year;
• Children begin using digital devices earlier;
• One in five parents never or rarely watches content with their child;
• One in four children between the ages of 9 and 11 has no restriction set by their parents on the use of social networks;
• A quarter of parents do not set rules for their preschoolers regarding the use of electronic devices;
• 90% of preschool children independently search for and initiate the content they want;
• More than 50% of parents estimated that online learning is more difficult for their child;
• As many as 48.6% of primary school pupils stated that online learning is more difficult for them, and 29.3% that it is easier for them. Secondary school pupils were divided.

The panel pointed out the importance of proper education of children and young people about digital media and introducing media literacy learning from an early age because of the numerous negative consequences that may follow without it. We invite you to view the panel footage HERE.