Parents are more concerned about their kids’ minds, than their bodies, apparently.
Modern day parents are more worried about their kids’ consumption of TV and the Internet than they are about their their kids’ involvement with sex or drugs according to a recent studied conducted by Insight Media Group.
Specifically, parents are worried about their kids’ “overuse of meida” including social networking, downloading music, playing video games, and and of course, watching TV.
Overuse of TV, not the Internet, is still TV that made the top list of parental concerns in regard to media overuse, according to the study.
Percentages attributed to each type of media, and parental concern of its overuse:
29% Television
24% Internet
18% Video Games
In a surprising revelation, “parents reported that media use topped their list of worries more than smoking, drinking, sexual behavior, being overweight or developing eating disorders,” according to Common Sense Media. The percentage of parents concerned with the overuse of media by their kids was 57%.
While media consumption can attribute to health concerns it is disconcerning that parents put media concerns over other more readily dangerous behaviors of youth and teens. According to Common Sense Media “scientific research by leading universities and medical institutions shows that media use by kids and teens, indeed, contributes to negative health outcomes including the epidemic rise in obesity among children, early sexual activity, and smoking.”
In another interesting twist, while “91% of parents reported that family played the most important role in their child’s life” in regards to health, and 96% of parents acknowledged “that they are responsible for monitoring their children’s media use,” 68% of parents also said that media producers are also responsible. (Common Sense Media).
More About the Study
Insight Research Group, is a marketing research company as commissioned by Common Sense Media, Inc. to perform the study. Common Sense Media “is the leading non partisan organization dedicated to improving the media lives of kids and families” (Common Sense Media).
Between December 13 and December 20, 2006, Insight Research Group conducted the survey online. The survey sampled more than 1,000 parents who have children ages five to 16 that “use media.” According to Insight Research Group, ” The sample was recruited using random digit dialing to ensure that it represented the U.S. population. The sample was weighted to census figures on other key demographic variables. The margin of error at 95% confidence is +/- 2.9% .”
News Sources:
“New National Poll The Internet Now Seen as #1 Media Concern For Parents,” Common Sense Media, www.commonsensemedia.org/news/press-releases.php?id=23, June 7, 2006.
“Parents Say Their #1 Health Concern is Overuse of the Media, Even More Than Drinking or Smoking,” Common Sense Media, www.commonsensemedia.org/news/press-releases.php?id=45February 5, 2007.
“Parents see media, not sex, as top worry: study,” Reuters News, February 7, 2007.
Insight Research Group, www.insightrg.com.
