A study released today by Common Sense shows that parents spend more than nine hours (9:22) a day with screen media, the vast majority of that time being spent with personal media (7:43) and only slightly more than 90 minutes devoted to work media. The vast majority of these parents (78%) believe they are good media use role models for their kids. Meanwhile, many parents are concerned about their children's media use, including thinking that their children may become addicted to technology (56%) and that technology use negatively impacts their children's sleep (34%).
"These findings are fascinating because parents are using media for entertainment just as much as their kids, yet they express concerns about their kids' media use while also believing that they are good role models for their kids," said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. "Media can add a lot of value to relationships, education, and development, and parents clearly see the benefits, but if they are concerned about too much media in their kids' lives, it might be time to reassess their own behavior so that they can truly set the example they want for their kids."
The study, Common Sense Census: Plugged-In Parents of Tweens and Teens, finds significant differences in media use by population. Nearly two-thirds of Hispanic and African-American parents (66% and 65%, respectively) are highly aware of the content their children see or hear when using media, compared to half of white parents (51%). Hispanic parents are also more concerned about technology addiction (63% vs. 55%) and the impact of technology on their children's sleep (43% vs. 30%).
For more tools to manage media use, visit commonsense.org.
