Parental mediation and children's digital well-being in family life in Norway

• Published in: Journal of children and media 2024-04, Vol.18 (2), p.198-215
• Main Authors: Lafton, Tove, Wilhelmsen, Janniche E. B., Holmarsdottir, Halla B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: children five-ten; Childrens health; Communication; Digital skills; Digital technology; family values; parental mediation; Qualitative research; Well being
• ISSN: 1748-2798; 1748-2801
• DOI: 10.1080/17482798.2023.2299956

Because children are introduced to digital technology at an early age, their digital skills are influenced by digital learning and well-being in everyday life. This article examines how family values may influence children's digital lives. The study is based on qualitative data from individual interviews with family members from ten different families and ten focus groups with children aged five to ten years. The analysis shows how values linked to parental mediation are important in determining how family members relate to digital technology. In the discussion, we examine how established values may affect parental mediation, and how children can participate in a digital culture. This work posits that the ability to communicate about digital lives is an important value regarding the well-being of young children. Previous research shows how children develop their digital skills in educational settings. However, the research field has had a limited focus on the role played in other arenas, such as contemporary family life, in contributing to the development of digital skills. Our research shows how family values influence children's digital learning and well-being. It also contributes knowledge about how children's disparate possibilities to develop digital skills depend on interactions with digital content inside the family. The responsibility for giving children these opportunities cannot be placed on parents alone but must also include policies and the educational system. Children's opportunities for digital agency and developing digital skills and safety online are related to children's well-being.