Young people and the media: against demonisation
Many mums and dads run out of steam at some point. A job, children, household chores and too little time for the partnership can be nerve-wracking. Those who feel exhausted, irritable or overwhelmed lack the necessary composure when children test their limits. A classic point of contention between parents and teenagers is smartphone and internet use.
Sometimes we have doubts when our repeated admonitions sound like a broken record: Can children even recognise that our worries are an expression of love and care?
A high utilisation period does not necessarily mean a problematic utilisation period.
The new James Focus report «Environmental resources and media use» by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Swisscom, among others, proves that it pays off in the end not to deviate from your own convictions and attitudes in education.
The 16-page essay is an in-depth study of the current James study. It completely dispenses with blind alarmism, accepts smartphones and the internet as a normal everyday reality for young people aged 12 to 19 and sheds light on the effects of the various influences from home, school and peer groups on their media behaviour. One of the key pointers for educators is that high usage time does not necessarily mean problematic usage time.
Belonging as an anchor
«What family and social resources do young people in Switzerland have?» asks the report. The results are mostly positive, as they attest that Swiss young people on average have «a high level of social and family resources».
Parental parenting efforts are also recognised. According to the report, most young people «rate the support they receive from their parents as high and experience a relatively high degree of responsiveness and guidance in their upbringing».
Children with a good relationship with their parents are better protected from the dangers of the digital world.
Belonging to the school and peer group provides important support in a wide range of developmental tasks. The report also cites these for clarification: They include building social bonds, regeneration and consumption, but also qualification and participation. According to the report, these tasks are closely interrelated and build on each other.
However, the situation is difficult for young people without a Swiss passport. Their own language barriers make it more difficult for them to feel included in their age group and promote marginalisation. If the parents also have communication difficulties, support suffers accordingly.
Central function of the smartphone
Another question in the report is: «What is the relationship between family and social resources and various aspects of media use in adolescence?» The young people perceive parental support as «instrumental and emotional support», which leads to less time spent online.
A poor parent-child relationship, on the other hand, would tend to reinforce excessive internet use and trigger a fatal cycle: «Young people who use the internet very intensively may have more conflicts with their parents, which can put a strain on the relationship.»
A good relationship, in turn, promotes self-confidence and helps «young people to feel more secure in dealing with their own boundaries». This refers in particular to sexual experiences online, such as pornography or sexting.
- It is important that children learn to use mobile phones, games and the internet in moderation.
- Media fulfil a variety of purposes. Used sensibly, they can help to master the challenges of the teenage years.
- A stable parent-child relationship remains central, even if the influence of peers becomes more important.
4. do not make sexuality and intimacy a taboo, so that you are available to the adolescents as a fallback level if they should experience something stressful.
5. being well integrated in school supports the development of a moderate and competent use of media, especially if you as parents can do less than you would perhaps like.
(Source: ZHAW)
The report states that while boys «come into contact with pornographic content more frequently», girls have to struggle more with sexting and sexual harassment. Somewhat vaguely, the report states: «It is possible that young people who receive support at home are more confident in treading this line between opportunities and risks because they can also approach their parents in the event of insecurities or negative experiences in the digital space.»
Conclusion: Providing support
A closer look at the peer group does not demonise the smartphone as an evil, but makes it clear that the device plays a central role in young people's integration: «Good integration into the peer group goes hand in hand with higher mobile phone and internet usage times. This makes it clear that mobile phones and the Internet are important for young people to maintain social contacts and stay informed about topics within their circle of friends. The correlation also contradicts the widespread social notion that young people neglect social contacts and become lonely through the use of digital media.»
Studies also show that good integration among young people minimises both the likelihood of being affected by cyberbullying and of committing it themselves - because «peer relationships strengthen their ability to regulate their emotions and they learn to better understand their emotions and control their impulses».
The James Focus report shows that young people seem to feel quite comfortable in their different environments. Children who have a trusting relationship with their parents and feel that they belong to their peer group are better protected from the dangers of the digital world. Good media use by young people can have a supportive effect, whereas excessive media use jeopardises development and well-being.
For us parents, this means continuing to play the broken record. Because young people can best develop their desire for freedom when they feel a sense of stability.
