Trends in Digital Media Use in Korean Preschool Children

Abstract

BackgroundChildren today are exposed to various media devices, and their usage of these is increasing. Prior studies have outlined forms of harm this can potentially cause. However, there has been little empirical research on the use of media devices among preschool children in Asia. The aim of this study was to examine and analyze longitudinal trends in media device use among Korean preschool children, focusing on the frequency of engagement, time spent with, and ownership of media devices, delineated by sex.MethodsFour hundred parents of children aged 2–5 years were invited to enroll. The baseline assessment, Wave 1, was conducted between December 2015 and June 2016, and follow-up assessments, Wave 2 and Wave 3, were conducted annually for the following 2 years. Time of media use, frequency of media use, and ownership of media devices (TV, tablet PCs, and smartphones) were investigated.ResultsOwnership of tablet PCs increased significantly between Wave 1 and Wave 3 for boys and girls (corrected P < 0.001). Frequency of media use increased significantly between Wave 1 and Wave 3 only in boys' use of tablet PCs (mean difference 0.8 day/wk). Time of media use increased significantly between Wave 1 and Wave 3 for both sexes in all devices, measured by mean difference on weekdays and weekends (TV by 0.6 and 0.7 hr/day, tablet PCs by 0.6 and 0.8 hr/day, and smartphones by 0.4 and 0.4 hr/day). Children spent more time using media devices during weekends than on weekdays.ConclusionThis study observed an increase in the tendency of media device use among preschool children in Korea. The patterns of use indicate that paying attention to the types of devices children use is needed, as well as vigilance on weekends.

Parental Mental Health and Children's Behaviors and Media Usage during COVID-19-Related School Closures

“…Our previous study shows an increase in the tendency of media device use and its adverse effects among preschool children in Korea. 3 4 5 Online learning has many advantages of education equalities but high risks for online exposures. In this study, only 6.9% of parents reported that their children's online learning activities did not go well and it is fortunate that online education was relatively well-working.…”

“…We recruited 217 caregivers of primary school children, including 97 children who had already participated in the Kids Cohort for Understanding of Internet Addiction Risk Factors in Early Childhood (K-CURE) study, 11 from community centers in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Parents who contacted the study team were e-mailed a link to the questionnaire.…”

“…Unlike previous K-CURE studies, 11 we did not distinguish between weekdays and weekends for media usage, as we assumed that children's time at home would not differ between weekdays and weekends with social distancing in place and schools closed.…”

“…1 Our previous study shows growing tendency of media device use and its adverse effects among preschool children in Korea. 3 4 5 Although the scientific debate is ongoing about the effect of school closures on virus transmission, 6 prolonged partial closures of schools could have detrimental social and health consequences for children and may exacerbate existing inequalities. 7 …”

The Relationship between Mother’s Smartphone Addiction and Children’s Smartphone Usage

“…This prospective cohort study was conducted in Korea to investigate the effects of internet usage on children and adolescents. Our study used the first wave data of the K-CURE study [ 17 ]. The data were collected between December 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, on the mothers of 400 children aged two through five years old recruited from three cities (Suwon, Goyang, and Seongnam).…”