Amidst educators' concerns about the risks of exposing young children to age-inappropriate media, parents face the task of regulating and mediating their children's media exposure. This qualitative study investigates parental perceptions of their ability to manage the content that their primary school-aged children encounter. Research questions focused on the dangers recognized by parents, their strategies for controlling content quantity and quality, and their efficacy in mediating such content. Methodology: The research was approved for ethical standards by the overseeing academic institution. It utilized semi-structured, in-depth interviews to explore these themes. Participants: Twenty one parents of elementary school children (15 mothers and 6 fathers) from the central region of Israel, participated in the study. Procedure: Interviews were conducted via Zoom and recorded with participants' consent. Findings: Content analysis identified three key themes: (1) Parents differentiate between generally premature content and specific online dangers posed by hostile entities (e.g., impostors), which could directly harm children. (2) While general content mediation concerns are low, some parents use monitoring tools to ensure safety but generally place trust in their children’s discretion. (3) To minimize risks, most parents engage their children in structured educational and extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or dance, reducing free time for potentially harmful exposure. These results suggest that although parental awareness of direct online dangers is high, parents generally rely on their children's judgment regarding general content. The study recommends that educational systems should enhance parental guidance and focus more on managing premature content exposure.

Authors:
Asnat Dor, Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Israel

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Asnat Dor is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel in Israel

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