DAVAO CITY – Following the 2019 study results that showed the Filipino child’s media consumption and parental mediation strategies, the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) highlighted the role of parents in shaping the television viewing practice of their children and urged them to practice active parental mediation.
In the same NCCT and Far-Eastern University study, results showed that some parents who co-view or join their children watch television show do not try to explain the media their children are consuming.
“Importante na may active parental mediation upang nagagabayan ang bata ng magulang sa pagsusuri ng klase ng media na pinapanood nito. Dito hindi lang sabay na nanunuod ang bata at magulang kundi nag-uusap rin sila. Importanteng maipaliwanag ng magulang kung tama ba ito at nalalaman ng magulang kung ano ang pagtingin ng bata ukol ditto. Ito’y nagdudulot ng healthy participation,” said NCCT chairperson Dr. Luis Gatmaitan.
Co-viewing is a parental mediation style that allows both parents and children view a show together. The study revealed that co-viewing often happens during primetime teleseryes which contain scenes with violence, sex or profanity.
The NCCT study result showed that children declared that their parents would often watch television with them, rather than explain what they are watching or restrict their children’s media consumption.
The study also tackled parental mediation and the child’s social media use which unlike the television viewing showed no significant relationship.
“ Only a few parents reported in the focus group discussions that they are more restrictive in the number of hours their children can browse their social media accounts. Majority of the parents stated that there is no parental mediation done at all.”
It was explained that this is brought about by the parent-child technological mismatch. While children continuously increase their digital literacy skills, parents could not cope thus falling behind in monitoring their children’s social media activities.
Results of the study also indicate that children as young as 5 years old already know how to navigate gadgets, even if they do not understand the settings or rules set, or even the language spoken. This means that children are naturally perceptive, having the ability to navigate through different platforms very easily.
Gatmaitan shared that even on social media use of their children, parents are urged to mediate actively.
NCCT recommended that parents must critically evaluate media messages of the TV programs of video games that their children are usually watching before they let their children consume or allow media use.
The NCCT also recommended that the Education sector should be together with parents when teaching children how to be critical and discerning with the media content presented to them. This includes training teachers to effectively gauge media content which they can share to their students.
The NCCT presented the results of the study “The Filipino Child’s Media World” to various stakeholders in Mindanao in time for its regional launching of the Child-Friendly Content Standards held at the Seda Hotel, Davao City in September. (PIA/Frances Mae Macapagat)