Does Early Exposure to Digital Media Harm Children’s Development? A Cross-Disciplinary Review

Dina Bassiouni, Chris Hackley

Research output: Working paper

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Abstract

It is often taken as axiomatic that ‘Generation Z’ children, broadly defined as those born since 1995, are marked by different formative experiences to previous generations because of the rapid penetration of digital communications media into this age group. It is important to understand the effects of early exposure to digital technology on children’s development to inform consumer, education, media, and family and social policy. This review paper synthesises a wide range of cross-disciplinary literature to explore the possible influence of digital media on children’s cognitive and physical development, and their socialisation as family members and consumers, using the role of video games in children’s lives as a point of entry. The aim is to bring together a cross-disciplinary range of work to assist in establishing a trajectory for future research into children’s development and socialisation within digital consumer culture
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationRoyal Holloway University of London Working papers
VolumeSoMWP–1302
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2013

Keywords

  • Children's consumption digital consumption video games and children

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