Media and Children
Information to help pediatricians understand and communicate about the impact media has in our children's lives, while offering tips on managing time spent with various media.
Overview
Added
March 7, 2026
Related situation
Audience
parent
Grade range
Kindergarten–Grade 12 (Senior)
Page kind
Article
Keywords
children and media media social media advertising data tracking children and social media advertising and children media impact on children digital advertising to children children's media use children and video games healthy media choices for children
Introduction
Media and Children: Impact and Guidance
- Daily Media Consumption: Children spend an average of seven hours per day on entertainment media, including TVs, computers, phones, and other electronic devices.
- Evolving Advertising Landscape: Marketing to children has expanded beyond traditional TV commercials to include social media influencers, in-game hidden ads, data collection, virtual reality interactions, and targeted social media advertisements.
- Pediatric Role: Pediatricians are encouraged to use evidence-based research to counsel families on the healthy use of media.
- Family Media Plan: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that families create a personalized media plan that balances health, education, and entertainment needs, with regular revisions as necessary.
- Key Oversight: The Council on Communications and Media (COCM) is the primary AAP entity responsible for researching and addressing the impact of media on children.
- Available Resources:
- Beyond Screen Time: A Parent’s Guide to Media Use (brochure available via shopAAP).
- Pediatric Patient Education handouts.
- Interactive Family Media Use Plan tool.
- Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (Last updated: 06/04/2021).
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