Study Finds Protecting Kids From Mature Media Means Putting Your Own Phone Down

The U.S. Motion Picture Association helps parents limit the amount of violence and sexual content their kids see by requiring a guardian to accompany children under 17 when attending R-rated movies. But those same parents may inadvertently be driving their young children to view mature content in other ways if they aren't mindful of their own screen use, a recent study finds.

The research was compiled using the data of more than 10,000 12- and 13-year-old kids in the United States. It found that a parent’s screen use in front of their children significantly increases the likelihood that their kids will watch R-rated movies, view other mature content online or play mature video games. Ditto for children who are allowed screen use at mealtimes and in bedrooms, the study shows.

"In contrast, proactive parental monitoring and limits placed on screen time were shown to be effective in reducing preteen engagement with mature media," explains Dr. Jason Nagata, lead author of the study and a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco.

He explains that frequent adolescent viewing of violent movies or playing mature-rated video games, "has been linked to poor academic performance, mental health struggles, substance use, and behavioral issues such as increased aggression toward others or dangerous behavior around firearms."

Other research shows that excessive screen use—regardless of whether a child views mature content when doing so—can lead to other physical and behavioral problems such as obesity, impaired academic performance, diminished sleep quality, eye strain and limited social development.

Parents can limit overall screen use and avoid the adverse outcomes associated with kids viewing mature content too early in life, in part, by putting their own phones down.

"In our study, children whose parents reported more screen use in front of them were more likely to engage with age-inappropriate media," says Nagata. "This aligns with our previous study that parent screen use is linked with greater overall screen time in children."

One reason for this is that "parents act as role models for adolescents," he explains, so when parents spend more time on screens, their children mirror the behavior and are, as a result, more likely to be exposed to harmful content since their odds of seeing it increase as they see more pop-ups, suggested videos on streamers and social media feeds.

Another factor is that when kids are given access to screens in the privacy of their bedrooms, the study shows them to be significantly more likely to view mature content because they know they are less likely to be discovered doing so. In fact, "bedroom screen use emerged as the strongest predictor of mature media consumption," says Nagata.

To protect children from viewing mature content, Nagata says that parents have to set clear rules about screen use in bedrooms and bathrooms. "Make these screen-free zones," he advises. "And hold open conversations about responsible screen use to encourage mindful use and healthy habits," he adds.

Parents should also be mindful of their own screen use—especially in front of their children—so kids learn to establish good habits and limit their own media consumption. “If the family establishes rules about responsible screen use, everyone should be following them,” Nagata says. “Parents should practice what they preach.”