The preschool years are an important time to build healthy screen habits, which may help reduce the risk of problematic social media use later in life, says Dr Ina de Koning, Associate Professor of Clinical Child and Family Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
In this episode of Raising Questions, Dr Ina de Koning and Koen Kusters discuss research on problematic social media use and what it can teach us about healthy screen habits for young children.
De Koning explains that problematic social media use is not simply about spending a lot of time online. It refers to compulsive use that children find difficult to stop, even when it interferes with sleep, school or family life. Some children may be more vulnerable than others, including those who are more impulsive, sensitive to peer pressure or already experiencing mental health difficulties.
The conversation then turns to what parents can do in the early years. De Koning recommends watching together when possible. She also discusses why watching on a shared television screen has advantages over using an individual device, as it makes it easier for parents to stay involved in what their child is seeing.
Finally, De Koning argues for introducing children to the digital world gradually. Parents have the greatest influence before children are heavily exposed to the persuasive features and algorithms of digital platforms. The aim, she says, is to help children become digitally resilient step by step, rather than suddenly handing them a smartphone and expecting them to manage it alone.