Like Grandmother, Like Mother? Multigenerational Mediation of Young Children’s Media Use

Abstract

Research on the mediation of children’s media use tends to overlook the existence of several significant caregivers, who may apply different mediation practices. Based on a survey of 267 dyads of grandmothers and mothers of young children (aged 4–8 years old), the present study explored similarities and differences in grandparental and parental mediation. The findings indicated that grandmothers are generally less active mediators than mothers, especially when interactive media are used. Yet they pointed at significant variations among the dyads, because three clusters were identified: intensely mediating, slightly mediating, and generation gap dyads. These groups differed in education level, mastery of digital media, and family structure. The study adds to the mediation literature by proposing an intergenerational transmission of mediation attitudes and practices across the decades, independent of technological advances. It also points at possible obstacles to effective mediation, which may negatively affect the children’s development.