Parental Mediation in Children’s Social Media Use

Abstract

With the growing influence of social media in the country, this study aimed to discover the varying parental mediation strategies being implemented. It also highlighted the present beliefs and conception of the parents on mediating their children’s social media usage, as well as what they conceive as its long-term effects. The study utilized purposive sampling method, which enabled the researchers to conduct an in-depth interview with 8 informants, all of whom are residents of Barangays Acosta and Caunayan, of Batac City, Ilocos Norte, and are parents of children aging between 5 to 17 years old.The compiled and collated information revealed that restrictive mediation and active mediation are the two most-used common types of mediation strategies. In addition, the informants posed a positive outlook to parental mediation, backing their perception of it as beneficial, regardless of the lack of varying strategies. Withal, this study proved that parents perceive parental mediation as an avenue of life lessons in the form of time management, being aware of the threats of social media, and discerning what is right and wrong in social media. Ultimately, an infographic material was created for the sole purpose of entailing the necessary information embedded in the findings of the study.