Cited by 18Child Development and Digital TechnologyImpact of Technology on AdolescentsMedia Influence and Health

ABCs or Attack-Boom-Crash? A longitudinal analysis of associations between media content and the development of problematic media use in early childhood

Open access
Coyne, Sarah M., Holmgren, Hailey G., Shawcroft, Jane E., Barr, Rachel, Davis, Emilie, Ashby, Sarah, Stockdale, Laura, Domoff, Sarah·2022·Technology, Mind, and Behavior

Abstract

Researchers have begun to extensively examine pathological (or addictive-like) media use during adolescence and adulthood. However, few studies have examined precursors to these types of behavior (termed problematic media use) in early childhood, with even fewer examining predictors of this behavior over time. The present longitudinal study examined bidirectional associations between television (TV) content (educational, prosocial, and violence) and problematic media use over a 1-year period during early childhood. Participants included 443 children (Mage at Wave 1 = 29.68 months) and their parents. Results revealed that early educational media was protective against developing problematic media use over time. However, early problematic media use was not predictive of future media content choices longitudinally. Additionally, problematic media use was moderately stable over time. Implications for parents and policymakers regarding the importance of early media content for later outcomes and consideration of media use trajectories are discussed.

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  • Persuasive digital media that encourage prolonged use and capture attention make disengagement difficult.

    “When digital media are designed to be persuasive, encourage prolonged use, and capture users’ attention, disengagement can be difficult.14,61,62”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Interactional Theory of Childhood Problematic Media Use section says some digital environments are designed to sustain engagement and that faster-paced content may make it harder for young children to disengage. This supports the claim's central idea, but the paper discusses children and particular media features, not difficulty disengaging for users generally. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Teens who experience challenges with emotion regulation, executive function and impulsivity (e.g., ADHD), or social interactions (autism spectrum disorder) may experience more adverse effects from digital media.

    “Teens who experience challenges with emotion regulation,129 executive function and impulsivity (eg, ADHD),61,130,131 or social interactions (autism spectrum disorder)132 may experience more adverse effects from digital media.”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Discussion (page not provided) says executive functioning and self-regulation might protect against problematic media-use symptoms, and notes that regulation strategies appear protective at later ages. The paper studies young children, however, and does not establish that teens with ADHD or impulsivity experience more adverse effects from digital media. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • School-aged children and teens who experience challenges with emotion regulation, executive function, impulsivity, or social interactions may have a greater likelihood of experiencing problematic internet use.

    “School-aged children and teens who experience challenges with emotion regulation (social anxiety, mood conditions, stress),129 executive function, and impulsivity (ADHD)61,130,131 or social interactions (autism spectrum disorder)132 may have a greater likelihood of experiencing problematic internet use.”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) says better executive functioning and self-regulation might protect against problematic media symptoms, which supports a cautious association. But the paper studies young children and does not establish that school-aged children or teens with ADHD or impulsivity have a greater likelihood of problematic internet use. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Prosocial and educational media viewed during the preschool years is protective against problematic internet use symptoms.

    “Conversely, prosocial and educational media viewed during the preschool years is protective against problematic internet use symptoms.61”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Predictors of Problematic Media Use section reports that educational television content at age 2 predicted lower problematic media use at age 3. It explicitly finds no association for prosocial content. The study measures problematic media use, not specifically problematic internet use, and the Discussion cautions that causality has not been established. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Digital media design drives problematic internet use habits in considerable ways, primarily through variable reinforcement patterns, social motivation, catchy or affect-laden media, engagement-prolonging features, and precise algorithms.

    “Digital media design drives problematic internet use habits in considerable ways, primarily through variable reinforcement patterns, social motivation, catchy or affect-laden media, engagement-prolonging features, and precise algorithms.61”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Interactional Theory of Childhood Problematic Media Use section says personalized recommendations can prolong engagement and theorizes that the digital environment contributes to problematic media use in children. It also suggests that fast-paced content may make it harder for children to disengage. The paper does not establish that design drives problematic internet use in general, or identify variable reinforcement patterns and social motivation as the primary mechanisms. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Barr, R., & Linebarger, D. N. (2016). Media exposure during infancy and early childhood: The effect of content and context on learning and development. Springer.

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Authors
Coyne, S. M., Holmgren, H. G., Shawcroft, J. E., Barr, R., Davis, E., Ashby, S., Stockdale, L., & Domoff, S.
Affiliations
  • Brigham Young University (US)
  • Georgetown University (US)
  • Central Michigan University (US)
Corresponding author
Coyne, Sarah M.
Venue
Technology, Mind, and Behavior
Published
2022
Volume
3
Issue
4
Pages
516-523
ISSN
2689-0208 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4308483873
Cited by
17
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4
FWCI
7.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Technology Mind and Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (R15HD101969)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
Keywords
problematic media use, early childhood, television content, instructional media, media violence, bidirectional relationship, child development

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