Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

8-2017

Abstract

This article argues that parental mediation theory is rooted in television studies and mustbe refined to accommodate the fast-changing media landscape that is populated by com-plex and intensively used media forms such as video games, social media, and mobile apps.Through a study of parental mediation of children’s video game play, we identify the lim-itations of parental mediation theory as applied to current trends in children’s media useand suggest how it can be enhanced. This study seeks to improve parental mediation the-ory’s descriptive and explanatory strength by identifying and outlining the specific activitiesthat parents undertake as they impose their media strategies. We explain how restrictive,co-use, and active mediation are constituted by gatekeeping, discursive, diversionary, andinvestigative activities.

Keywords

Active Mediation, Coplaying, Parental Mediation, Restrictive Mediation, Video Games

Discipline

Communication Technology and New Media | Graphic Communications

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

Communication Theory

Volume

27

Issue

3

First Page

309

Last Page

328

ISSN

1050-3293

Identifier

10.1111/comt.12109

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12109

Share

COinS