Report about Children’s dislike of media – Ofcom Report

Ofcom have carried out a survey that examines and studies the various concerns of parents regarding their children’s media use. In this section, Ofcom highlights the dislikes among children about media. Children gave their opinions regarding certain media contents. List of questions related to the various types of contents on mobile phones and internet were asked to children aged between 8 to15 and their responses were used to prepare this report. Questions were prepared in such a way, that it categorized the contents into those which made children sad, frightened or embarrassed and those which were outdated and old for them. Among those surveyed, some expressed their dislike towards the television, internet and mobile phone.

Majority of the children admitted that they disliked television contents that were too old for them. Children aged 8-11s and 12-15s said that too many advertisements on television annoyed them. Elderly children of age group 12-15 hate the advertisements more than the children of age groups 8-11. 23% of children aged 8-11s and 14% of children aged 12-15 claims that they dislike media contents that are frightful, sad or embarrassing. In comparison to the reports of 2010, more children of age 8-11 hate to watch contents that make them said. The dislike level remains the same with socio-economic group. When compared to boys, girls are more likely to hate watching contents that are very sad, frightened or embarrassed.

A survey was carried out to understand the level of dislike in children about social networking websites. Children within the age groups of 8-11 and 12-15 were questioned with a list of seven things they could dislike. Most of the children are worried about strangers using their personal information and some are worried about getting bullied on social networking websites. Girls under the age group 8 and 15 are more worried than boys about getting bullied online.

Sending hurtful messages on mobile phones is disliked by most of the children using mobile phones. 42% of children aged 8-11 and 52% of children aged 12-15 admitted that they disliked this. 16% of Children aged 8-11 and 14% children aged 12-15 are worried about getting bullied on mobile phone. 8% of children aged 8-11 and 4% aged 12-15 are dislike to see contents that are too old while 5% of children aged 8-11 and 6% of children aged 12-15 dislike to see sad, frightful or embarrassing contents. Since, 2010, the level of dislikes n Children of all gender, age and socio-economic group remains the same.

Children who play games online were surveyed to ask the various things they disliked when playing games online. 18% of children aged 8-11 and 19% of children of age 12-15 were afraid if people tried to befriend them. Another section of children admitted that they disliked strangers accessing their information. 16% for 8-11s and 20% for 12-15 admitted this. 18% for 8-11s and 17% for 12-15s said that they didn’t like people passing hurtful things about how they played games. 17% of children aged 8-11 and 16% of children aged 12-15 dislike players excluding other players from the games purposely and 14%of children aged 8-11 and 18% of children aged 12-15 dislike the players choosing other players in between the games.

Children of age 8-15 will tell others of they find something nasty or offensive online than children of 12-15s. Younger children will report this to parent or relative while elder children will report it to a friend. Children of 12-15 are more confused about reporting this to others. 9% of children aged 12-15 will keep this to themselves, instead of reporting to others. When compared to girls, boys are less likely to tell other regarding the nasty, sad or offensive online contents they saw.

One in eight children of age group 12-15s admitted that they forget to use safety rules when using internet. Boys are more likely than girls to claim that they didn’t use the safety controls. When asked about any y risky behaviour they did online, one in seven children of age 12-15 admitted it. 11% of children aged 12-15 admitted that they taken contact information for someone they have met online. Children of age group 12-15 and with open accounts have added people they don’t know. This practise is less in children with private profiles.

All these information suggests the dislikes of children regarding the various media. The level of dislikes varies with age group, gender and socio-economic group.