By: Martina Nikolić, MA in Psychology
Children today are digital natives—they have never known a world without smartphones, gaming consoles, and screens everywhere. However, they are also the most vulnerable group of users due to their unconscious adoption of imposed ideas or emotions. This vulnerability stems from the fact that their brains, at certain ages, are not yet fully developed to critically evaluate information, causing them to accept what they hear as truth.
How do children understand media at different ages? Here are some of the main age-differentiated characteristics:
- Up to 18 months old: At this age, children cannot comprehend narratives. They are attracted to sounds and lights and may imitate simple actions and movements.
- 18 months to 3 years: Their attention is drawn to sound effects and visual stimuli. They have limited focus, enjoy fast scene changes, and begin to imitate actions in play.
- 3–5 years: Children perceive content as a whole—they cannot distinguish advertisements from the programming they watch or differentiate between real and fictional content.
- 6–11 years: They begin to understand media better, seek role models in characters, and ask about the meaning of words. Fears of supernatural beings emerge, and some may even be intrigued by horror stories.
- 12 and older: During adolescence, susceptibility to peer pressure increases as they seek acceptance in social groups, making this a particularly sensitive period.
It is very important to mention that adolescents often experience a sense of invulnerability. They commonly believe that nothing bad can happen to them. This illusion, combined with a lack of life experience, makes it difficult for them to assess actual risks. Consequently, they are particularly vulnerable to engaging in online challenges that may harm their health and, in some cases, even result in death.
It is the responsibility of adults to recognize how we influence children and youth, and lead by example, by demonstrating the behaviours we want to see in them. Adults have the opportunity to create a safe environment for children, demonstrating how to foster positive change within the community. While challenging, this is certainly achievable.