Panel: Diverse Media Use in Diverse Families: Knowledge Base and Persisting Gaps

As technology and online spaces have evolved, so has research on parenting in a digital age. Recognizing the diversity of families, contexts, and developmental needs, this session discussed what is currently known and what research gaps exist on media and parenting from birth through adolescence, highlighting directions and possible designs for future research. This panel took place at the 2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress on Monday, July 14th.

[00:00] Stephanie Reich, PhD
Stephanie Reich, PhD, Professor, Education (primary), Psychological Science, Informatics, University of California, Irvine, introduces herself as the moderator and opens the floor for discussion to the panelists.

[05:04] Sarah M. Coyne, PhD
Sarah M. Coyne, PhD, Professor Human Development, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, shares her research on parental mental health, stress, exhaustion, and guilt.

[14:56] AnneMarie McClain, PhD, MA, EdM, MS
AnneMarie McClain, PhD, MA, EdM, MS, Assistant Professor of Media Science, Boston University; Educational Consultant, GBH, emphasizes the importance of diverse representation in children's media.

[24:39] Linda Charmaraman, PhD
Linda Charmaraman, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Founder/Director of the Youth, Media, & Wellbeing Research Lab, Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College, shares her research in patterns behind children's use of screens.

[33:39] Pervasive parenting messages
Reich asks the panel to address a question about parenting in a medium that applies to all types of families.

[16:15] Future for the field
Reich asks the panel to address where they think the digital media field is heading and what we should consider.

[44:54] Audience Q&A
During the audience Q&A panelists respond to questions about how to cut through the noise of marketing and balancing parental monitoring and child autonomy.

The remarks and recommendations contained in this session are solely a product of the individual speaker(s) and are not the policy or opinions of, nor do they represent an endorsement by Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development.