Trends in media and communication studies: Toddlers,media consumption,and development communication

Abstract

The growing field of media studies continues to attract the interest of researchers who closely watch the diffusion and usage pattern of the media. New forms of media that integrate a number of media and communication technologies into a single device (like the latest invention of smart watches) further necessitate intensive research in this field. Until recently, scholars who followed the growth and development of the media focused more on the younger generation and their media consumption patterns. This focus has now shifted to very young children, including toddlers, as their exposure to media has of late tended to change significantly. The early exposure to forms of media, whether television or the internet, has implications for the media industry. At the same time, the communication side of the media has been influencing development initiatives on several fronts.