Understanding children's media repertoire in the age of digital screens *

Abstract

Young children's everyday lives are increasingly shaped by their engagement with multiple digital media and platforms. As digital media become embedded in their everyday lives, greater attention is needed to understand how children engage with multiple media and how these patterns are formed. This study examines children's media use in South Korea through the theoretical lens of media repertoire. Drawing on nationally representative survey data collected in 2020 from parents of n = 2161 children aged 3–9, the study analyses patterns of weekly media use across nine devices and media services. Cluster analysis identified two distinct media repertoires, low and high media use, characterised by differences in the intensity and diversity of engagement, particularly for smartphones, online video platforms and games, while TV remained a shared core medium. These differences were linked to children's self-regulation and parental media guidance rather than parental perceptions of protecting children from media harm. The findings highlight the value of a repertoire-based approach for understanding children's media practices and the need for media education strategies that account for differing levels of engagement and developmental needs.