Why screen time quality is important
The quality of screen time matters.
Good-quality screen time can be good for many aspects of teenage development, like learning, creativity and social connections.
In contrast, poor-quality screen time has very few benefits. For example, teenagers won’t get much from watching a lot of ‘Get ready with me’ videos on YouTube.
The Australian Government has passed a law called the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024. This law says that you must be aged 16 years or older to hold an account on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Read more about the social media ban and how to help your child handle it.
How can you tell whether apps, games, TV, movies and online videos are good quality?
You and your child can work out whether apps, games, TV shows, movies or online videos – like YouTube videos – are good quality by looking at:
- how your child engages with them
- whether they help your child learn and develop
- what kind of messages they have
- whether the settings are right for your child.
It’s a good idea to encourage your child to think about what makes a media experience worthwhile. You can ask your child why they think something is or isn’t good quality.
1. Check quality of engagement
The best apps, games, TV, movies and online videos:
- stimulate and entertain your child
- leave your child feeling happy and good about themselves
- make your child feel safe, not vulnerable or anxious
- have age-appropriate ideas and story elements
- engage your child’s imagination.
Examples of apps, games, TV, movies and online videos that promote engagement might be:
- a TV show with an unusual twist or a plot with unresolved questions
- an app with interesting and original artwork and sound effects
- a game with quirky characters and storylines
- a guided mindfulness or relaxation app.
2. Check learning and development benefits
The best apps, games, TV, movies and online videos help your child learn and develop. They:
- encourage creativity
- encourage problem-solving
- develop communication skills
- develop social skills
- promote a healthy lifestyle
- inspire interest in new topics or improve understanding of real-world issues.
Examples of apps, games, TV, movies and online videos with learning and development benefits might be:
- an app that lets your child create unique content like blogs or videos
- a video app that motivates your child to learn how to edit and add sound to videos
- a messaging app that helps your child keep in touch with friends
- a multiplayer game that encourages your child to achieve goals as part of a team
- a YouTube video that demonstrates sports drills or nutritious recipes
- a TEDx talk or international news site.
3. Check for positive and inclusive messages
Good apps, games, TV shows, movies, and online videos:
- have positive messages about relationships, family and lifestyle
- have inclusive messages about disability, gender, race and culture
- encourage your child to reflect on their own and other people’s values and experiences.
Online reviews can help you decide whether a movie, app or game is good quality and has benefits. Try our movie reviews, reviews on Common Sense Media or app reviews on Children and Media Australia. Use Australian Classification to find out what different age classifications mean.
4. Check ratings and settings
To get a sense of overall quality, you and your child can also check the following in apps, games, TV, movies and online videos:
- Age rating – encourage your child to check and consider the recommended age range.
- In-app purchases – talk with your child about handling in-app purchases and disabling one-click payment options.
- Privacy settings – ask your child to check how games and apps collect data, and make sure you’re both comfortable with this.
Teenagers often want the games and apps their friends have. A family technology plan can help you manage this kind of peer influence.
Apps, games, TV, movies and online videos to avoid
It’s best if your child avoids apps, games, TV shows, movies, and online videos that:
- celebrate violence, bad attitudes, unhealthy eating or other antisocial activities
- present teenagers in a highly sexualised way or make them feel uncomfortable
- are designed to market or sell products like snack food or movie merchandise
- make teenagers feel they need to ‘watch just one more’ or ‘play just one more’, including games that don’t allow teenagers to save their progress.
It’s best for your child to avoid games that simulate gambling, have casino themes, betting activities or risk-and-reward activities, or use fake money or tokens. Games with gambling themes and activities might lead to gambling in adulthood.