Infants with Smoking, Less-Involved Fathers More Likely to Be Exposed to Media

A father’s smoking and limited involvement in childcare and housework may increase the likelihood that his 1-year-old child is exposed to media, according to a study recently published by Korea’s Korea Institute of Child Care and Education.

The study, published in the latest issue of the journal Early Childhood Care and Education Policy, examined factors associated with media exposure among infants. Researchers said the age at which children begin using media has dropped sharply in recent years.

In 2013, Korean infants and young children first used smart devices at an average age of 2.27 years. By 2023, children reportedly began encountering digital media at around 12 months of age.

The researchers grouped the factors affecting infant media exposure into characteristics of the child, parents and the home environment. They identified parents as the most influential factor, noting that infants generally do not own media devices and instead access them indirectly through their parents’ devices. Earlier research had focused mainly on mothers, but the researchers said other parental factors also needed examination.