From Passive Mediators to Active Guides: Understanding Chinese Parents’ Role in Preschoolers’ TikTok Consumption

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Sunday 11:45 am
  In Poster Session: Early Education and Child Development

Abstract

This study examined digital parenting profiles related to preschoolers’ engagement with TikTok (Douyin) in China. A total of 408 parents of children aged 3 to 6 years from two socioeconomically distinct urban regions in southern China completed an offline survey using validated measures. Latent Profile Analysis revealed two profiles: Passive Digital Mediators (83.8%) and Active Digital Guides (16.2%). Parents with more favorable attitudes toward TikTok were more likely to adopt active mediation. Children in Active Guide households showed more structured, supervised viewing, while those in Passive households had more irregular or covert usage. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive digital literacy programs to help parents support healthy media use in young children, especially on algorithm-driven platforms like TikTok.

Authors

• Dandan Wu, The Education University of Hong Kong

• Eva Yi Hung Lau, Education University of Hong Kong

• Zhaotianqin Zhang, The Education University of Hong Kong

• Yushu Luo, The Education University of Hong Kong

• Clara Yun Nga Choy, The Education University of Hong Kong