Youth and Media --Then and Now -- Themes and Theoretical Perspectives -- Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers -- Children -- Adolescents -- Media and Violence -- Media and Emotions -- Advertising and Commercialism -- Media and Sex -- Media and Education -- Digital Games -- Social Media -- Media and Parenting -- The End.

This book is a study of the complex relationship between children and media in the digital age. Young people are surrounded by media - thanks to the sophistication and portability of the technology that puts it literally in the palms of their hands. Drawing on data and empirical research that cross many fields and continents, the authors examine the role of media in the lives of children from birth through adolescence, addressing the complex issues of how media affect the young and what adults can do to encourage responsible use in an age of selfies, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. This study looks at both the sunny and the dark side of media use by today's youth, including why and how their preferences change throughout childhood, whether digital gaming is harmful or helpful, the effects of placing tablets and smartphones in the hands of toddlers, the susceptibility of young people to online advertising, and the legitimacy of parental concerns about media multitasking.