Child audiences in South Africa
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- Submited: October 18, 2022
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Published: October 20, 2022
Abstract
The consumption of media – especially radio and television – by children has been a topic of
research for decades now. Although extensive research has been published on the effects of the
media, also in South Africa, very few (if any) publications address the issue of when and what
children are viewing in South Africa, and if something should be done about this behaviour. In this
article, specific examples of the viewing patterns of children between the ages of 7 and 15 are
presented in the context of unacceptable material to which they are exposed. The different roles
of parents, broadcasters and legislators are discussed, against the backdrop of recent literature,
in an attempt to suggest a way forward.
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