MediaNest
everythingaboutparenting inadigitalworld
Flanders,Belgium
19/03/2025
Howdowereachparents?
WhatisMediaNest?
Mediaparenting?
● Importantpartofparenting =Unchartedterritoryformanyparents
● Eachparentandchildisdifferent =differentstylesandneeds
Whatpreceded
● Scatteredinformationonline
● Busyparents,inneedofaccessible information
—>One-stopshop
Teamworkmakesthedreamwork
● >20partners
○ researchers
○ trainingorganisations ○ socialorganisations ○ expertisecentres
● Commonvisiononmediaparenting
● www.medianest.be
■ websiteforparentsinFlanders andBrussels(Dutch-speaking)
OnesharedvisiononmediaparentinginFlanders
1. Positiveviewonmediause(withattentionfortherisks)
2. Empoweringparentsandothereducators
3. Conversationiskey
Differenttypesofcontent…
● Startingpoint=answerquestionsofparents
● Noteveryonelikestoreadarticlesonawebsite+everyoneisdifferent
→Differentpersona
→Differenttypesofcontent
● mediaphenomena&trends
● questionsaboutchildren’sdigitalworld
● testimoniesfromotherparents
● tipsforparents(incaseofconcerns,forcreativemediaactivities…)
● videos
● quizzes
● conversationstarters
…onabroadcollectionoftopics
● Advertising
● Childrenwithadisability
● Cyberbullying
● Funwithmedia
● Gaming
● Newsandinformation
● Parenting(e.g.screentime,suitable content,howtostartaconversation…)
● Privacy
● Reading
● Relationships&sexuality
● Safeonline(cybersecurity)
● School
● Socialmedia(e.g.whatdoyou needtoknowaboutthepopular socialmedia,howtoaccompany them,mentalwellbeing,…)
● Technologyandthefuture
Someexamplequestions
● HowdoIstartagoodconversation withmychild?
● Whatareinternetchallenges?
● Howlongismychildallowedto lookatascreen?
● CanIcontrolmychildonTikTok?
● Gamersathome!HowcanIset somegroundrules?
● …
Whatarethequestionsthatparentshave?
● ‘MediaNestCijfers’=researchonmedia parentinginFlanders
○ WhatdoesmediauselooklikeinFlemishand Brusselsfamilies?
○ Whatconcernsorquestionsdoparentshave aboutmediaeducation?
○ Howdoparentsaddressit?
● Questionnaire+interviews
● Everyotheryear,newresultsinMay2025
○ Specificfocusonparentsofchildrenwith adisability+vulnerableparents
Acloserlookatsome conversationstarters
Conversationiskey
→Manyarticlesandconversation startertoolstostarta conversationinfamilies
Pretchat#truth#dare#do
Conversationstarteraboutsocialmedia,screentime, devices…
● Doyouuseyourrealnameonallyoursocial mediaaccounts?
● Whatnewsitemwillyouneverforget?Where wereyouatthetime?
● Showyourscreentimetoeachother.Findthis throughyoursmartphonesettings.
● Imitateyourfavouriteinfluencerorcelebrity untilyournextturn.
● Showoneofthefivemostrecentphotosonyour smartphone.
● Together,thinkofatrendthatwouldreallygo viral.
Pretchat#truth#dare#do
ScreentjeDealtje
Aquiztohelpyoumaketherulesaboutmedia inyourfamily.Yougeta‘contract’attheend.
ScreentjeDealtje
Sharingphotosofyourchild, whichsharentareyou?
Takethetestandfindoutwhattypeof “sharent”youare!
Exampleofoneofthequestions:
Youhadphotostakenforyourchild'sfirstbirthday.You...
● Printthemoutandcreatephotoframesasgiftsfor yourfamily.
● Carefullychooseonephotoandpostitonsocial media.
● Sendthemalltoyourgroupchats,includingallthe photosfromthebirthdayparty.Themore,the better!
● Sharetheminstantlyonyourpublicsocialmedia account.
Howdowereachparents?
Reachingparentsdirectly
1. Socialmedia:Facebook&Instagram
■ Weeklypostsonactualtopics
2. Monthlynewsletterforparents
■ eachmonth=‘deepdive’ononetopic
3. (Socialmedia)campaigns
■ incooperationwithcommunication agencies,partners…
4. Press
■ Answeringadhocquestions
■ Cooperations
Informingandsupportingprofessionals whoworkwithparents(1)
4. Mediawijs.be:‘Dossier’parentinginadigitalworld
5. Incorporate‘mediaparenting’asatopicinourown trainings(f.e.mediacoach)andlessonmaterials
6. Freeleaflets(throughschools,socialworkers,libraries,…)
■ Generalleaflet
■ Specificleafletsincooperationwithpartners
● F.e.:AgentschapOpgroeien/Kind&Gezin (GovernmentAgencyforPre-schoolChildren’s policy)foraspecificleafletforparentsofyoung children(0–6yearsold)
Informingandsupportingprofessionals whoworkwithparents(2)
7. MediaNeststudyday ■ Aneventfullyfocusedonmediaparenting:forprofessionalswhoworkwith parents+professionalswhoworkwithchildren(f.e.youthcare…)
8. Trainthetrainersandreferraltoexistingtrainings(Mediamenu,VeiligOnline,…)
Parental engagement: a never ending story
Wanttogetintouch? karen.linten@mediawijs.be jeroen.herman@mediawijs.be
@MediaNest.be
