Childhood and Media in Pandemic Times

Year 2021, , 237 - 246, 14.01.2022

Pablo Vinocur , Patricia Ferrante Belén Igarzábal , Monica Waisman Martin Rajnerman , Raul Mercer

https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.1005536

Abstract

Introduction: As a consequence of the advance and dissemination of the coronavirus (COVID-19) globally, the Argentinian National Government established the Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation, from March 20th, 2020 in the whole country. The movement in the routes and the use of public spaces, assistance to educational institutions; cultural, recreational, sport and religious events; commercial activity with some exceptions was prohibited. As a consequence of the measures, children were confined to their homes. During this period it was observed that childhood was adopting multiple ways of configurations and symbolic constructions generated by the media, which varied from the non-recognition of themselves to the generation of stereotypes and stigmatization associated with their potential harm as transmission and contagious agents. In this context, an interesting method to monitor the approach to childhood that circulated in the public opinion during the first months of confinement in Argentina, was the way in which girls and boys appeared on the digital newspapers. Objectives: To identify the space children had in digital media in Argentina at the beginning of the pandemic, to characterize those aspects related to the rights of child during confinement and analyse the different behaviors of the digital media in relation with the news about children during confinement. Methods: A quantitative method was used when collecting information about children and digital media in Argentina. From 10th March - 9th June 2020, 119,103 news stories that make reference to pandemic COVID 19 were found. Out of this universe, 14,543 (12.3%) matched with the selected terms about Children and the Pandemic. From this list of 14,543 news stories, all the articles were checked one by one to discard those that did not make explicit reference to the selected dimensions related with Children Rights: Education, Health, Health Care, Protection, Poverty, Violence, Children’s Voice, Entertainment, Play/Leisure, and Nutrition. Results: The total of news reports analyzed (1,620) were distributed in decreasing order in the following way: Education (26.42%), Play (26.05%), Health care (18.52%), General care (11.23%), Violence (5.06%), Nutrition (4.94%), Protection (3.95%), Children’s voice (2.28%), Poverty (1.54%). The news reports related to education represented 26.42% of the total of news reports and are divided in 3 sub-categories if boys and girls were taken as subjects to be educated (44.39%), in relation with education policies (39.25%), or as a infectious transmission agents (16.36%). As regards the news reports on Play (26.05% of the total), a division could be done between what was considered as entertainment and as leisure. Entertainment included most of the reports related to play, 66.59% of the publications, and 33.41% were about leisure. As regards Health (18.52% of the total), most of the news reports considered children as infectious transmission agents (58%). This was followed by Mental Health (20%), Prevention/Promotion (11.67%), and Disability (10.33%). In relation with the news reports on general care (11.23% of the total), most was related with tips and recommendations (42.86%) and family organization (41.21%). And in less quantity parental care roles (15.93%). Most of the news reports related to violence (5.6% of the total of reports) made reference to two topics: intrafamily violence and child abuse. Reports on nutrition (4.94% of the total) focused on how difficult confinement was for families with children in more vulnerable populations, with information about community kitchens, community meals and packed meals. In relation with the news reports on child protection (3.95% of the total), the main topics presented had to do with the vulnerable situation of children’s homes, the consequences on the errands for adoption, and the importance of the protection of children. Conclusions: The generation of space dedicated to childhood in the digital media checked was based on emergent situations related with the characterization of children and assumptions associated with COVID-19 problematic. During the period of analysis of the information provided by the digital media, and considering the rights paradigm, children have been affected when recognizing and warrantying their rights. When complex social phenomena take place, the partial improvement in the recognition of children’s rights needed a proactive role from different sectors of society: health and social sciences professionals, intellectuals, NGOs, and organized communities.

Keywords

Child, Rights, Media, Pandemic

Childhood and the Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Argentinian Government established a nationwide policy of Preventive and Mandatory Social
Isolation. As a consequence of the measures, children were confined to their homes. During this period children adopted multiple symbolic images generated
by the media. In order to evaluate how children were affected during the first months of lockdown we decided to analyze the way in which children were
considered on digital media.
Objectives: To identify the space children had on digital media in Argentina at the beginning of the pandemic and to characterize those aspects related to
child rights during that period.
Methods: Using a quantitative method, information about children and digital media in Argentina was collected from 10th March to 9th June 2020. In total
119,103 news items which made reference to the COVID-19 pandemic were found. Out of this universe, 14,543 (12.3%) matched the selected search terms.
All the articles were checked one by one to discard those that did not make reference to the selected dimensions related to child rights. Descriptive statistics
was applied for selected categories.
Results: The news reports analyzed (a total of 1,620) were distributed between the following categories: Education (26.42%), Play (26.05%), Health care
(18.52%), General care (11.23%), Violence (5.06%), Nutrition (4.94%), Protection (3.95%), Children’s voice (2.28%), Poverty (1.54%). The way the media
characterized child rights categories varied according to the type of media (national or regional) and the rights considered. The space given by the media to
children at this stage in the pandemic was much lower compared to that given to the adult population.
Conclusions: The space devoted to childhood in the digital media was based on emergent situations associated with COVID-19. During the period of analysis,
and in the light of the rights paradigm, children were affected in the recognition of their rights. This situation demands a proactive response from different
sectors of society to identify and recognize child rights violations.

Keywords

Childhood, Media, Pandemic, Argentina, Child Rights

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