International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Sunita D Ilager, Prema Patil, Vinutha U Muktamath and Geeta Channal

abstract
The study conducted in Dharwad, Karnataka, aimed to evaluate the influence of digital media usage on child behaviour of higher primary school children. The research involved 240 students (120 urban and 120 rural) in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades from both private and government schools. Various tools, including a self-structured questionnaire for digital media usage, Child behavior checklist (CBCL) by Achenbach and Rescorla (2001), and the Socio-economic Status Scale, were employed. The findings indicated that 56.7% of children exhibited moderate digital media usage, 32.9% had high usage, and 10.4% had low usage. Smart TVs were the preferred device for the majority (37.9%), followed by smartphones (27.1%), tablets (19.2%), and computers (15.8%). The most-watched digital content included National Geographic Kids (22.1%), Disney Junior (21.7%), game apps (20.8%), social media (17.9%), and Nick Jr (17.5%). In terms of purpose, the majority used digital media for homework and school-related activities (25.0%), followed by entertainment and media consumption (22.1%). Gaming was the purpose for 16.3%, while only 10% used digital media for communication. Regarding time spent, the majority spent 1 to 2 hours (42.10%), followed by 3 to 4 hours (26.70%), with fewer spending less than 1 hour (19.60%), and a minority exceeding 4 hours (11.70%) on digital media activities. Children shows that 58.80 percent of children have borderline child behaviour, while 41.30 percent of children exhibit normal behaviour. Three-fourths (72.50%) of children exhibit borderline externalizing behaviour, while 27.50 percent of children display normal externalizing behaviour and none of fall in clinical externalizing behaviour The study identified a significant association and difference between digital media usage, time spent on digital media, child internalizing and externalizing behaviour among higher primary school children.