Presidential Address: Digital Media Use and the Experience(s) of Childhood: Reflections Across the Generations

Does media use define the experience of childhood? The present article, based on Jordan's Presidential Address at the International Communication Association's 66th annual conference, argues that while we often view media technologies as dividing generations, it is equally valuable to consider how they connect generations and enhance their well-being. It highlights the challenges of systematically studying youth and media in this way, particularly in an environment where “everyone's an expert” and judgments are based on personal experiences. The article concludes by arguing that as a field we must recognize that the experience of “childhood” is not monolithic. The study of media in children's lives must reflect the familial, economic, social, political, and geographic contexts in which they develop.