Dutch and Flemish Children and Adolescents as Users of Interactive Media

This article compares trends in ownership of, access to and use of media in the home and/or children's bedrooms in the Netherlands and Flanders. Our focus is primarily on the position that interactive media occupy in the social environment of children and adolescents (6-17 years). Now that new interactive media have undeniably managed to acquire a place in the home and also - although to a lesser extent - in children's bedrooms, we examine how children handle these media. In particular, our attention is drawn to the functions (what is it for?) and perceptions (how enjoyable is it?) of interactive media. In addition to establishing general trends in children's use of interactive media, we will investigate to what extent sex differences and differences in the socio-economic status (SES) of the parents influence ownership of, access to, use of and views held about interactive media in the Netherlands and Flanders