By Gavin Boyle
School was out, and kids parked in front of their televisions, according to new data released by Nielsen.
Nielsen data not only revealed that TV usage sharply rose as school let out for the summer, but also tracked the most popular shows among school-aged kids.
“Streaming viewership surged again in June representing 46.0% of television usage,” Nielsen reported. “Time spent streaming was up 5.4% over last month, which was primarily driven by both a standout month for Netflix, and a seasonal influx in viewing from school-aged children.”
Among all school-aged kids, GINNY & GEORGIA proved to be the most popular show on streaming after the release of its third season, followed by BLUEY, SQUID GAME, SPONGEBOB SQUARE PANTS, and PHINEAS AND FERB. As for teens aged 12-17, after GINNY & GEORGIA, the most popular shows were SQUID GAME, STRANGER THINGS, LOVE ISLAND, and THE ROOKIE.
No matter the age group, Netflix had the most representation, revealing how the streamer has come to be so popular among kids. Whether it should be this popular, however, is another question as many of the shows these kids watch are not age-appropriate. SQUID GAME, for example, is rated 15+ by the MPAA, though Movieguide® does not find it acceptable for audiences of any age because of the excessive gore and violence. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:
Related: Medical Experts Agree: SQUID GAME Is NOT For Children
Overall, the first episode of Season 3 of SQUID GAME is captivating in its storytelling, character development, and artistic design, as well as the previous seasons – possibly one of the most creatively lit and well-designed series on television. However, the violence, gore, and inescapable evil portray the very worst of humanity on screen and can be challenging to watch. The episode features a humanist worldview, where characters with more moral intentions, such as bravery, a sense of justice, and selflessness, are often victims of a merciless plot. Characters die senselessly, but the good characters give the audience a sense of hope. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for all audiences.
STRANGER THINGS follows a similar pattern, though Movieguide® has found it to be an acceptable show to watch, for almost all children, it is too violent and gory. Maybe the oldest school-aged kids could handle the show, but even those in the younger age groups are engaging with it.
It is disappointing to see kids engage with such negative media, and even more so that platforms like Netflix allow them to do so. Especially given that many parents continue to work throughout the summer, meaning they may not even know what their kids are watching. While it is no surprise that TV usage exploded this summer, it is disappointing to see where that extra watch time has gone.
For recommendations of what shows children can watch, check out our WHAT TO WATCH Guide here.
Read Next: What Parents Need to Know About Netflix’s New Kids Feature
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