Examining Children's Media Literacy Levels and Usage Habits in Terms Of Demographic Variables

In this study, it is aimed to reveal the media usage habits of secondary school children and their media literacy levels according to various variables. The study data were collected in 2017. It was determined that two of every three children used mobile internet, watched television for 1-2 hours daily and used the internet. The most popular activity among children was found to be watching television, followed by these activities: listening to music, using social networks, mobile phones, and the internet usage by one of every two children. According to demographic characteristics of children, it was found that while the media literacy level of men was significantly lower than women regarding gender, the same was valid for the children living in the South-eastern Anatolia region compared to those living in other regions regarding geographical regions. Moreover, it was determined that children’s media literacy level increased as their grades increased. According to children's media usage habits, it was revealed that while media literacy level of children not using mobile internet was significantly higher than those using mobile internet, the same was true for children watching television for 1-2 hours daily compared to those watching 7-8 hours.