December 2017 – Compared to six years ago, only half as many children ages 2-11 are watching TV networks aimed at them, according to a Bernstein Research study. The report did not address whether the decline indicated fewer shows produced for children or if other social media forms, e.g. Internet streaming or video games, are luring children away from TV.
Parents Television Council, a long-time conservative observer of entertainment in culture, said that streaming services lean heavily toward attracting adults with purchasing power. Press releases did not indicate whether children are viewing more of the adult content. PTC’s study Over-the-Top or a Race to the Bottom: A Parent’s Guide to Streaming Video reported: “[A]dult programming (rated TV-14, TV-MA, or R) outpaces that for kids (rated G or TV-Y7) on Amazon Prime and Netflix by a factor of 10:1…and on Hulu, 30:1.”
