Young people's ownership and uses of new and old forms of media in Britainand the Netherlands

Using data obtained in a national survey carried out in Britain (N = 1309) and the Netherlands (N = 1355), this article compares British and Dutch chi ldren and young people aged 6-17 with respect to: (1) the availability of d ifferent media in children's homes, and particularly in the children's own room; (2) the amount of time spent on different media; and (3) the gratific ations associated with the use of different types of media. Attention is pa id to new forms of media (electronic games and the personal computer) as we ll as old forms of media (print media and television and video). Cross-nati onal similarities and differences in ownership and uses of media are establ ished, both for the whole 6-17 age group and for subgroups formed in terms of gender, age and socioeconomic status. Special attention is devoted to po ints where British children and young people are clearly differentiated fro m their Dutch peers.