Media use and the relationships of children and teenagers with their peer groups - A study of Finnish, Spanish and Swiss cases

This article reports first results from a comparative analysis of interview data from Finland, Spain and Switzerland. Within the framework of a develo pmental perspective on the role of media in everyday life, we focus on cros s-cultural similarities and differences in how media use is related to chil dren's and teenagers' relationships with their peers. The data revealed mai n ways in which media are part of young people's everyday lives: using medi a together with peers; as a source for common topics in play and talk, as a means of facilitating identification with groups and their values; and for the development of an individual identity. The comparison between the thre e countries showed chat these forms of media use are central to different a ge groups in the three countries, influenced by different concepts of child ren's autonomy from adult supervision, systems of organizing leisure time a ctivities and the structure of the school day.