Rebelde Way in Israel: Parental Perceptions of Television Influence and Monitoring of Children's Social and Media Activities

This study examines parents' perceptions of the influence of a youth-targeted telenovela on their own versus other children using the framework of the third person effect. Survey data (N = 132) demonstrate that parents perceived the show to have greater impact on other children than on their own. Regression analyses show that parents who thought that the show had an influence on their own children tended to monitor their child's TV viewing. In contrast, parents concerned about the influence on other children tended to monitor and examine their child's choice of friends.