CHILDREN'S REPRESENTATIONS ON OTT PLATFORMS: A PERCEPTIVE ANALYSIS OF CONTENT DISPLAY

Abstract

The portrayal of children on OTT platforms can vary widely depending on the shows or movies, and the intended audience watching it. However, there are some general trends and considerations to keep in mind when it comes to the representation of children in this context. One trend that has emerged on OTT platforms is the increasing visibility and representation of children as main characters or protagonists in both live-action and animated programming. This can be seen in shows such as "Stranger Things," “The class”, “Elite” among others. At the same time, there are also concerns about the potential negative effects of certain types of content on OTT platforms. For example, some shows may include themes or language that is not age-appropriate, or may depict violence or other disturbing content that could be harmful or traumatic for younger viewers.This study explores the connection between children's use of OTT platforms and their engagement with them, taking into account a variety of variables like age, gender, education level, and intention to use the OTT platform. For the study, the researcher gathered both primary and secondary data. Data has been collected from 100 respondents. The majority of respondents concur that, characters on children’s shows represent diverse backgrounds and cultures; diversity on OTT platforms is adequate for children's understanding of the real world. The research showed that majority of parents are not satisfied with the overall quality of children's content on OTT platforms and they often monitor the quality of content their children’s are watching.Finding the factors and elements affecting the portrayal of children on OTT platforms and its impact on their mental health in this study will close the gap in earlier research.