Beloki, UsueLinares Bahillo, EstibalizEtxebarria Centeno, Alize2026-04-292026-04-292026Beloki Marañon, U., Linares Bahillo, E., & Etxebarria Centeno, A. (2026). Vigilant waiting in digital parenting: tensions in addressing sexual content risks. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2026.26538340267-384310.1080/02673843.2026.2653834https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14454/5826The study delves into the practices, dynamics and dilemmas faced by families in the integration of TRICs and in relation to the possible exposure of children to pornographic and heterosexist content. Drawing on nine discussion groups with 41 mothers and 8 fathers from the Basque Autonomous Community (children aged 2–13), it analyses parental discourses it analyses parental discourses—predominantly maternal—marked by a heightened perception of risk, the feminisation of digital mediation, and the emergence of the ‘anticipation paradox’. This dilemma leads families, especially mothers, to adopt a strategy of ‘vigilant waiting’—delaying sexual education to preserve childhood innocence— shaped by limited digital and sexuality education. The article combines theoretical review, empirical findings and theoretical–practical discussion, highlighting the need for comprehensive training resources that bring together digital literacy, affective–sexual education and a feminist perspective.eng© 2026 The Author(s)Digital mediationDigital parentingDilemmasGenderPornographyTRICsDigital parentingDigital mediationPornographyGenderDilemmasTRICsjournal article2026-04-29