I just finished reading a New York Times Well Blog article about Screenagers, a new documentary that addresses the challenge that too much screen time presents for families. The March 15, 2016 piece by Jennifer Jolly interviews Dr. Dulaney Ruston (read about some of her past projects), the director of the documentary, Screenagers. Dr. Ruston is also in the film.
This movie shares evidence-based scientific research on screen time — a reason the movie will become an important resource for educators and parents as they struggle with the issue of how to manage 21st Century young people and screen time. The experts in the film offer advice about how to support and guide young people as they grow up in a densely digital age. Thank goodness the film focuses on facts and does not inspire fear.
The issue of parents designing and using contracts or agreements and how much they help parents and kids focus on important screen times issues come up in the article and in the documentary. You can check out a comprehensive list of sites that offer these types of contracts and agreements on MediaTechParenting.net. You can also read this blog’s digital parenting checklist.
View the Screenagers Official Trailer
Best Quotes from the Well Blog Article (read the entire Times article)
- Studies show a correlation between too much screen time and worse attention spans, as well as negative effects on learning.
- The worst thing a parent can do is hand over a smartphone and hope for the best.
- Kids don’t want to be held to a higher standard than their parents, and that’s a big issue.
Other Sources of Information About Screenagers
- Screenagers’ Documentary Looks at Youths’ Digital Device Use – by Mark Walsh – Education Week Blogs
- Are Your Kids Addicted to Their Phones? Screenagers Wants to Help – by Keith Wagstaff – Forbes Tech
- Screenagers Documentary Looks at Youth’s Digital Device Usage – Healthy Kids Today Website
- Common Sense Media Screenagers Review
Media! Tech! Parenting! 