Issues related to youth and technology -- including social media management, cyberbullying, cyber safety, gaming, and video viewing -- are the most frequently mentioned concerns that we hear from parents in our parent support groups, at parent education events, and at our parent advisory meetings. Parents want to know how to help their kids manage technology and social media in a healthy way, how to identify the warning signs of misuse, and how to effectively establish boundaries and intervene when needed. Fortunately, we now have current studies that help us understand how screen time affects the teen brain, as well as many outstanding resources that can provide us with guidelines and strategies to help our iGens navigate technology and social media in a health way. We update this page frequently in order to stay on top of the latest findings, so please check back soon for more information and videos.
Recommended National Articles and Resources
Current Research
Click on the blog below for a synopsis of, and links to, recent national articles and videos from The Atlantic, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, NPR, and CBS, including research from, and interviews with, Jean Twenge about iGens on the latest research regarding the affects of technology and social media on youth.
In The Atlantic’s “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, Twenge discusses her research and interactions with teenagers in depth. She noticed in 2012 (the year the proportion of Americans who owned smartphones surpassed 50%), teen depression and suicide rates skyrockets. This dramatic shift in teen behavior indicated the emergence of a new generation, iGen. Smartphones have impacted every aspect of teenagers lives, across every demographic, in every household. Twenge noted that unlike other generations, iGen’s don’t seem to want to “rebel” or fight for freedom, content with the “homebody arrangement.” This is a relief for parents, as they no longer have to worry about their teens encountering the dangers and temptations of the outside world, but it ultimately causes a pattern of isolation that has long-term deleterious effects on teen’s mental health
The Washington Post shares reflections from Melinda Gates: "I spent my career in technology. I wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids." This is a very insightful and balanced perspective on the benefits and challenges that technology and social media present. Gates also shares some outstanding resources and advice for parents.
NPR’s “The Thing About Smart Phones" covers an interview with Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego University. According to Twenge, this new generation of people born between 1995-2012, which she refers to as “iGen,” are far more psychologically vulnerable than other generations. Smartphone have brought this generation “on the brink of the worst mental health crisis in decades” because iGen’s spend much less time interacting with others face to face, leading to an epidemic of loneliness. Twenge encourages parents to minimize their teens smartphone usage as much as possible, as this time takes away from other psychologically enriching activities and opportunities to form meaningful, supportive relationships.
In CBS’s “Hooked on Phones” Anderson Cooper interviews Google product manager, Tristan Harris, about how programmers are conditioning you to be addicted to your phone by engineering your phone so you’ll check it more often. By exploiting human beings’ innate fight-or-flight response, engineers are finding more and more creative ways to induce anxiety from which humans naturally want immediate relief. Teenagers, who already experience anxiety more than all other age groups, are extremely susceptible to the compulsion of constantly checking their phone to relieve themselves of this anxiety. Cooper encourages parents and teens to educate themselves about the powers of the devices in their pockets, and to be more mindful about how smartphones are affecting their mental state and behavior.
Today’s “Apps For Kids Your Parents Need to Know About” is a video interview with Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media. Steyer discusses which apps parents need to know about to keep their kids safe. He also provides general phone safety tips, such as ensuring privacy and good judgment while engaging in social media.
In Your Teen Mag’s “Texting Late at Night? Quashing You Teen’s After Hours Technology” A parent discusses how she minimized her teens’ late-night texting through parental controls settings. However, other apps teens use to communicate, such as Snapchat and Instagram, are not affected by these time-control settings. She recommends all parents enforce a “park your phone” rule in their household; everyone places their phones in a designated place before they go to sleep. She goes into detail about how parents with a variety of carriers can institute these rules and settings.
In The Guardian’s “Teenagers’ Sleep Quality and Mental Health at Risk Over Late-Night Mobile Phone Use” Researchers advise that “physical boundaries” be set over device usage to avoid sleep deprivation and other potential mental health issues. A longitudinal study found a correlation between poor-sleep quality and depressed moods, decline in self-esteem, decline in coping abilities, and poor performance in the classroom.
Families Managing Media, is a great online resource for parents. Their article "7 Reasons Why Your Teen's Smartphone Contract Will Not Work", offers some great insight and helpful alternatives to a contract.
"Zoom out: How kids keep parents from controlling their phones" Children are getting savvier at hiding their digital footprint from their parents, AP’s Martha Irvine reports.
Why it matters: Many social media sites require a sign up age of 13 years old or older. Electronic devices — phones, tablets and iPods — are in the hands of children earlier than that and kids fake their age to access the plethora of apps that parents aren’t in the know about.
In The Guardian’s “Teenagers’ Sleep Quality and Mental Health at Risk Over Late-Night Mobile Phone Use” Researchers advise that “physical boundaries” be set over device usage to avoid sleep deprivation and other potential mental health issues. A longitudinal study found a correlation between poor-sleep quality and depressed moods, decline in self-esteem, decline in coping abilities, and poor performance in the classroom.
Families Managing Media, is a great online resource for parents. Their article "7 Reasons Why Your Teen's Smartphone Contract Will Not Work", offers some great insight and helpful alternatives to a contract.
"Zoom out: How kids keep parents from controlling their phones" Children are getting savvier at hiding their digital footprint from their parents, AP’s Martha Irvine reports.
Why it matters: Many social media sites require a sign up age of 13 years old or older. Electronic devices — phones, tablets and iPods — are in the hands of children earlier than that and kids fake their age to access the plethora of apps that parents aren’t in the know about.
Click on the image above to access great conversation starters and dinner games, to download a free guide, and participate in the Family Dinner Project.. Additional tips and suggestions for device-free dinners are provided by Common Sense Media.
ConnectSafely.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy and security. The site provides free subject-based parent guides and excellent safety tips.
|
Common Sense Media is dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology. If you have questions on how to take control of the technology in your kids' lives, check out this guide and helpful Q and A, and explore all that this outstanding website has to offer, including helpful videos. Be sure to sign-up for their free monthly enewsletter and free app.
A resource to help parents reset their kid's screen habits and reconnect their families.
|
