A friend recently told me that her son, whose middle school plans to show Screenagers schoolwide before the semester ends, is already feeling defensive about what he anticipates will be “another parent attack” on one more dreaded teen behavior that we parents have to “do something about.”
“There are a lot of good things that happen on screens,” he insists pre-emptively. “It’s not just all wasting time.” His latest favorite evidence is a popular YouTube video considering the question, “Can video games make you smarter?”
It’s true that social networks and innovative apps have brought a lot of good into our lives. There are plenty of examples of online connectedness playing a big role in enabling people to advocate for positive ideas and take action quickly. In a large-scale crisis like a natural disaster or major accident, word can spread instantly on social media with photos, connecting people to help, services and volunteers.
We also connect more conveniently to people far away, re-connect to people from other eras of our lives, and establish valuable links with new people based on shared interests or knowledge. Political and grassroots activists mobilize support and get organized more quickly and cost-efficiently than ever before thanks to the existence of social media platforms.
I’d like to devote this week’s family conversation to the many “tech positives” in our lives. Our own teens will probably teach us a thing or two about it. Pro-girl blogger Michelle Cove challenged her readers to use social media for good — as in spreading inspiration and laughter — and shared three high-impact examples to get us thinking in that direction.
· What is an example of how a social media network really benefited you recently?
· Have you considered using social media to make something good happen for others or your community?
· Have you been inspired by movements or ideas you encountered online?
· Have you experienced innovative uses of technology in your classroom?
· What specific screen activity makes your life better?
May 30, 2016
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
A friend recently told me that her son, whose middle school plans to show Screenagers schoolwide before the semester ends, is already feeling defensive about what he anticipates will be “another parent attack” on one more dreaded teen behavior that we parents have to “do something about.”
“There are a lot of good things that happen on screens,” he insists pre-emptively. “It’s not just all wasting time.” His latest favorite evidence is a popular YouTube video considering the question, “Can video games make you smarter?”
It’s true that social networks and innovative apps have brought a lot of good into our lives. There are plenty of examples of online connectedness playing a big role in enabling people to advocate for positive ideas and take action quickly. In a large-scale crisis like a natural disaster or major accident, word can spread instantly on social media with photos, connecting people to help, services and volunteers.
We also connect more conveniently to people far away, re-connect to people from other eras of our lives, and establish valuable links with new people based on shared interests or knowledge. Political and grassroots activists mobilize support and get organized more quickly and cost-efficiently than ever before thanks to the existence of social media platforms.
I’d like to devote this week’s family conversation to the many “tech positives” in our lives. Our own teens will probably teach us a thing or two about it. Pro-girl blogger Michelle Cove challenged her readers to use social media for good — as in spreading inspiration and laughter — and shared three high-impact examples to get us thinking in that direction.
· What is an example of how a social media network really benefited you recently?
· Have you considered using social media to make something good happen for others or your community?
· Have you been inspired by movements or ideas you encountered online?
· Have you experienced innovative uses of technology in your classroom?
· What specific screen activity makes your life better?
May 30, 2016
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
This blog explores how children often perceive parental love as conditional, linked to their achievements. It offers insights on fostering unconditional love, with reflections and practical questions to help parents ensure their children feel valued for who they are, not just for what they accomplish.
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Did you know that 45% of girls stop playing sports by age 14 due to low body confidence? That is a shocking and devastating statistic. Dove's Super Bowl ad, in partnership with Nike highlighted this, presenting a critical conversation starter about the intersection of self-esteem, body image, and performance in societal contexts. This 30-second spot was shown to an audience of 123.4 million, as part of Dove’s “The Self-Esteem Project” In a world where what girls see on social media, influencers on YouTube on their favorite shows, and in advertising powerfully shape perceptions and behaviors, this was an important moment. Read more and see the ad in today’s blog.
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For me, Valentine’s Day (which is, by the way, one of my top holidays) is about communicating our love and appreciation for people we care about — not just those we may be romantically involved with. Emojis are all about communicating and we all have different emoji-use styles — from complete nonuse to the most curated and abundant use. What are you? What is your child? And why is it even worth asking?
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
