Spending more time talking with youth about all the cool things on screens paradoxically makes them more receptive to talking about ways to limit screen time. Here’s why:

Kids and teens consistently tell me, “Parents just don’t understand. They don’t see why my screen time is so important.” Meanwhile, kids see headlines about screen time ruining them. It is no wonder they do not believe we see the positives. Yet, I often think to myself that if I had decided to make a film about all the positives of the tech revolution, it would be a SUPER long movie, think Gone with the Wind on steroids many times over. The fact that screen time is so appealing is precisely why we are here at this moment working to create balance for our youth.  

A wonderful psychiatrist told me something that I repeat to myself often: “People want to be understood about why they want something as much as they actually want something.” I consistently find this to be true in my work as a doctor and in my work with youth (and in my relationships with all people).

In my work, for example, I will see patients who have mild low back pain for just a few days and will ask to have an x-ray. I empathetically paraphrase back to them what they have said and add that it makes sense that they would think such a test could be helpful. I can see it in their facial expressions when they feel heard. I then explain the reasons why such a test would not actually serve them well. This simple technique leaves patients feeling positive about their encounter and consequently more satisfied without getting an x-ray.

In my work with youth around screen time, I use a similar approach. When I talk in schools I always start by asking students what they love about screen time. It is such a fun conversation starter, and I see their faces light up. I tell them that it makes perfect sense that they would enjoy so many things on screens. For example, who wouldn’t want to play lots of video games? The graphics are incredible, they get to play with friends, they get to level up all the time, thus feeling competent—I get it!!

I go on to say how I understand how challenging it is to find a balance with offline time. I may say something like, “Given all the connecting going on with social media, it makes perfect sense that it is incredibly challenging to put the phone away.  I often hear teens tell me how they feel bad not responding instantly to friends.” After all that, I then transition into the reasons why time away from screens is important and ways to make that happen.

It’s tough for human brains to hold two seemingly opposing views at the same time. This is especially true for younger minds. We are asking youth to keep in their brains that we think there are amazing things about screen time, AND YET, we also believe that too much is not good. Identifying cool things about the tech revolution helps our children develop this dialectical thinking.

The Tech Talk Tuesdays landing page is meant to remind us to take a similar approach with each TTT discussion: “Get kids more invested in TTTs by starting each conversation with a positive about screen time.”

So for this TTT let’s talk about all the great things about the tech revolution.

1. What are all the things you love doing on screens? That’s the whole conversation! Have fun!!

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As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel