I’m speaking tonight on a panel about tweens, teens, and technology and the impact it’s having on our children’s developing brains and well-being with Common Sense Media’s lead researcher, Dr. Mike Robb and University of Washington brain researcher, Dr. Pat Kuhl. The event is sold out because I think we’re all overwhelmed about the challenge of growing up digital. AND what is happening to our children. So if you haven’t registered- no worries – you can watch live on the Seattle Children’s Facebook page from 6:00 – 7:30 PM PST tonight. I will also share the video on my Facebook page tomorrow if that timeline doesn’t work for your schedule. The reality is, we are living in a new time where our tween and teens are exploring video games, smartphones, and screen time en masse. Just shy of 90% of teens have smartphones so this really is a everyone-issue. Fortnight has 200M users and people literally sit around on Youtube watching people play. Further, this isn’t just about being strict or employing numeric rules for devices. Many of us know that the challenge is more nuanced than “screen time” and just setting time limits. These smartphones are changing how we all live and ultimately who we all are. What does this mean for our children and their brains as they grow themselves into adulthood? And what does it mean for their mental health and connection? Their sense of belonging and their sense of safety…and what does it mean for our relationships with them?
That’s what we’ll talk about.
I’ll post a summary here on the blog of what is discussed tomorrow, too. Please join in. And in the meantime enjoy/devour these resources below.
Resources To Read:
- Teens, Tweens and Screens: What Our New Research Uncovers, Common Sense
- Digital Health Practices, Social Media Use, and Mental Well-Being Among Teens and Young Adults in the U.S, Hopelab
- The Sneaky Science Behind Your Kids’ Tech Obsession, Common Sense
- What Parent’s Need to Know About Social Media and Anxiety, Common Sense
- Balance in the Digital Age, Common Sense
- Have Smart Phones Destroyed a Generation?, by Jean Twenge, The Atlantic
- How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers, by The Child Mind Institute
- What Selfies are Doing to Girls’ Self-Esteem, by The Child Mind Institute
- New Study Shows Just How Bad Social Media is For Mental Health by Forbes
- Smart Phones Haven’t Destroyed a Generation by Slate
- Quick Reminder: Children Need to Play Seattle Mama Doc post from
- One Small Hack for Smarter Smartphone Parenting Seattle Mama Doc post from
Kate Prugh says
Hi,
I won’t be able to attend the talk tonight nor watch the live Facebook stream. Is there anyway the discussion could be posted online so those of us who can’t make it can watch?
Thanks so much,
Kate
Stacey Ulacia says
Kate – the event is posted on the Seattle Children’s Facebook page and it will be shared on the Seattle Mama Doc Facebook page today as well. You can watch anytime at your convenience.