Kids and Their Digital Lives: An Overview and Tips for Parents to Ensure Safe, Responsible Digital Citizens
Presenter Intro: Merve Lapus Director of School Partnerships Common Sense Education @molapus @CommonSenseEd @CommonSense
We are the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information , education , and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
How do we use media in balance as a family, find quality content, set expectations around healthy use to prevent conflict, and raise media savvy consumers and creators?
Kids in Today’s Technology Landscape ... ● increasingly have access to the Internet and mobile technologies at home and school ● hold the promise for learning, communicating, and sharing in the palm of their hands ● are not always aware of the consequences of their actions in the digital world
Yep … Every minute of every day ... Source: Domo, 2015
How many hours per week does the average American child between 8-18 spend with media and technology? a) 35 b) 42 Kids 8-12 spend an avg. of 6 hours c) 63 d) 77 Source: Common Sense Census, 2015
Media use is off the charts The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Teens and Tweens, November, 2015. 8 Common Sense Media
What media do kids spend the most time with daily? Watching TV Listening to Music Playing Video Games Reading Watching Online Videos Use Social Media The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Teens and Tweens, November, 2015. 9 Common Sense Media
Myth or Truth ? Parents spend less time on devices than kids/teens Myth! Parents spend 9:22 minutes with screen media daily, including for personal and work use. 7:43 of that time is devoted to personal screen time. Tweens spend an average of 6 hours/day and Teens an average of about 9 hours/day on screens.
What percent of tweens feel like their parents are addicted to their technology? a) 41% b) 15% c) 30% d) 60% Source: Common Sense Technology Addiction, 2016 & Plugged in Parents 12/2016
Adults don’t get it. They think I’m addicted to technology — but I’m not. I’m addicted to my friends. Common Sense Media Focus Groups, 2014.
Same child development, more powerful tools.
Good News! Media Can Be Beneficial.
Overcoming Summer Slide • Keep Kids Reading • Balance • Graphic Novels/Mystery/Fan-Fiction • Make Lasting Memories • Collect Photos and Videos to tell stories • Digital Journal and Portfolios • Try Tech • Unique Learning Opportunities • Coding/Foreign Language/Creation
"Schools must prepare students for jobs that do not yet exist, creating ideas and solutions for products and problems that have not yet been identified, using technologies that have not yet been invented .” -Linda Darling Hammond, Stanford University
Myth or Truth ? Social media alienates kids. Myth! 84 percent of boys who play 68 percent of teen social media 57 percent of all teens have made new networked games with users have had online friends friends feel more connected support them through tough or friends online when they play online challenging times
Why stop at one?
Social Media Red Flags Ads and in-app purchases Age-inappropriate content “Temporary” pics and videos Public default settings Subpar reporting tools Location tracking and sharing Anonymity Real-time video streaming Cyberbullying/negative culture
Persistent + Searchable = Digital Footprint
Self reflect before you self reveal!
The “ Disinhibition Effect” is real
Privacy Settings
Trolls Don’t Only Live Under Bridges Anymore... Bullies are nothing new, but cyberbullies can hide behind a keyboard. It’s never too early to talk to your kid about It’s never too early to digital citizenship, being kind online, and talk to your kid about calling out cruelty! digital citizenship, being kind online, and calling out cruelty!
Digital Citizenship ● Think critically ● Behave safely ● Participate responsibly It’s never too early to talk to your kid about It’s never too early to talk to your kid about It’s never too early to digital citizenship, being kind online, and digital citizenship, being kind online, and talk to your kid about calling out cruelty. calling out cruelty! digital citizenship, being kind online, and calling out cruelty!
There’s some iffy stuff out there.
We Can Help!
All About That Balance Ask yourself, is my child: Physically healthy and Pursuing interests and sleeping enough? hobbies (in any form)? Having fun and learning in Connecting socially with family their use of digital media? and friends (in any form)? Engaged with and achieving in school? Source: "New screentime rules from the American Academy of Pediatrics," Sonia Livingstone
Device-free zones and times
When all else fails, tracking software might, too. "Technology is going to help you," he says, "but it's not going to get away from the fact that you should be having more conversations about this with your kids." Nick Shaw of Norton Security
Parent and child What parents can do
Pay attention Share your values Embrace their world Engage together Model good behavior
Explain digital footprints Set rules Don’t dismiss the pressures Teach self-reflection
Explain legal issues Use privacy settings Keep passwords private Build positive online rep
Respect others Encourage “upstanding” Share resources Use Common Sense
They can’t learn to swim… ..if we don’t let them in the water. Image by Vorakorn from freedigitalphotos.net
YOU GOT THIS! You got this! (image positive thumbs up, slightly humorous ok)
Resources for Support CommonSenseMedia.org Connect with us @commonsensemedia @CommonSense commonsenseorg Sign up today for our tips and updates.
Merve Lapus Director of School Partnerships edsupport@commonsense.org @molapus @CommonSenseEd @CommonSense www.commonsense.org
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