I’m very excited to discuss a hot topic in my household today: screen time! I have two sons ages 12 and 9, and they LOVE spending hours (if allowed) on their devices. My 12 year-old has a personal cell phone, laptop, iPad as well as a school issued Chromebook. My 12 year-old loves to play Minecraft, and I am happy that he has chosen this video game rather than other violent video games. I think that Minecraft can be an educational game, and vocabulary, logic, math, and collaboration skills can be learned from it. My son also enjoys watching videos on YouTube (the top platform choice for his age group according to Common Sense Media) and falls into the video hole of watching videos for too long. In fact, he was happy last night when he accidentally blocked the YouTube app on his phone. Therefore, the fact that 32% of teens prefer YouTube over other platforms is not at all surprising to me. My 9 year old has a personal iPad and a school issued iPad. The boys share a Nintendo Switch. My 9 year old son plays Roblox and loves watching YouTube shorts.
The Common Sense Census: Media use by tweens and teens, 2021. Common Sense Media. (n.d.). https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-2021
As a parent, monitoring my sons’ screen time usage is stressful partly due to the fact that I am much more concerned with their screen time than my husband, and I monitor technology usage 99% of the time. Even though I use the Screen Time app to monitor and limit their usage, the app often malfunctions so I have to reset it at least once per day. Of course, they ask for more screen time every day, which is just plain irritating!
Social Media
Both boys are not allowed to have social media accounts until they reach high school age. According to a friend with a teenager, high school students use social media to communicate about gatherings and social events. I know that social media can be very damaging for some young people, so it is best to wait until my boys are more developmentally mature for social media. Luckily, my oldest has no interest in social media because he understands the dangers that can accompany social media.
Screen Time for Entertainment
According to the infographic “The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Teens and Tweens, 2021,” media use by teens and tweens has increased by 17% from 2019 to 2021. I would hypothesize that between 2021 and 2023 teen and tween media use has grown at a similar rate. I think that the use of online learning during the pandemic increased the use of screen time of kids of all ages from 2020 to present. Many parents had screen time rules established before COVID-19, and then parents allowed the rules to slide during the pandemic and never returned to them again.
Why is Educational Research Important for Educators?
It is important for educators to be knowledgeable about how much time children are using devices each day. When I reflect on the students in my school and my own children, I think adults need to be mindful of relying too heavily on technology in the classroom. It can be easy for educators to rely on videos and other forms of technology to teach content, but the same content can be taught in other very productive ways.
The Common Sense Census: Media use by tweens and teens, 2021. Common Sense Media. (n.d.). https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-2021.
What Have We Learned?I believe that as educators and parents, it is our job to model a healthy relationship with technology. As a parent, I do a good job of being present for my children when we spend time together. When I am on a device, I will explain to them that I am using my computer for work, whether it is for graduate school or my job. If I am not busy with school or work, I use free time with my kids for playing board games, going on hikes, taking them swimming, and playing outside. In addition to parents modeling technology restraint for their kids, I think it is super important for kids to spend time in nature and be physically active. It is up to us as educators and parents to be mindful of screen time usage for our students and children.
I am so surprised that he uses YouTube! I was just commenting a minute ago that I wonder if YouTube is now considered outdated as that report was from 2021. I have no children of my own, but I always hear my students talking about TikTok and SnapChat. Now I am definitely determined to give my students a poll next year to see what apps are most popular. I also like you comment on how parents and educators need to be mindful of screen time usage for our kiddos. I think we as adults also have to mindful that we also have to model this behavior. It always irks me a bit when I see an educator be super strict on cell phone policies only to always have their phone in their hand with online shopping or Facebook open, but it is definitely addictive.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Pew YouTube remains the app used the most by students as of 2022.
DeleteSo tough to have younger children today and have to monitor screen time both at work AND at home!
ReplyDeleteI have six children and they are avid users of YouTube and Minecraft. We have very similar rules in our households. My children are not allowed to have social media accounts until they are 15. My oldest daughter is 16 and because of this policy, she has chosen not to have a social media presence just yet as she has heard stories about cyberbullying at her school. However, we have many discussions about screen time and device use in our home. It is a very big job to manage this process. Luckily, we have software for our network to place restrictions on the devices throughout our home.
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