Teens and Screens --- Teens and Screens --- Helping Kids Manage Their Helping Kids Manage Their Electronic WorldsElectronic Worlds

Gregory Ramey, Ph.D.Gregory Ramey, Ph.D.Vice President for Outpatient ServicesVice President for Outpatient ServicesPediatric PsychologistPediatric PsychologistDecember 3, 2009December 3, 2009

Media Consumption of a Typical U.S. Teenager as measured by Nielsen

TV3 hours,

20 minutes

PC52 minutesincluding

applications

Mobile Voice6 minutes

Video on an MP3 Player

1 in 4 watched

DVR8 minutes

Internet23 minutes

Text-Messages96 sent or received

Audio-Only MP3 Player

1 in 2 used

DVD17 minutes

Online videoIf they watched,

watched 6 minutes

Mobile videoIf they watched, watched for 13

minutes

Newspaper1 in 4 read

Console Gaming25 minutes

PC Games1 in 10 played,

todayMobile Web1 in 3 used

Movie TheaterWent once in the

past 5 weeks

For directional purposes only, this table estimates daily U.S. teen media use across a variety of platforms based on a range of Nielson sources from 2008 and Q1 2009. Details of these estimates are contained in the body of this paper. Source: The Nielson Company

Should you monitor your teen’s Should you monitor your teen’s internet usage?internet usage?

No

Yes

Yes, but o

nly if I

had co...

0% 0%0%

1.1. NoNo

2.2. YesYes

3.3. Yes, but only if I had Yes, but only if I had concerns based upon concerns based upon past problemspast problems

Social NetworkingSocial Networking

• 5151 % of teens check their sites more than once a day. % of teens check their sites more than once a day.• 22 22 % check their sites more than 10 times a day.% check their sites more than 10 times a day.• 3939 % have posted something they later regretted. % have posted something they later regretted.• 3737 % have used the sites to make fun of other students. % have used the sites to make fun of other students.• 2525 % have created a profile with a false identity. % have created a profile with a false identity.• 2424 % have hacked into someone else's social networking % have hacked into someone else's social networking

account.account.• 1313 % have posted nude or seminude pictures or videos of % have posted nude or seminude pictures or videos of

themselves or others online.themselves or others online.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/10/MN9T1954T7.DTL&tpe=pr...#ixzz0PO6iEGOj

Virtual FriendshipsVirtual Friendships

• Josh Evans and Megan MeierJosh Evans and Megan Meier

Top Internet Searches By KidsTop Internet Searches By KidsAges 8-12Ages 8-12

1.1. You TubeYou Tube

2.2. GoogleGoogle

3.3. FacebookFacebook

4.4. SexSex

5.5. My SpaceMy Space

6.6. PornPorn

The Internet has generally fostered a The Internet has generally fostered a more positive discussion of sexuality.more positive discussion of sexuality.

True

False

0%0%

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

Video GamesVideo Games

• $2$2 billionbillion in sales in 1½ years in sales in 1½ years – (Wii, (Wii, DDance ance DDance ance RRevolution, EA Sports Active)evolution, EA Sports Active)

• Kids under 12 account for Kids under 12 account for 24% 24% of salesof sales• 57%57% of kids ages 2 to 12 play videogames of kids ages 2 to 12 play videogames• 75%75% of 10 to 14 year olds play games of 10 to 14 year olds play games

At what age should children get At what age should children get their own cell phones?their own cell phones?

6-8 years old

9-11 years

old

12-14 years

old

15-17 years

old

18 + years

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1.1. 6-8 years old6-8 years old

2.2. 9-11 years old9-11 years old

3.3. 12-14 years old12-14 years old

4.4. 15-17 years old15-17 years old

5.5. 18 + years18 + years

Text MessagesText Messages

Ages Calls Texts

<12 137 428

13-17 231 2,899

18-24 265 790

Cell Phones and CheatingCell Phones and Cheating

• 35%35% of teens with cell phones report using of teens with cell phones report using cell phones to cheat on examscell phones to cheat on exams

• Less than half thought texting answers to Less than half thought texting answers to friends was cheatingfriends was cheating

Texting and DrivingTexting and Driving

• Among truck drivers, collision risk is 23 times Among truck drivers, collision risk is 23 times greater than non-texting driversgreater than non-texting drivers

• College students, 8 times greater risk for car College students, 8 times greater risk for car accidentsaccidents

Should you monitor your child via Should you monitor your child via the GPS unit on the cell phone?the GPS unit on the cell phone?

No

Yes

Yes, but o

nly ...

0% 0%0%

1.1. NoNo

2.2. YesYes

3.3. Yes, but only if I had Yes, but only if I had specific concernsspecific concerns

TV CommercialsTV Commercials

• Fat-producing foods are eaten or talked about Fat-producing foods are eaten or talked about 5 times more often in kids’ shows than adult 5 times more often in kids’ shows than adult programsprograms

• 1 hour of kids TV = 2.6 instances of eating or 1 hour of kids TV = 2.6 instances of eating or talking about unhealthy foodstalking about unhealthy foods

Predicting Teen Sexual BehaviorPredicting Teen Sexual Behavior

• 6-18 year olds6-18 year olds– Every hour the youngest group (6-8) watched Every hour the youngest group (6-8) watched

sexual content increased their chances of having sexual content increased their chances of having sex in adolescence by 33%sex in adolescence by 33%

• University of North Carolina Study, 2006University of North Carolina Study, 2006– Positive correlation between teens exposed to Positive correlation between teens exposed to

media with high sexual content and likelihood of media with high sexual content and likelihood of sex by 16 years of agesex by 16 years of age

TV and Teen PregnancyTV and Teen Pregnancy

• Teens exposed to the most sexual content on Teens exposed to the most sexual content on TV were twice as likely to get pregnant before TV were twice as likely to get pregnant before age 20age 20

• Encourages/normalizes sexual activity in Encourages/normalizes sexual activity in early adolescenceearly adolescence

• Promotes inconsistent use of contraceptivesPromotes inconsistent use of contraceptives

Potential Risks of Watching Violent Potential Risks of Watching Violent Television ProgramsTelevision Programs

• Less sensitive to the pain of othersLess sensitive to the pain of others• More fearfulMore fearful• More likely to act aggressively --- imitation of More likely to act aggressively --- imitation of

role modelsrole models

Pleasures and Pitfalls of Kids’ Electronic Pleasures and Pitfalls of Kids’ Electronic Worlds - RisksWorlds - Risks

• May provide too easy an escape from the real worldMay provide too easy an escape from the real world

• Less time with family and friendsLess time with family and friends

– 28%28% reported spending less time with family members, reported spending less time with family members, up from up from 11% 11% in 2006in 2006

– Drop from 26 hours/month to 18 hours/monthDrop from 26 hours/month to 18 hours/month

• Increased technology positively correlated with adolescent Increased technology positively correlated with adolescent sleep deprivationsleep deprivation

• Electronic addictionElectronic addiction

• Extensive television watching related to increased obesity, Extensive television watching related to increased obesity, premature sexual activity, aggression, overall passivity, premature sexual activity, aggression, overall passivity, and poor school performanceand poor school performance

Pleasures and Pitfalls - RisksPleasures and Pitfalls - Risks

• Increased likelihood of being victimized ---Increased likelihood of being victimized ---sexually or emotionallysexually or emotionally

• Combined with driving, texting/cell phones Combined with driving, texting/cell phones represent a serious riskrepresent a serious risk

• Cell phones can serve as a negative Cell phones can serve as a negative psychological umbilical cordpsychological umbilical cord

Pleasures and Pitfalls of Kids’ Electronic Pleasures and Pitfalls of Kids’ Electronic Worlds - BenefitsWorlds - Benefits

• Fun, entertaining, and excitingFun, entertaining, and exciting• Positive educational benefitsPositive educational benefits• Tremendous opportunities for social supportTremendous opportunities for social support• Mechanism to deal with real issues in a safe Mechanism to deal with real issues in a safe

and timely mannerand timely manner– Chat roomsChat rooms– Social networksSocial networks– TextingTexting

Which best describes your view of Which best describes your view of technology (computers, cell phones, technology (computers, cell phones, phones, video games)?phones, video games)?

Family

life is

...

The disadvanta

...

0%0%

1.1. Family life is more enjoyable Family life is more enjoyable with these technological with these technological advances.advances.

2.2. The disadvantages of The disadvantages of technology outweigh the positive technology outweigh the positive effects on family life.effects on family life.

Suggestions for Parents – Cell PhonesSuggestions for Parents – Cell Phones

1.1. Have your child pay part of the cost.Have your child pay part of the cost.

2.2. Monitor text messages.Monitor text messages.

3.3. Place limits on phone and text messaging.Place limits on phone and text messaging.

4.4. Discuss respect and etiquette.Discuss respect and etiquette.

5.5. Have an explicit discussion of sexting with your Have an explicit discussion of sexting with your child.child.

6.6. Establish privacy and safety rules.Establish privacy and safety rules.

7.7. Develop rules consistent with your child’s level Develop rules consistent with your child’s level of responsibility.of responsibility.

Suggestions for Parents - InternetSuggestions for Parents - Internet

1.1. Become computer literate.Become computer literate.

2.2. Utilize parental controls consistent with your Utilize parental controls consistent with your child’s developmental level.child’s developmental level.

3.3. Keep the computer in a public setting for Keep the computer in a public setting for younger children.younger children.

4.4. Limit, prohibit, or monitor participation in social Limit, prohibit, or monitor participation in social networking sites.networking sites.

5.5. Be concerned about excessive internet usage.Be concerned about excessive internet usage.

6.6. Review safety rules and family expectations.Review safety rules and family expectations.

Suggestions for Parents - TelevisionSuggestions for Parents - Television

1.1. Limit TV availability.Limit TV availability.

2.2. Do not put a television in your child’s bedroom.Do not put a television in your child’s bedroom.

3.3. Discuss issues of morality, sexuality, and Discuss issues of morality, sexuality, and values.values.

4.4. Don’t be reluctant to label programs as toxic --- Don’t be reluctant to label programs as toxic --- and discuss why.and discuss why.

5.5. Engage in family activities as an antidote to Engage in family activities as an antidote to passive viewing of media.passive viewing of media.