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Supporting your Student with Tech use
Supporting your Student with Tech use
In October 2024 KIS shared the movie "Screenagers: Elementary School Age" to the family and caregiver community. Based on the movie and discussion which followed we wanted to share the following resources regarding technology. In the spring of 2024 the original version of "Screenagers" was also shared with the secondary family and caregiver community.
Technology Contracts
Technology Contracts
Common Sense Media has some great models for technology contracts for kids of all ages. It is also important to keep in mind that role modeling healthy tech use is key and that kids do and see what they see their parents do.
Smartphones
Smartphones
Research on Smartphone use in adolescents shows:
Putting devices away for the day reduces cyberbullying while increasing emotional well-being, social connectedness, and academic achievement.
Benefits:
Connection and communication is possible even when people are not physical in the same place.
Access to information and support, the world is at our fingertips and it can be easy to learn more.
Disadvantages:
Increased risk of screen addiction which can lead to mental health issues.
Reduced physical activity: instead of engaging in physical play kids are spend more time sedentary and on their screen.
FOMO: Fear of missing out, kids are constantly comparing themselves and their life to the lives of others. We forget that often others only share their highlight reel and it can feel like you can never live up to that.
Reduced face-to-face interactions: leading to a decreas in social skills and emotional intelligence.
Is the smartphone a tool or a toy?
Sources: Green, E. (2019, February, 13,). How technology is harming our ability to feel empathy. Street Roots. https://www.streetroots.org/news/2019/02/15/how-technology-harming-our-ability-feel-empathy
What effects do mobile phones have on children and young peoples mental health . Compass-UK.org. https://www.compass-uk.org/services/compass-changing-lives/what-effects-do-mobile-phones-have-on-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health/
More Info on Video Games
Video Games
Video Games
Video games have an impact on child development including:
Benefits:
Increased perceptual skills including: enhancements in low-level vision, visual attention, speed of processing (from playing "action" video games)
Increase in helping behavior when playing prosocial games
Disadvantages:
Reduced ability to focus on a slowly evolving stream of information, such as paying attention in class
Internet Addiction
Altered social behaviour
Increased aggression
Loneliness, reduced attention
Depressed mood in patients
Dysfunctional family structures
Increase in ADHD-related behaviors
Reduced empathy
Increased confrontational and disruptive behaviors in the real world
Source: Bavelier, D., Green, C. S., Han, D. H., Renshaw, P. F., Merzenich, M. M., & Gentile, D. A. (2011). Brains on video games. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 12(12), 763–768. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3135
Video Games and Social Media
Video Games and Social Media
The following information is based on research that looks at the safety of video games and social media for kids. Screenagers also has a blog, podcast, and YouTube channel with additional information regarding safe technology use for kids and teens. Another great resource on caring for kids is the Child Mind Institute and they have a good summary article that covers how kids are affected by social media in general.
Roblox
Roblox
Common Sense Media Recommendation: Ages 13+
What?
Roblox is an online gaming platform where you can play games designed by other users and create and share your own games. Once you sign up, you can play an infinite number of games and chat with other users—all for free.
Why this age rating?
Chance to design games, but also potential for iffy content. (Common Sense Media). If parental controls are not implemented or are bypassed they have the option to chat with any user on the game, not just people they know.
Additional Information
Parents has also published guides to ensure that child safety is a top priority when playing Roblox as has the NSPCC (a British organization adovcating for child protection). An October 2024 report was published by Hindenburg Research with significant information regarding child protection challenges that Roblox has.
YouTube
YouTube
Common Sense Media Recommendation: Ages 13+
What?
YouTube is a free video sharing website that makes it easy to watch online videos. You can even create and upload your own videos to share with others.
Why this age rating?
Common Sense media rates YouTube 13+ because of its vast video library which can be educational but also has inappropriate content that can be easily accessed. (Common Sense Media)
Additional Information
YouTube has been setting up internal controls for kids since 2021 including more parental control options within YouTube if a parent sets up a supervised Google account for their kid. There will be three tiers of supervision: Explore (the most restrictive), Explore More, and Most of YouTube (the least restrictive). Kids with supervised accounts won't get personalized ads and can't comment or create. Also, for kids 13–17, any content they upload will be private by default, there will be "take a break" and bedtime reminders on by default, and autoplay will be off by default. (Common Sense Media)
Snapchat
Snapchat
Common Sense Media Recommendation: Ages 16+
What?
Snapchat is a popular messaging app that lets users exchange pictures and videos, called snaps, that are meant to disappear after they're viewed. The essential function is to take a picture or video, add filters, lenses, or other effects, and share it with friends. (Common Sense Media)
Why this age rating?
Common Sense Media rates Snapchat OK for teens 16 and up, mainly because of the exposure to age-inappropriate content and the marketing ploys, such as quizzes, that collect data.
Additional Information
Cyber Wise has a list of Pro's and Con's for Snapchat which highlights that while it can help people connect, there are possibilities for addiction and metal health related issues. Psychology Today has a through article for parents regarding teen use of Snapchat as well.
TikTok
TikTok
Common Sense Media Recommendation: Ages 15+
What?
TikTok is a social network for sharing user-generated videos, mostly of people lip-synching to popular songs. Users can create and upload their own videos, many of which feature people lip-synching to popular songs. You can also browse and interact with other users' content, which covers a wide range of topics, songs, and styles. (Common Sense Media)
Why this age rating?
Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content. TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the basic TikTok features, although there is a way for younger kids to access the app.
Additional Information
Amnesty International has produced two reports regarding the risks behind teen use of TikTok. One focuses on the connection between metal health, including suicide and self harm, and the other focuses on data collection of all users including young people. In the US there are conversations regarding both the benefits and challenges that come with the platform.
Discord
Discord
Common Sense Media Recommendation: Ages 13+
What?
Discord is a free app for mobile and PC that lets people chat via text, voice, or video in real time. Combining the internet-calling features of Skype with Reddit-like discussion boards, it's broadened from gamers-only to a social networking site for communities of all types. (Common Sense Media)
Why this age rating?
Common Sense Media recommends that Discord users be at least 13 due to its open chat.
Additional Information
The British NSPCC has a great article regarding Discord and how to keep kids safe on the platform. Discord also has it's own clear set of policies and protections regarding child protection on their site.
Instagram
Instagram
Common Sense Media Recommendation: Ages 15+
What?
Instagram is a popular, free social media app that lets users post photos and videos, follow popular accounts and friends, and send messages. It's owned by Meta, the company that also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, but it has a visual format that's more appealing to teens. (Common Sense Media)
Why this age rating?
While the legal minimum age to have an account on Instagram is 13 years old, Common Sense Media rates it 15+ because of mature content, access to strangers, marketing ploys, and data collection.
Additional Information
Instagram Unfiltered: Teens tell all is a podcast by the Screenagers producing company that talks with three girls about their use of the platform. There is also additional research that shows the negative effects Instagram can have on teen girls.
Book for Families
Book for Families
The book "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt was a topic of discussion in a May 2024 KIS parent and caregiver group. It provides research and commentary on how smartphones have impacted our kids. It can be a powerful read for families as well as a call to action for society.
This article provides a clear summary and key takeaways from the book.
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