We hope everyone will come down to
this Thursday’s Pathfinder Produce market at the Village Commons, from 1 to 5
p.m. We’ve got the freshest fruits and veggies, plus some other really
great offerings, for you to share with your family. Friendly, affordable,
convenient … what’s not to love about Pathfinder Produce!
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SCREENAGERS
- As I write this column, I am looking at a screen.
- When I check my email and text messages as I leave work, I’ll be looking at a screen.
- As I pay bills this evening, I’ll be looking at a screen.
- When I check tomorrow’s weather and appointments, I’ll be looking at a screen.
- Later tonight, as I do family history research, peering back into the 1700s, I’ll be looking at a screen.
- My usage isn’t all that unusual, and is mirrored by that of family members and friends.
So,
what are the effects of all this screen-dependence?
That’s the question that Filmmaker Delaney Ruston, MD, asked
as she started looking at her own family’s use of tech devices. The
resulting independent documentary, “SCREENAGERS,”
is now making the rounds, and examines issues and solutions relating to our
recent societal submission to screen-shared information, tools and
entertainment.
Most of us over age 35 have alternatively
chuckled or shaken our heads at groups of kids who apparently can’t put down
their phones, even while attending sports events, the movies, or
shopping. Many of us have had discussions with our kids when they sneak
peeks at their phones during meals or try to complete homework immersed in a
din of constant texts. These are all trends that are likely to
continue. Locally, we try to share the message of limiting screen use,
through our Edmeston Community 5210 Goals: encouraging people to eat five
servings of fruit and vegetables each day; limiting recreational screen time to
two hours daily; getting one hour of exercise; and cutting down to zero sugary
soft drinks.
According to Dr. Ruston, most kids spend an
average of 6.5 hours each day looking at screens, and being wired can cause
disconnects at home and school. “SCREENAGERS” offers insights from
authors, mental health experts, and brain scientists, and presents ways adults
can help kids find balance and stay healthy in the digital age. And while
most people aren’t truly addicted to tech, there are growing concerns -- the
mental health community is defining a new condition, Internet
Gaming Disorder, which is included in the current Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
The truth is smart phones, tablets, and social
activities on the internet have redefined the way we communicate within the
span of one generation. Most of today’s teens were exposed to digital
devices as very young children and they now rely on tech for social
engagement. According to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, “Teens,
Social Media, and Technology Overview,” over 90% of teens go online daily,
including 24% who report they are online “almost constantly.” Almost 75%
of teens own or have access to a smartphone and 30% have a basic phone, while
just 12% of teens say they have no cell phone of any type.
Experts contend the best way to counter
unhealthy attachments to tech is to encourage face-to-face
communications, screen-free family time, and creative and fitness activities
after school and on weekends. Dr. Ruston, the Campaign
for a Commercial-Free Childhood, and Unplug
Your Kids, offer some ideas to explore.
Until next time, unplug, get active, and be
happy.
Lori
