This is some good guidance.

As a future educator, I would hope that all of the parents of my students enforce some sort of media restriction. However, I know that I will be teaching children from different socio-economic backgrounds, different families with different values, etc., and this will not always be the case. I will make it my mission as an educator to find an appropriate balance between appropriately accessing technology in my classroom and spending time with physical print.

Connecting to the other article I read, Digital Media, Anxiety and Depression in Children, extreme exposure to technology, as described in Internet Gaming Disorder, can eventually lead to anxiety and depression.

Through becoming an RA, I got the chance to meet several residents that, for all intents and purposes, were addicted to video games. Sometimes I would not see them come out of their rooms for hours upon hours, even days if a new game or update had just been released. I looked out for all of my residents but especially my few residents who I knew had a gaming addiction.

I, for one, can personally attest to feeling anxious about not being active on social media. I try to establish a presence on many social media platforms- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter to name my most frequently visited. When I haven't posted in a while or I have become inactive, I do get anxious and begin to feel somehow left out or like people have begun to forget me. Of course, this is not reality, but I can't help but feel anxious about inactivity.

Revisiting what I said earlier about the students my aunt taught that were unable to form social skills because of too much digital communication, research has actually proven that too much exposure can later cause depression in children.

The thought of a child using digital distractions as a coping mechanism for anxiety or distress is a very scary thought. When I was growing up, if I was upset I would simply go outside and play with my friends or read a book. My parents did not always allow me the opportunity to play a video game or get on the computer. My screentime was extremely limited. The fact that today's children are using digital distractions to cope with anxiety is only going to FURTHER damage them psychologically. Although it is easy to sit an upset child in front of a television, parents should encourage their child to seek healthier ways to deal with distress.

Although little research has been conducted on the effects from frightening media via Internet, social media, etc., today's children were, for all intents and purposes, born with a cell phone/tablet/laptop in their hands. Children KNOW how to access developmentally inappropriate content in a variety of ways. The greater access to technology is only going to further prove the research that has already been proven- the same frightening content that children are accessing via television and movies will be accessed in a multitude of other ways and will have the same damaging effects.

I find it extremely interesting that surveys regarding children's responses to the content of media have dated as far back as the 1930's, when movies at the theater were a huge technological advancement and by far THE most exciting advancement in entertainment. Now, nearly 90 years later when media has consumed essentially every aspect of our day, I can only imagine the impact that content of media has had on children.

This is becoming an ever-increasingly important discussion in regards to today's youth. My aunt, who has been an public elementary school teacher for over 30 years now, told me that she has seen students come through her classroom that literally do not know how to socialize with their peers. She blames the social media and video game culture for keeping kids indoors and not engaged in outdoor or even indoor play with one another. She feared that her students that were lacking emotion-regulation skills went home each afternoon and spent the entire night playing video games.

It's very easy to deal with someone over the internet because you can be whoever you want to be! You gain confidence because you aren't having to deal with someone face to face. This is where cyber bullying comes in to play. You can hide behind a screen and you can even be anonymous! It just makes it that much easier for someone to pretend.

Most adults that I know are strictly using social media to connect with friends and family. Facebook, being the most popular in our parent's and grandparent's generation. They aren't call caught up in Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram. Heck, I don't even know if the majority of adult's know how to use the apps or what they are used for.

This is one of the biggest reasons I have quit some social media apps such as Instagram. It is so easy to compare yourself to other people when thousands and thousands of people use the app. Also, most pictures out there are edited to make people fit the stereotypical "pretty."

I think this is important because we see so much more of this as technology increases in society. I agree with Kennedy with the idea that technology is so dominant in schools now this is something teachers need to look out for.

I agree with all this because there are times when my phone dies and I have quick moment of panic. I then have to remind myself that there was once a tie without technology. I think the kids growing up now will have an even worse does of this because they were introduced to technology so much earlier.

This confirms my idea from the pervious comment. I feel like social anxiety cannot be solved through social media/screentime.

Agree with Kennedy. I feel like using social media in this way could heal emotion in the moment but cause problems in the future. Social interactions in-person are very important especially at those early stages of growth/development.

I do believe communication is very important. I talk to my family, boyfriend and friends who all live away from me. Texting is important for me because I am usually on the go and it is the fastest way to get up with someone. I also rely on my phone when I forget something and I need to test a roommate. There are beneficial aspects to technology.

I agree with Reilly because I have seen this many times. I also stated earlier that I have fears for my niece. Those fears come from seeing friends compare themselves to other people. I feel like social media sets expectations high and makes people question their personal lives/worth.

I think this is an important point and I feel like it is our job as future educators and parents to monitor what is being watched by children. I do believe in allowing a young adult more privacy but a child needs support in making certain decisions like watching a scary movie before bed.

Also a big point. I believe social media sets expectations high and make people think they are not good enough. For example, my sister compared herself to all the "organic moms" out there. I think it is just important to limit this social media time. Also my niece is about to be 9 and has an Instagram with all her dance friends and as they get older i feel like it could cause issues.

Personally this was one of my fears. I find myself on my phone in bed at night and then not being able to go to sleep. My sister allows my niece and nephew to watch something before bed to get them to fall asleep, but sometimes it does the opposite. This is something I am interested in reading!

I thought this was interesting as I too feel like too much gaming or activity on mobile devices inside could lead to depression. I think this because you may not be doing enough social and physical activity and spending all your time staring at a mobile device or tv screen can sometimes lead to feeling alone and getting out of physical shape and becoming depressed.

I think that alot of us could attest to this feeling. I think that people especially of my generation, have serious mood swings when their technology gets taken away from them.

I've also seen this first hand with another family member of mine who has anxiety. She chooses to communicate from behind a screen rather than in person. It in someways helps her because she is communicating but it does not help in improving her socialization.

I've personally seen first hand how this is true. My aunt moved far away and was feeling depressed and disconnected from us until she got a facebook and it helped her feel more included in our lives.

I think that the access to disturbing videos across the internet has a huge impact in fear amongst young children. Even on youtube when kids are just trying to watch funny videos, some really violent things end up popping up.

This is SO SO SO true! I have seens tons of girls my age feel less about themselves because of the lives that other people live on social media. It leads to dissatisfaction in life as a whole for many people.

Not all media is negative but we need to take a step back and think: exactly how much media is too much?

I think this is so important as to why schools have now implemented rules online. Many schools have rules along with consequences if cyberbullying is reported from a student. Something has to be done about it!

This is absolutely insane but I can totally relate to this. Today, if we do not get that feel of instant gratification, we feel abandoned in a sense which can lead to nervousness and anxiety.

I agree that supplementing friendships/relationships by using media can be effective. This is almost necessary in todays society to keep in touch and make plans

I agree this may be helpful to avoid dealing with social anxiety, but is it actually worsening it?

But can this also heighten the anxiety/depression? Are there other effective ways to help these mental disorders?

I have actually never thought of anxiety and fear in children to be caused by media.

I guess this does make sense because in children, it is very important to get effective sleep. Without their sleep their brain does not function properly.

This is another idea to consider. Can it be beneficial? Ex: long term relationships, keeping in contact with old friends, or family members who live far away. There is always another side to the issue.

Yes!!! I totally believe that adolescents struggle with this all the time with social media. It is almost as if social media sites are a competition. For ex: who can be the prettiest, who can go the coolest place, who can edit their pictures the best, etc.. I believe it can really affect a persons self confidence.

I believe that this is one the huge benefits of social media and the internet. A mentioned above and below this quote, adolescents can find individuals that are like them on social media which thus helps them feel better about themselves. If you find people that are like you, you no longer feel so uncomfortable with who you are. I also believe that social media helps us shape who we are through our social media mistakes and phases. If you mess up online, or go back and look through what you used to put on the internet, you may feel better about the person you have become or you may decide I want to go back to being like that. It keeps a timeline of our ever changing emotions, personas, and life events.

I love this analogy because it perfectly describes what consists of healthy media use. I believe all things should be done in moderation because too much of anything can be bad (except money lol). I also believe parents and teachers must have a regard for age and only allow developmentally appropriate media use.

I've always thought watching violent media would cause the child to be more violent but I never thought much about the many other effects it has on children's behavior,

Violence is seen everywhere in multiple domains of media. I watch a video/movie or play a game before or with my daughter prior to allowing her to by herself to ensure it's developmentally appropriate.

It can teach them to become violent

violent video games can lead students to become desensitized to violence

video games have become more prevalent over the years, with an increased growth in violent video games

I was not surprised by Sara Dewitt's findings discussed during her ted talk. Children benefited the most when watching a television show or playing a game and talking about the content with their parents, I use active mediation and restrictive mediation with my daughter. I try to talk to her about the content she plays or watches and I also restrict her from playing or watching anything inappropriate. I also like the idea of co-viewing but still discussing the content with them.

I believe screen time should be limited and only used in moderation. 6 - 9 hours sounds excessive. We must find a balance for our children and students in how much they use screens and how much they don't.

This is beneficial for the child. If parents can have conversations with their children about what they are doing on their devices, then this sparks a conversation in general. Children need to be scaffolded and talked to because their interaction with their parents are important

This shouldn't be how parents "fix" what is wrong with their child. Handing a device to a child and having them entertain themselves because the parent needs them to is not beneficial for the child at all. They need the one on one interaction with their parents.

A friend of mine and his dad bond over playing video games and discussing what is going on in those digital universes. They do not have much free time to spend with each other and neither of them are very communicative so that is their way to bond and show their love. If they did not have video games, they probably would not be as close and open with each other as they are today.

This topic was also lightly discussed in the TED Talk by Sara DeWitt. If parents took the time to discuss what kids did with screen time, such as what they watched or what video game they played, then they can both gain more insight and knowledge from it. Active participation by both parties can lead to more conversations and more understanding of each others lives. My mom would always talk to me about what I was doing, watching, or reading which lead to us having a deeper insight into the others day to day life. If she found something she didn't like within what I was viewing, we would discuss it and it would be over with. There were never any negative effects because we discussed things such as consequences, life experiences she had, and why such things were a bad idea. A lot of parents complain and say technology takes their kids away from them or allows them to get away with breaking rules, but if they would inject themselves into the child's interactions with technology they problem wouldn't be present.

I think this is a good question that needs to be addressed because as the article states there are positive forces in technology use. Technology isn't going to go away our world is just going to become more immersed in it and good or bad we cannot change this fact. Because of this I think it is important to look for ways and participate in ways that technology can be a beneficial tool in our lives.

Sleep is very very important when it comes to maintaining personal health. A middle school aged child should be getting 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Most kids that are "addicted" will be up past midnight getting maybe 4-5 hours a sleep a night. This will eventually take a tole on one's body.

This was very interesting to read and I am going to have to say I disagree with this statement. Like stated in the article, there are difficulties when it comes to measuring screen media exposure and physical activity. Based off of experience such as babysitting, once the kids are glued in to a show or game, there is no way I am getting them to go outside. A 3 year old that I babysat threw a tantrum when I told him we were done watching TV and it was time to go on a walk. I think physical activity and screen time directly correlates with obesity.

Screen time has to physical aspect to it so I without a doubt believe these side effects are associated with excessive screen time.

I also think screen media exposure becomes addicting and kids are no longer interested in going outside to play with their friends anymore. Why play outside when you both can be playing the same game and communicate through it?

As a future educator, I want to be able to promote these ideas to parents because if I notice a child falling behind in class or sleeping in class I want to make sure that its not because they are at home sitting in front of an electronic device for hours before they go to bed. Children need to go outside and play. I understand that some kids are doing something educational on their devices, but 9 out of 10 times they aren't. And that is not beneficial to their learning

I find this interesting that screentime does not have as much as an affect on adults as it does in children, but I disagree with that idea. Yes it heavily affects children's sleeping schedule and then their school schedule and children also have to be up for school at a certain time and have different extracurricular activities to be present for. However, adults have work they have to be at and then they have to drive their children to school and take them and pick them up from extracurricular activities. Therefore, adults are affected just as much.

This is surprising to see how many parents allow their children to have electronic devices in their bedrooms. I had maybe just one hour of television before bed when I was younger and then I would play for a little bit and then go to bed. Now that technology is placed in front of children so often it has become a major part in their lives. And now that children are looking at screens right before the go to sleep, it is affecting their sleeping schedule. Sleep is crucial for young children and if they do not get enough of it then they are going to fall a little behind.

It makes me wonder how much more efficient I would be at getting my homework done if I set aside time and shut my phone off and just worked without any other screen beside what my homework required? I have just grown up answering a text when I get one, checking instagram when I take a homework break and so much more. I do believe I could be more efficient without that while, trying to do homework. The thing that I do not find distracting is music. I like listening to soothing music while doing homework because I believe this helps me focus.

I think its crazy that people spend more time on social media then in other activity. It scares me that people take that much time out of their day and probably most of that time spent on social media is not educative. As long as kids are using these for educative purposes then I think it can be of good use

cofcedu #screentime

I feel like technology in general has positive and negative aspects just like anything else. I believe that it is important for children to have a balance with technology. I think I grew up at a nice time because I know how to use technology, but it was not as dominant. I played outside and created special bonds with people, but also got a Game Boy and electronics for birthdays and special occasions. I think society today is a lot more dependent on technology I know from high school until now I have became a lot more attached. I think moderation is the biggest thing we should focus on when it comes to technology.

I believe it is ok for a child to engage in educational games/T.V, and I also think it is ok to watch Disney/not as educational shows, but I believe it all needs to be balanced. In my human growth class we discuss at one of the most beneficial things to cognitive development is physical play.

I think is is important. I think if children are involved with their children and ask about the games/show interest in their activities I feel like it could benefit a relationship. I do believe that if a child hands a kid a tablet and does not communicate with them all night that their can be serious detachment between parent and child. I hate going to restaurants and seeing a whole family on their phones.

I totally agree with Anna! We used Kahoot all the time in high school as a review and it did help me learn material.

I do believe in using videos and technology as a learning technique/way to connect ideas/to use examples. I am more old school so I think balance is important I do not think a child just should just learn from technology.

I think educational games are fine but I think we should monitor it. In elementary school we played math games on the computers when we got done with our work. Also, in my math ed class we are talking about math in the form of technology and games can get the child more excited about the topic.

I think technology can be used for good, but has to be thought through for different ages etc. I feel like in those first years of growing it is very important to use more social interactions.

I think many funds should be started in order to take another step toward equalizing education

"digital learning" can be a variety of things. I see digital learning as learning from anything media related. Children do learn best when they dont even know they are learning. (TV, game)

I feel as if some kids are far more advanced with technology than others due to at home living situations which can cause issues in the classroom

My parents were very strict on monitoring media use. We were able to watch TV and play on the computer but they pushed for us to play outside and interact with other kids face to face more

I feel as if it will be very hard for education to become completely equal. In the US today there are many areas where education is at a low compared to other areas

In the US, I think it is important for us to realize how well off we are compared to other countries

Yes! Our children must start at an age where they are able to acquire knowledge in order to become successful in te future.

This is something to keep in mind. In depth research must be done in order to find out if technology is positively impacting students

I agree that at such a young age children should do more than just screen time but this is what our world is! Children need to experience that.

how do low income schools still integrate technology in their schools if they can not afford it? Shouldnt it be fair for everyone?

This was actually not shocking to me because those families dont have access to technology like others do.

I think that not only policy makers need to recognize the impact of technology and media but parents and families do as well.

I like how this acknowledges the harm in media but offers a way of helping the situation.

I think that people need to be better educated on whats real and fake online as well as how permanent our online footprint is.

I agree with this. When you write with a pen or paper you only need those tools to write with. When you are typing you need to know how to use a computer as well as the software that comes with it.

Becoming media literate is extremely important in today society! It is the new way of the world. As an educator it is my job to include technology and media in my classroom to ensure this literacy.