Technology & Teens

1. Technology & Teens Parenting in the Digital Age

2. A Quick Background… • Believe it or not, the iPhone celebrated it’s 10th anniversary at the end of 2017 • This means we’ve only been dealing with this issue of pervasive technology for 10 years • As of February 2017, about 45% of US kids aged 10 had a smart device with a service plan • We are the first generation that is dealing with this from both a personal and parenting perspective

3. Some Current Stats • 50% of teens feel they are addicted to their mobile devices • 69% of parents and 78% of teens check their mobile devices at least hourly • 72% of teens feel the need to immediately respond to texts, social networking messages, and other notifications • The Majority of parents (66%) feel their teens spend too much time on their mobile devices • 36% of parents feel they argue with their teens on a daily basis about device use • 54% of children feel their parents check their devices too often • A majority of parents (55%) say they occasionally or very often try to cut down on the amount of time they spend on their devices Source: Common Sense Media Poll, 2016

4. Break it down… • Social Media: What’s out there? • Screen Time: How Much Is Too Much? • Impact of Screen Time: Sleep, Happiness & Socialization

5. Social Media: The Big 3

6. Instagram Why It’s Popular Instagram unites the most popular features of social media sites: sharing, seeing, and commenting on photos. Instagram also lets you apply fun filters and effects to your photos, making them look high-quality and artistic. What you need to consider • Teens are on the lookout for “Likes.” Similar to Facebook, teens measure the “success” of their photos – and often their self-worth – by the number of likes or comments they receive. Collecting a large number of followers -- and flattering comments -- is a badge of honor for most kids. • Public photos are the default. Photos and videos shared on Instagram are public by default and can contain location data. So it's important for kids to use privacy settings to limit their audience. Hashtags and location info can make photos even more visible to communities beyond a teen’s followers if his or her account is public.

7. Instagram (con’t) • Private messaging is an option. Instagram Direct allows users to send “private messages” to up to 15 mutual friends. These pics don’t show up on their public feeds. Although there’s nothing wrong with group chat, kids may be more likely to share inappropriate stuff with their inner circles. Also, strangers can send private messages to users; kids then choose to open the message and view or discard the attached picture. • Mature content can slip in. The terms of service specify that users should be at least 13 years old and shouldn’t post partially nude or sexually suggestive photos – but they don’t address violence, swear words, or drugs. • Real vs. Ideal selves. Most kids feel pressured to curate their lives to project an idealized image on Instagram. Sometimes teens create alternate accounts that they call "Finstagrams" (fake + Instagram) where they share more authentic versions of themselves (in an unattractive outfit or with a silly expression) intended for a close, small circle of trusted friends. Maintaining these separate identities indicates kids feel a need to convey their true selves but do not want to ruin their perfect image on their “real” feeds.

8. Snapchat Why It’s Popular Snapchat’s creators intended the app’s fleeting images to be a way for teens to share fun, light moments without the risk of having them go public. What you need to consider • It’s a myth that Snapchatsgo away forever. Data is data. Whenever an image is sent, it never truly goes away. For example, the person on the receiving end can take a screenshot of the image before it disappears. Snapchats can be recovered, both by individuals from their own phones, as well as from the servers at Snapchat. • It can make sexting seem OK. The seemingly risk-free messaging might encourage users to share pictures containing inappropriate content. • It allows for communicating too.Snapchat allows for on-screen communication you can send with your picture, providing a more personal way of communicating than simple texts. • Provides a false sense of intimacy. Because you can text with pictures you send real-time, it can give kids a sense that they are “talking” to a person rather than simple texting. But the dangers in reading between the lines still exists.

9. YouTube Why It’s Popular YouTube is a free to use service and a can be a great space for teens to discover things they like. For many young YouTube is used to watch music videos, comedy shows, how to guides, recipes, hacks and more. Teens also use the video sharing service to follow their favorite vloggers, subscribe to other YouTubers and celebrities they are interested in. What you need to consider • Inappropriate Content. YouTube has over a billion users and with an estimated 300 hours of footage uploaded per minute, not all of it is appropriate for children. But you can help minimize the risk of your child encountering content that may not be for them. • Cyber Bullying.  Unfortunately, people can experience negative comments and bullying on the service particularly through the comments function.  • YouTube is a time drain. Ask any parent of a child who has access to YouTube, and you will discover that kids spend an inordinate amount of time on it. Because the type of content is so vast, it can literally take hours for a kid to view all the new content from all the people they follow.

10. Honorable Mentions • Twitter Microblogging site teens use to share quick tidbits about their lives • Sound Cloud Audio platform where kids can upload, share, and record their own audio files. • GroupMe Among other things, allows for huge group chats across devices (Adroid & iPhone) • Tumblr Cross between a blog and Twitter

11. Screen Time: How to Set Limits

12. Setting Limits • Researchers are only now starting to study this issue • Some emerging guidelines: • Familiarize yourself with what your child is doing on technology (what sites are they using) • Watch for patterns of behavior (are they withdrawing from in-person interactions, spending too much time alone in their rooms, etc.) • Have frequent conversations about both the positive and negative impact of technology use • Set regular policies about screen time (focus on times of day) • No use before school, during mealtimes, etc. • Cut technology off at least 1 hour before lights out • Don’t hesitate to use parental controls to control access to WiFi, cell use, etc.

13. Impact of Screen Time Sleep, Happiness & Socialization

14. Impact of Screen Time Sleep • This is probably the most well-studied impact of technology use, because it impacts adults too • National Sleep foundation recommends teenagers get 8-10 hours of sleep per night • Starting in 2009, when smartphone use became widespread, there was a dramatic increase in the percentage of teens who reported they were getting less than 7 hours • Effect is twofold: • Kids are reluctant to separate from their phones at bedtime (addictiveness) • Exposure to the screen causes increased arousal, which takes about an hour to recede

15. Impact of Screen Time Happiness • A recent study found that, on average, teens that spend more time on screen devices – playing computer games, using social media, texting, and video chatting – are less happy than those who invest more time in non-screen activities (sports, reading, face-to-face social interaction). • However, total screen abstinence does not lead to happiness either • Limited use is the key • The happiest teens used digital media a little less than an hour per day • After one hour of daily screen time, unhappiness rises steadily along with increasing screen time

16. Impact of Screen Time Socialization • Mobile devices cause inattentional blindness (a state of monomaniacal obliviousness that overcomes you when you’re absorbed in an activity to the exclusion of anything else). • Children now compete with their parents’ devices for attention • “Always-on” behavior that smartphones contribute to causes us to remove ourselves from reality • Communication and manners suffer (we become more antisocial) • These “head-down interactions” take us away from the present

17. Website Resourceswww.childpsychservices.net • A Parent’s Guide to Social Media • Family Media Agreements • Preventing Cyberbullying – Tips for Parents • Preventing Cyberbullying – Tips for Kids • Safe & Responsible Social Networking – Tips for Kids • Password Safety – Tips for Kids • Cell Phone Safety – Tips for Kids • Article – The Secret Language of Girls on Instagram • Article – Psychological Impact of Cyberbullying

18. Contact Information Christine Kalchthaler, CAGS, ABSNP Licensed School Psychologist Diplomate, American Board of School Neuropsychology Child Psychological Services, LLC 15-D Loudoun Street SW Leesburg, VA 20176 571-293-1123 www.childpsychservices.net christine@childpsychservices.net