According to the report, kids (ages 8 - 18) are spending, on average, about 7 and a half hours per day interacting with some form of entertainment media. Television, movies, music, Internet, video games, etc. Kids are logging a lot of screen time.
And since most of us are multitaskers (for example, checking email or sending a text message while watching t.v.), the number could actually be as high as a combined total of almost 11 hours of media consumed each day.
This is a continuing trend. Five years ago, the same study estimated approximately six and a half hours of media consumption per day.
The question- how consumed with our media will we become? How long will this trend continue? Are we too addicted?
So what do you think? And how does the research gel with your own viewing habits? Or those around you? What is the point of such research? Is the implication that a lot of screen time is a bad think? If so, do you agree? I am focused on a screen right now; my blackberry is buzzing; and the TV has Chris Matthews yelling at somebody. What's wrong with all that? Would this comment be more coherent if it had my full attention? What's the point of writing a blog or comment comprised completely of questions? Do questions demand answers or can they, like most things, hang ignored in the cosmic media haze?
ReplyDeleteI can remember growing up by the screen: tv shows, computer games, cell phones (as a teenager). Sure, I was endlessly entertained, but looking back I can absolutely recognize the absence of some vital face-to-face social interaction.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we're losing- face time. The real-life social experience that allows us to be unique, engaged social beings and gives life some of its meaning. Human interaction is invaluable, especially growing up.
Much like anything else, media should be consumed responsibly. Kids are hooked-in, "socially" connected through sites like Facebook and Twitter, listening to their iPods at full blast, and sending out tens of texts while watching tv. But they're arguably missing out- on exercising rather than staying in, meeting and talking with peers face-to-face, and investigating important social and political issues.
I'm not going to argue against media use. I love my media. For me, it's like that old "too much of a good thing" adage.
So your blackberry is buzzing and the t.v. is blaring. What might you be doing without your phone, television, computer, or iPod to distract you? Maybe talking to family? Or out meeting some interesting new person?
Maybe not. Regardless, it's all about variety. Is media use bad? No. Can too much media use have repercussions, social and otherwise? Sure.