Screentime.Me

Digital Dependence & the Screentime Debate

January 14, 2019 wiobyrne

A recent post in Wired by Robbie Gonzalez examined some of the narrative around screentime and addiction. The piece, titled "We've got the screen time debate all wrong. Let's fix it" looks at some of the conjecture around digital dependence. Gonzalez traces the history from "Internet addiction disorder" to the growing concerns about screens and…

The Privilege of Screentime

January 7, 2019 wiobyrne

As a parent or educator that works with children, we often feel this pressure of making sure that children have digital texts and tools for them to use for whatever purpose. Sometimes we feel our own rush and desire to buy the "latest and greatest" that we also feel the need to give this to…

Imagine if we could cast aside screentime

December 31, 2018 wiobyrne

In a recent essay published in the New York Times Opinion section, Paul Greenberg shared some insight on what we could do with our money and time if we set aside our phones for a year. In Search of Lost Screen Time argues for reclaiming lost time spent on these devices. More than three-quarters of…

Create a Screentime Contract With Your Child

December 26, 2018 wiobyrne

As your child receives a new (or second-hand) technological device, it is a powerful opportunity to have a discussion about the role and use of these devices in their lives. We live in a connected, high-tech world where screens are present in every corner of our lives. Even our children spend hours per day in…

Beware of Facebook Messenger for Kids

December 20, 2018 wiobyrne

This week I was scrolling through Facebook on my mobile device, I came across the following ad for their new Messenger Kids app. In the ad, it shared the names and profile photos of some of my friends that have children, and indicated that they use and like this new tool. I blurred out their…

Big tech has your kid’s data

December 17, 2018 wiobyrne

A new report highlights the way big tech companies collect data on children. This recent study focuses on the “datafication” of children and its possible consequences suggests these posts may be more problematic than we think. The report titled “Who Knows What About Me,” examines how big tech collects data on children and what the…

Pointers for parents as you support your child online

December 10, 2018 wiobyrne

Guidance from the Parenting for a Digital Future blog on helping youth negotiate screentime and the development of advanced digital skills they’ll need in their lives. Support their learning in & out of schools using the following guidelines: Start young.Model appropriate use of digital technology.Agree on family rules about digital technology use.Provide your child with access to…

For Kids, How Much Screen Time is Too Much?

December 3, 2018 wiobyrne 2 Comments

There's so much information -- and anxiety -- out there about how much time your kids should spend using devices. This video from NPR provides guidance on balancing the need for limits with the potential benefits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtbdqIds_3c Enjoy screens, not too much, mostly together. Great guidance from Anya Kamenetz. You should also check out 5 Things…

Pointers for parents as you support your child online

November 26, 2018 wiobyrne

The Parenting for a Digital Future blog is a wonderful resource that shares research and pointers on how to help children negotiate current (and future) digital spaces. The site is managed by a great team of scholars from the London School of Economics and Political Science. A recent post by Peter Twining on the blog…

Screentime Technopanic in the NY Times

November 20, 2018 wiobyrne 2 Comments

Nellie Bowles from the NY Times posted three pieces that tried to provide some context around the screentime debate. A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley This first article discusses parents in Silicon Valley and their concerns about screentime with their children. The article is replete with quotes about how…