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Television Statistics

According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.

I. FAMILY LIFE

Percentage of households that possess at least one television: 99

Number of TV sets in the average U.S. household: 2.24

Percentage of U.S. homes with three or more TV sets: 66

Number of hours per day that TV is on in an average U.S. home: 6 hours, 47 minutes

Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66

Number of hours of TV watched annually by Americans: 250 billion

Value of that time assuming an average wage of S5/hour: S1.25 trillion

Percentage of Americans who pay for cable TV: 56

Number of videos rented daily in the U.S.: 6 million

Number of public library items checked out daily: 3 million

Percentage of Americans who say they watch too much TV: 49

II CHILDREN

Approximate number of studies examining TV's effects on children: 4,000

Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful

conversation with their children: 3.5

Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680

Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70

Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73

Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV

and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54

Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours

Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

III VIOLENCE

Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000

Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000

Percentage of Americans who believe TV violence helps precipitate real life mayhem: 79

IV. COMMERCIALISM

Number of 30-second TV commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000

Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million

Percentage of survey participants (1993) who said that TV commercials

aimed at children make them too materialistic: 92

Rank of food products/fast-food restaurants among TV advertisements to kids: 1

Total spending by 100 leading TV advertisers in 1993: $15 billion

V. GENERAL

Percentage of local TV news broadcast time devoted to advertising: 30

Percentage devoted to stories about crime, disaster and war: 53.8

Percentage devoted to public service announcements: 0.7

Percentage of Americans who can name The Three Stooges: 59

Percentage who can name at least three justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: 17

Compiled by TV-Free America

1322 18th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20036

Influence of Television

For decades, research and studies have demonstrated that heavy television-viewing may lead to serious health consequences. Now the American medical community, which has long-voiced its concerns about the nation's epidemic of violence, TV addiction and the passive, sedentary nature of TV-watching, is taking a more activist stance, demonstrated by its endorsement of National TV-Turnoff Week.

The average child will watch 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school. By age eighteen, the average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders. At a meeting in Nashville, TN last July, Dr. John Nelson of the American Medical Association (an endorser of National TV-Turnoff Week) said that if 2,888 out of 3,000 studies show that TV violence is a casual factor in real-life mayhem, "it's a public health problem." The American Psychiatric Association addressed this problem in its endorsement of National TV-Turnoff Week, stating, "We have had a long-standing concern with the impact of television on behavior, especially among children."

Millions of Americans are so hooked on television that they fit the criteria for substance abuse as defined in the official psychiatric manual, according to Rutgers University psychologist and TV-Free America board member Robert Kubey. Heavy TV viewers exhibit five dependency symptoms--two more than necessary to arrive at a clinical diagnosis of substance abuse. These include: 1) using TV as a sedative; 2) indiscriminate viewing; 3) feeling loss of control while viewing; 4) feeling angry with oneself for watching too much; 5) inability to stop watching; and 6) feeling miserable when kept from watching.

Violence and addiction are not the only TV-related health problems. A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released in October 1995 found 4.7 million children between the ages of 6-17 (11% of this age group) to be severely overweight, more than twice the rate during the 1960's. The main culprits: inactivity (these same children average more than 22 hours of television-viewing a week) and a high-calorie diet. A 1991 study showed that there were an average of 200 junk food ads in four hours of children's Saturday morning cartoons.

According to William H. Deitz, pediatrician and prominent obesity expert at Tufts University School of Medicine, "The easiest way to reduce inactivity is to turn off the TV set. Almost anything else uses more energy than watching TV."

Children are not the only Americans suffering from weight problems; one-third of American adults are overweight. According to an American Journal of Public Health study, an adult who watches three hours of TV a day is far more likely to be obese than an adult who watches less than one hour.

Sometimes the problem is not too much weight; it's too little. Seventy-five percent of American women believe they are too fat, an image problem that often leads to bulimia or anorexia. Sound strange? Not when one takes into account that female models and actresses are twenty-three percent thinner than the average woman and thinner than ninety-five percent of the female population.

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Television Statistics According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube. I.

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TELEVISION IS A MAJOR PART OF DAILY LIFE

Americans spend about one-third of their free time, MORE THAN THE NEXT 10 MOST POPULAR LEISURE ACTIVITIES COMBINED, watching television. The average teenager spends more time in front of the television than any other activity besides sleeping.

Television viewing increases in pre-teen years and declines after age 12. Adolescents aged 9-14 spend over 20 percent of waking hours watching television, compared to 9 percent on hobbies and 3.5 percent on homework.

The average American teen spends about 20 hours a week watching television, with the heaviest viewers coming from low-income households.

African-American households, in general, watch more television than other groups in the U.S. African-Americans watch, on average, two more hours of primetime television per week and watch close to five more hours of daytime television per week.

By age 18, a teenager will have seen 350,000 commercials; 100,000 may be advertisements for beer.

CONSUMING WHILE WE CONSUME MEDIA

While watching TV:

31% of kids (ages 8-17) eat or drink while watching in the morning

21% of kids eat or drink while watching in the afternoon

27% of kids eat or drink while watching in the evening

While using the Internet:

19% of kids eat or drink while using in the morning

2% of kids eat or drink while using in the afternoon

4% of kids eat or drink while using in the evening

Source: "How Children Use Media Technology" from Knowledge Networks/Statistical Research

SEXUAL CONTENT HIGH ON TELEVISION

Two out of every three shows on TV include sexual content, an increase from about half of all shows during the 97/98 television season. The most widely viewed shows-those airing in primetime on the major networks-are even more likely to include sexual content.

Sexual intercourse is depicted or strongly implied in one of every ten shows on TV.

Of those instances of sexual intercourse either depicted or strongly implied, only half occurred among couples who had an established relationship with one another. Ten Percent involved couples who had just met.

Only 10% of all television programs contain sexual scenes that include any reference to the possible risks or responsibilities associated with sex, including pregnancy or STDs. However, shows that depict teens in sexual situations, especially those involved in sexual intercourse, are much more likely than other shows to include references to the possible uses or responsibilities of sexual activity. While eight percent of all shows contain sexual content involving teens, nearly 20 percent make some reference to waiting to have sex, safer sex or the risks of sexual activity.

9% of TV programs include some sexual content involving teens. While two years ago, 3% of all characters involved in intercourse were teens, today that figured has jumped to 9%.

According to a study prepared for the Kaiser Family Foundation, fifty hours of programming selected included 156 acts of sexual intercourse and only five references within three episodes to contraception or safer sex. The only mention of HIV/AIDS referred to contraction through IV drug use and not sexual activity.

MEDIA AFFECTS ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

There are strong theoretical reasons to believe that media may play an especially important role in the socialization of sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Health topics in entertainment television shows can increase viewers' awareness of important health issues.

In a study of 13-and 14-year-olds, heavy exposure to sexually oriented television increased acceptance of nonmarital sex.

In a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 76 percent of teens said that one reason young people have sex is because TV shows and movies make it seem normal for teens.

In another Kaiser Family Foundation study, most children aged 11 to 13 and some children aged 8 to 10 understood the sexual content, even the jokes and innuendoes about sex.

Viewing of daytime serials and MTV is a predictor of sexually permissive attitudes and behavior among college students. Older adolescents in one study tended to mimic the sexual themes from the shows they watched.

College students exposed to large amounts of sexual behaviors on television were more likely to believe that their peers engaged in those same activities.

THE MEDIA AS A TOOL TO EDUCATE AND INFORM

According to a recent survey of regular viewers of the TV program, ER, 53 percent said that they learn about important healthcare issues from the show; 32 percent said that they get information that helps them make choices about their own or their family's healthcare.

The same study looked at knowledge of emergency contraception after a brief mention of this pregnancy prevention option in one episode. Of those who were aware that there is something a woman can do to prevent pregnancy, even after unprotected sex, 20 percent volunteered that they had learned about the issue from ER.

Even before this episode aired, those who knew about emergency contraception were far more likely to say they had learned about this issue from the media than from doctors or clinics.

THE PUBLIC APPROVES OF CONTRACEPTIVE AND HIV PREVENTION ADS

Eighty-six percent of those polled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that HIV/AIDS prevention information should be aired on television.

Seventy-three percent agreed that information on condom use should also be aired.

Among 18-25 year-olds, ninety-two percent agreed that condom information should be aired on TV.

Source: http://www.themediaproject.com

[Back to Top]

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TELEVISION IS A MAJOR PART OF DAILY LIFE Americans spend about one-third of their free time, MORE THAN THE NEXT 10 MOST POPULAR LEISURE ACTIVITIES COMBINED, watching television. The average teenager spends more time in front of the television than any other activity besides sleeping.

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Whether your kids watch programs on traditional TVs, tablets or a computer, there should be a cap on screen-time. But that doesn't mean that all TV is all bad. There can be some benefits of watching television - especially if done as a family.

Tuning in to educational TV shows for kids can give your kids an up-close and personal peek into the lives of sharks. Or encourage them to use math to solve everyday problems.

You might even learn more about your child's opinions on different situations, at home and at school - if you watch with them.

But how do you tap into the power of TV as a learning tool? The key is to be proactive about what you watch with your kids and to make it more of an interactive experience. Here's how you can help make TV a learning opportunity for your kids.

Finding appropriate shows

"TV programs are like meals on a restaurant menu - some are healthier than others," explains Beth A. Richman, Ed.M., a specialist in the field of children's media who has worked with both Scholastic Media and PBS in developing education shows for children. "Parents are the gatekeepers."

She suggests parents get an idea about the content of a show before they allow kids to watch it, whether the parent is tuning in with the child or not.

Often, you can go to the broadcaster's website to read a rundown of what the show's about. For example, PBS.com includes a section for parents that goes over Sesame Street 's general focus and even provides activities and episode write-ups.

For more detailed reviews about the contents, Richman says you can read about what other parents are saying on blogs or even ask friends. Commonsensemedia.org also provides a grade scale for shows, so you can easily figure out what age is right for which program.

Make it interactive

"If kids sit in front of a TV, it becomes a passive activity," says Lynn C. Smitherman, M.D., a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.

To create a learning experience, TV needs to be interactive, Smitherman advises. "If they're talking about the letter 'e' on Sesame Street, you might have your child point out all the letter 'e's' he or she can see in the room."

By reinforcing what the child sees on the TV and drawing connections beyond the screen, a child begins to understand learning is an active process.

Talking with your child and watching shows together will help encourage interactive viewing. You can keep the conversation simple, like asking about what's happening in the show or delve into deeper issues, like questioning whether a character's actions are good or bad.

Ask questions

Smitherman still recalls watching shows like Disney's Lizzie McGuire and That's So Raven with her two girls when they were growing up (they're now grown).

If the characters did questionable things on the screen, she'd ask her daughters about it.

"When something was really off the mark, as soon as a commercial would come on I'd ask them about it," recalls Smitherman. "It's important to talk about your values with your kids, and TV shows can be one way to start that conversation."

Help your child think more about the characters' actions on TV by asking them questions. You might try to relate the characters' experience to your child's. Has she ever had something stolen at school? Has he ever had someone ask him to cheat on a test? Has she ever said something mean about a friend?

Limit TV viewing

"Today's children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices," according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Whew, that's a lot of screen time! In fact, your kids might not even realize how much time they're spending in front of a screen. Talk with your children about concerns you have about them watching too much TV. Decide on a certain amount of screen time your kids will be allowed each day.

But you might also consider limiting what kind of TV they're watching. Smitherman points out that even if children are interested in watching the news, it might not be appropriate for them.

Another example is if the characters in the show are constantly exhibiting behavior that you don't find appropriate, it might be time to make a change.

TV tips and ideas

Even if a show is supposedly for ages "4 and above," that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good fit for your child. Richman says you should think about your child's interests and needs when selecting shows.

If your child can't get enough of zoo animals, maybe tune in to Animal Planet. For wannabe scientists, a show like Discovery Channel's MythBusters or even Disney's Lab Rats might appeal.

During commercials, mute the TV and talk about what's going on in the show. Or, if you're watching a recorded show, stop the DVR during the commercial break to have a brief discussion.

Institute a family movie night, maybe every Friday. As part of "movie night," plan on spending time discussing the movie with your kids afterwards.

"The DVR is your friend," says Richman. Develop a library of pre-recorded shows that your children know are parent-approved.
Need more advice on how to reap the benefits of watching television as a family? Check out our tips to making television a learning experience. This post is updated regularly.

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Benefits of Watching Television as a Family - Detroit and Ann Arbor Metro Parent

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Whether your kids watch programs on traditional TVs, tablets or a computer, there should be a cap on screen-time. But that doesn't mean that all TV is all bad. There can be some benefits of watching television - especially if done as a family.

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The average child will watch 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school. By age eighteen, the average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders.

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The average child will watch 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school. By age eighteen, the average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders.

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Children aged 2-11 watch over 24 hours of TV per week, while adults aged 35-49 watch more than 33 hours, according to data from Nielsen that suggests TV time increases the older we get. The average American watches more than five hours of live television every day.

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Children aged 2-11 watch over 24 hours of TV per week, while adults aged 35-49 watch more than 33 hours, according to data from Nielsen that suggests TV time increases the older we get. The average American watches more than five hours of live television every day.

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Abstract

The hypothesis that exposure to televised violence serves to increase children's toleration of real-life aggression was investigated. Fifth-grade boys and girls were exposed to either a violent television excerpt or a nonviolent, exciting control program. Immediately thereafter, each child was lead to believe that he had been given responsibility for monitoring the behavior of two younger children. Subjects who had witnessed the aggressive television program were found to be significantly slower to summon appropriate adult aid when the younger children began to argue and fight than were subjects who had viewed the control film.

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Does Watching Violence on Television Cause Apathy?

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The hypothesis that exposure to televised violence serves to increase children's toleration of real-life aggression was investigated. Fifth-grade boys and girls were exposed to either a violent television excerpt or a nonviolent, exciting control program. Immediately thereafter, each child was lead to believe that he had been given responsibility for monitoring the behavior of two younger children.

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The Relationship Between Indirect and Physical Aggression on Television and in Real Life

First published:

Sarah M. Coyne, Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2 HE, UK. Email: smcoyne@uclan.ac.uk

Get access to the full version of this article. View access options below.

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials.

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Abstract

Viewing indirect aggression on television has been shown to have negative short‐term effects on a viewer's subsequent aggressive behavior; however, the longer term relationship between viewing indirect aggression on television and in real life has not yet been examined. Three hundred and forty‐seven adolescents, aged 11-14, were asked to list their five favorite television programs. These programs were analyzed for the amount and type of aggression they contained. Peer‐nominated indirect aggression was predicted by other aggressive behavior, sex, and televised indirect aggression. In particular, indirectly aggressive girls viewed more indirect aggression on television than any other group. Peer‐nominated physical aggression was predicted by other aggressive behavior and sex, but not by televised physical or indirect aggression. This study provides a starting point for future long‐term research on the effect of viewing indirect aggression in the media.

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The Relationship Between Indirect and Physical Aggression on Television and in Real Life - Coyne - 2005 - Social Development - Wiley Online Library

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First published: Sarah M. Coyne, Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2 HE, UK. Email: smcoyne@uclan.ac.uk Get access to the full version of this article. View access options below. Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials. If you have previously obtained access with your personal account, Please log in.

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Dating violence is highly prevalent among adolescents. Of importance, dating violence has been associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes for teens and high-risk behaviors such as unsafe sex practices. Although a growing body of research has examined the extent and nature of this problem, little research has considered aspects of the media that might be associated with risk for teen dating violence, such as time spent using media and effects of media content. This article provides an overview of the prevalence of teen dating violence, describes the potential for assessing media use as a risk factor, offers a conceptual model, and suggests ideas for future research.

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Teens, Dating Violence, and Media Use: A Review of the Literature and Conceptual Model for Future Research - Jennifer A. Manganello, 2008

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Dating violence is highly prevalent among adolescents. Of importance, dating violence has been associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes for teens and high-risk behaviors such as unsafe sex practices.

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" It can be entertaining and educational, and can open up new worlds for kids, giving them a chance to travel the globe, learn about different cultures, and gain exposure to ideas they may never encounter in their own community."

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" It can be entertaining and educational, and can open up new worlds for kids, giving them a chance to travel the globe, learn about different cultures, and gain exposure to ideas they may never encounter in their own community."

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Destiny media center

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Today's generation of children and adolescents is growing up immersed in media, using platforms that allow kids to both consume and create content, including broadcast and streamed television and movies; sedentary and active video games; social and interactive media that can be creative and engaging for both individuals and groups; and even highly immersive virtual reality. This media landscape is completely different from what many parents grew up around, so it can be overwhelming at times.

In 1970, children began watching TV regularly at about 4 years of age, whereas today, children begin interacting with digital media as young as 4 months of age.

In 2015, most 2-year-olds used mobile devices on a daily basis and the vast majority of 1-year-olds had already used a mobile device. Preschoolers were already starting to media-multitask in this study (in other words, use 2 or more forms of digital media simultaneously, such as watching TV while using an iPad).

Pre-teens and adolescence use a combination of different digital media sources an average of 8-10 hours per day, often in the form of media-multitasking, which has been associated with more attention problems.

Three quarters of teenagers own a smartphone, 24% of adolescents describe themselves as "constantly connected" to the Internet,and 50% report feeling "addicted" to their phones, according to research. Teens who report feeling "addicted" have higher rates of mental health problems as well.

Excessive use of digital media, use too close to bedtime, or viewing violent content are associated with worse sleep, higher obesity risk, and worse developmental and academic outcomes.

This digital media explosion can make a parent feel like he or she can't keep up, keep track of what kids are doing, or how to create rules about media use, content, and manners.

Take-Away Tech Principles

There are a number of ways parents can use media together with their young children to encourage family connection, learning, and digital literacy skills, which in the long-term will help us raise children who use media respectfully and creatively:

Try to teach children that media use means more than just entertainment, but also connecting (e.g., videochatting - which is fine at any age, although infants need their parents' help to understand it), creating (e.g., letting the child take photos, make videos or songs, looking up craft ideas), and learning together. Parents should feel comfortable seeing digital media as a tool to meet their parenting needs, to introduce your kids to learning experiences they otherwise wouldn't have, and not the thing-in-itself that controls us or our children through its habit-forming design.

Role model being able to unplug during family times, having good social media manners, and talk about why you're choosing to use the media you consume - this will help you be more mindful at the same time that it teaches your children to be savvy consumers (and hopefully avoid the pitfalls of "fake news"). If children are frequently seeing you use media as a calm-down strategy or a distraction from mealtimes, they will come to understand that this is how media should be used.

For all family members, create some unplugged spaces and times of day so that both parents and children can play, be bored, or talk without distraction or needing to multi-task. You are the boss - enforce these spaces!

Don't feel pressure to introduce technology early; kids will catch up when they are older or in school. But, if parents want to introduce media early, the youngest age we recommend is 18 months, at which age it is essential for parents to play along with the child in order for the child to learn from what they see on the 2-dimensional screen.

Don't trust that just because an app is marketed as "educational," it truly is! For little kids, no screen-based activity is ever as educational as talking, singing, or playing with you.

The longer-term goal is to raise kids who see us, their parents, as their guides when they encounter weird stuff online or have negative interactions on social media. Parents can help their kids learn not to react to negative emotions by spewing out their feelings - sometimes at others' expense - online, or binge on videos or games. It is possible to raise kids with good sleep habits, healthy bodies, a variety of interests, and curiosity about the world, who feel good about their learning and their relationships, both on and offline.

Realistic steps parents can take:

Step 1: CREATE A FAMILY MEDIA PLAN

Be proactive. Talk with your kids about your media use decisions. Leave enough time in the day to play, study (without the TV on or phone nearby!), talk, or sleep. Try out this interactive tool created by the AAP to provide an actionable guide for parents to create media rules at home that fit with their values and needs, understanding that a "one size fits all" approach to media rules is not appropriate. It allows parents to enter their child's names ages, and then create a media use plan for every family member based on recommended strategies for each age group. This includes ideas such as creating unplugged zones or times in the house, agreeing on HOW media will be used (e.g., how much personal information should I post online? Which websites are OK?) as well as how parents and kids will communicate about it, good content, and time limits, and device curfews.

Step 2: SIGN UP FOR THE COMMON SENSE MEDIA NEWSLETTER

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization committed to helping families navigate the ever-changing media landscape. On their website you can find reviews of movies, TV shows, apps, games, and books, tips for parents of any age child, ideas for how to break unhealthy technology use habits, and a sign-up for their weekly (and very helpful!) newsletter.

Step 3: WHENEVER YOUR CHILD TRIES NEW TECH, YOU TRY IT TOO.

Play video games with your kids, check what apps they're downloading, and play them together or ask them to show them to you (depending on the age). Try to incorporate videochatting (e.g., Skype or Facetime) with friends or relatives into your usual tech routines. Using tech together with kids is especially crucial for toddlers 18-36 months, who really don't learn much from screens without the teaching help of an adult.

Many parents ask, how do you know what is a good app or digital product? When you play or use technology together with your child, you can see what they see, ask them what they think about it, and gauge whether your child is reacting negatively or positively to the program/game (for example, some kids are always super calm after watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, but rowdy and sassy after watching Pokemon). Playing an app together is also helpful to see whether you think your child actually is learning something, not just swiping and tapping. Parents should trust their intuition and not feel bad about uninstalling an app or game, or avoiding a video/TV program that they feel is not a good fit for their child.

Also, skip the ads if you can (e.g., by watching PBS or programs via streaming/On Demand). Shows with lots of ads for unhealthy foods make it harder for your child to learn to make healthy food choices. And if your kids do watch commercial television, watch it with them and teach them what ads are trying to do.

Start a family movie night! That way you get to watch along, relax, and talk to them about what they are seeing.

Step 4: GET SOME NEW IDEAS FOR UNPLUGGED PLAY!

Unstructured playtime stimulates creativity, builds attention span and problem-solving skills, and helps children process their emotions. Having conversations and resolving conflicts are important ways of building social skills. Most of these activities can't happen effectively on a screen. But what do we do when our kids are now "bored" with any non-tech activities? Here are some good resources for unplugged play that will challenge kids and keep them interested:

Early Childhood:

Middle Childhood/Teen Years:

When playing together, also remember to turn off televisions when not in use; this distraction can interfere with parent-child interaction and child focus.

Step 5: PRIORITIZE THE OTHER HEALTHY THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN EVERY DAY

The AAP recommendations for tweens and teens places a priority on critical health behaviors that are central to child health: sleep, exercise, school work, and socialization. Media use time should be personalized for each child based on fulfillment of these daily health behaviors, which can be achieved through: 1) creating media-free locations and media-free times during the day, 2) having parents be media mentors and be involved in selection as well as amount of media and how it is used in positive ways (build and maintain offline relationships with family and friends, learn and be creative together, engage in discussions about family values and anything upsetting the teen might encounter online, and encourage dialogue about treating others with respect on and offline.)

Discuss with your child or teen that there are both benefits and risks to media.

Benefits include exposure to new ideas and knowledge, increased opportunities for social contact and support, and access to health-promotion messages and information.

Risks include negative health effects on weight and sleep; exposure to inaccurate, inappropriate, or unsafe content and contacts; and compromised privacy.

Have ongoing communication with children about online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect, avoiding cyberbullying and sexting, being wary of online solicitation, and avoiding communications that can compromise personal privacy and safety.

Develop a network of trusted adults, including family members and coaches, who can engage with children on social media and be a trusted ally when they encounter challenges.

Discourage entertainment media while they're doing homework, and make sure children don't sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including TVs, computers and smartphones.

Additional resources:

Written/reviewed by Jenny Radesky, MD Updated May 2017

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Today's generation of children and adolescents is growing up immersed in media, using platforms that allow kids to both consume and create content, including broadcast and streamed television and movies; sedentary and active video games; social and interactive media that can be creative and engaging for both individuals and groups; and even highly immersive virtual reality.

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3 year study on boys and girls 1-5 grade

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3 year study on boys and girls 1-5 grade

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"For girls in the US and boys in both countries, TV violence viewing was significantly related to concurrent aggression and significantly predicted future changes in aggression."
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