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Free showing of ‘Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age’ set at Sussex Academy March 16

February 28, 2017

Sussex Academy will present a free showing of “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 16, in the school auditorium, 21150 Airport Road, Georgetown. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. The documentary is appropriate for students 10 years and older. The documentary explores the impact of screen technology on kids, and offers parents proven solutions that work.

Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston decided to make “Screenagers” when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatedly how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest unexplored parenting issues of the time.

Ruston turned the camera on her own family and others, revealing stories that depict messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Examples of stories include Hannah's, a 14-year old victim of social media bullying that stemmed from her trying to hide her use of social media from her mom. Issues are different for boys and girls, and the film also follows Andrew's story, a straight-A student whose love of video games spins out of control when he goes off to college and lands in an internet rehab center.

Interwoven into these stories are cutting-edge science and insights from thought leaders such as Peggy Orenstein, Sherry Turkle and Simon Sinek, as well as leading brain scientists who present evidence on real changes happening in the brain. The film exposes the risks of screen time, and reveals multiple approaches on how parents and educators can work with kids to help them achieve a healthy amount of screen time. Themes include use of screens in school, boys and video games, girls and social media, and risk of addiction.

Kids spend on average 6.5 hours a day on screens, not including classroom or homework screen time. Boys spend on average the equivalent of 1.5 days on video games every week. Some recent studies show that screen time increases dopamine production and causes behavior that mimics addiction.

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