Kids & screen time

Listen
Mary Kolesnikova/AP Photo

Hour 2

You’ve probably noticed that kids spend a lot of time staring at screens – smart phones, iPads, laptops, TVs.  They spend more time with electronic gadgets then they do engaged in any other activity– school, hanging out with friends and family, playing sports – an average of nine hours for 8 to 18-year-olds.  And researchers say that low-income kids waste even more time with media. This hour, guest host Tracey Matisak talks with two technology experts about this digital divide and what all this screen time is doing to kids’ brains and bodies.  How does it affect how kids think, learn and socialize?  KEVIN CLARK is the director of the Center for Digital Media, Innovation and Diversity and a professor of Instructional Technology at George Mason University; and VICKY RIDEOUT is the president of VJR Consulting, a media research and social marketing firm focused on children and health.

Listen to the mp3

Listen:
[audio: 062112_110630.mp3]

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal