An award-winning film that probes into the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, and academics. The film offers solutions on how we can help our kids navigate the digital world.
Millions of young people experience high stress, anxiety, and depression. We follow physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston as she discovers solutions for improved adolescent well-being in the digital age.
The film really shakes up long-held beliefs about what is normal, acceptable, and safe.
Wow! I just finished watching Under the Influence. The final line had me in tears - "we are here for them, not to shame them but to help them figure out their best and safest road forward.
“As the mother of three kids… we’re all worried about how much is too much. For any of you wrestling with this issue, I loved the documentary. It combines smart insights and practical tips for raising happy, healthy, technologically empowered teens.”
“The timing of this movie could not be better or more urgent as we are facing a national youth mental health crisis"
“Screenagers is a very balanced, sympathetic and sane look at the way millions of teens are struggling with phones and games and technology in general.”
“I found it to be VERY POWERFUL and VALIDATING for both teens and parents.”
“I can’t imagine what school counsellor would not be eager to share this with their families.”
“We are considering showing it again in the spring… one of the best events we have hosted.”
“Amazing documentary… very relevant for parents, teachers and students. Many parents left asking when we were going to show it again because they wanted to bring their friends.”
“It’s a MUST SEE for anyone with kids in their lives!”
Screenings are available only through community events. ANYONE can host a screening at a school, community group, places of worship, workplace, theater or more.
IT'S EASY >Our new online membership platform designed for schools and suitable for other organisations, members can enjoy unlimited on-demand access to our movies for their institutional use - e.g. In-Classroom, along with the option to run public screenings of the movies for their communities - e.g. Parents Nights.
Members also have access to an extensive new curriculum with lesson plans related to the themes in our movies, along with a range of other regularly updated exclusive content and resources.
OUR FILMMAKER, DR. RUSTON, SHARES HER FAMILY’S WEEKLY TOPICS TO HELP YOU MANAGE AND DECREASE STRUGGLES AROUND SCREEN TIME.
In the New York Times this last week, there was an article about social media and teens. The article's brilliant graphic captured our young people's digital and emotional reality. The image is all the notifications on their phones, laptops, tablets, etc. like texts from “mom” reminding them to be safe, a new grade posted, a Snapchat arrival, a missed Facetime, a troubling news headline, etc. Stress flies at them in so many ways. Today, I suggest a way to have a notification intervention.
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What do AI, substance use, and video gaming have in common? They all can tempt people, including youth, to engage in sneaky behaviors, including youth. Kids can feel tempted to do shortcuts, workarounds, or cheat for various reasons. Perhaps they hate a subject in school and want to get the homework done but don’t actually want to do it. Maybe reading is painfully difficult for them due to something like dyslexia, so they want to find a way to avoid having to do it. Perhaps a teen knows that their family has a rule that does not allow them to play a specific video game because of its intense violent graphics and misogyny. Yet that is the game many friends are playing and want to join in. Maybe an 8th-grade boy is with a group of friends at lunch, and someone pulls out a vape pen and starts passing it around. Do they partake in this sneaky and illegal behavior? Today, I explore the temptations and three things to say to kids and teens that can help strengthen their wise-minded brains and add a little more weight to the healthier decision-making side of the scale.
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When was the last time you can recall apologizing to your child or teen? Apologizing to kids can have multiple positive effects. And, if you are not in the habit of doing this much, today is a great day to consider offering one out of the blue. Today, I review a few reasons why apologies are such a powerful part of parenting, a key part of nurturing a stronger relationship and teaching communication skills. I also share an apology I gave my daughter not that long ago.
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DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, CONVERSATIONS, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
ORDER HEREdocumentary filmmaker, author, primary care physician and mother of teenagers
About the Filmmaker
Dr. Ruston about her own family’s messy struggles with digital distractions, and the surprising insights she learned making this film.
Teenagers today have never known a world without the internet, which all ...
‘Screenagers’ Documentary Examines Impact of Screens and New Tech on Kids’ Development
Dr. Delaney Ruston discusses the effects ... Guests: Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Delaney Ruston, Simon Sinek, Jason Silva
Dr. Delaney Ruston discusses the effects ... Guests: Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Delaney Ruston, Simon Sinek, Jason Silva
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