When we screened Screenagers to employees at Pixar, I had the following interchange with the organizer Guido Quaroni, V.P. of Software R&D (and also the voice Guido in Pixar’s film, Cars): I said “It must be hard to find enough software coders for all you do. He replied, “No, it is not too hard — yes, we compete with Google down the way but that’s okay because frankly, we are a bit cooler.” Then he paused and continued “The real challenge is finding the creatives...the people to write the stories, to do the animation, to create the set designs.” I was taken struck by this response.
This is not surprising because it's hard work to be creative. The brain of teens, like us, gets seduced into relaxation through entertainment. Meanwhile, the inner critic starts making himself and herself comfortably at home sometime around age 11 plus or minus a couple of years.
A while back, a team at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park asked me to come to show Screenagers and talk afterward. When I brought up the 3% finding about creativity, one of the VPs said that he knew of the study and that it did not include activities done on Instagram (FB had recently bought Instagram). Many teens do add filters and do many arty things on posts — so it is a point worth talking about with our teens. We can ask them if how they feel that social media exercises their creative muscles.
It so happens that the entire interior of Facebook was covered with art installations. Our host said, “We have great internships where we invite in artists because it is so key that all our employees be reminded to think outside the box.“
We all want young people to be thinking outside the box and executing on their ideas. I think back to a screening when I was talking with two teen girls about what was happening related to their phone use and one said: “Everything is OK I guess, but I am bummed that I don’t do any of the art projects that I used to.”
With many of our kids on Spring Break, now is a good time to think about helping them find things to do creatively online and offline.
If you are tired of barking at them to get offline, here are some ideas to help redirect them into something more creative online — and by the way, it can be a great opportunity to do it with them. Also, if there is a creative tool they already know and love, have them teach it to you (Don’t you just love when you witness their excitement of teaching us things?)
HERE ARE SOME OFFLINE SUGGESTIONS FOR CREATIVITY:
Here are a few questions to get their brains thinking about some of these ideas:
We would love for you to share this TTT any way that works for you, whether that’s on social media or via a newsletter. If you want to send it out in your newsletter we just ask that you credit us and link to our website, and let us know at lisa@screenagersmovie.com.
HOST A SCREENING to help spark change.
FIND EVENT LISTINGS
Do you organize professional development in schools? We now have a 6-hour, 3-part training module. Request more information here Professional Development.
Stay in touch with the Screenagers community on Facebook, Twitter and leave comments below.
March 19, 2019
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
As we’re about to celebrate 10 years of Screenagers, we want to hear what’s been most helpful and what you’d like to see next.
Please click here to share your thoughts with us in our community survey. It only takes 5–10 minutes, and everyone who completes it will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon vouchers.
When we screened Screenagers to employees at Pixar, I had the following interchange with the organizer Guido Quaroni, V.P. of Software R&D (and also the voice Guido in Pixar’s film, Cars): I said “It must be hard to find enough software coders for all you do. He replied, “No, it is not too hard — yes, we compete with Google down the way but that’s okay because frankly, we are a bit cooler.” Then he paused and continued “The real challenge is finding the creatives...the people to write the stories, to do the animation, to create the set designs.” I was taken struck by this response.
This is not surprising because it's hard work to be creative. The brain of teens, like us, gets seduced into relaxation through entertainment. Meanwhile, the inner critic starts making himself and herself comfortably at home sometime around age 11 plus or minus a couple of years.
A while back, a team at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park asked me to come to show Screenagers and talk afterward. When I brought up the 3% finding about creativity, one of the VPs said that he knew of the study and that it did not include activities done on Instagram (FB had recently bought Instagram). Many teens do add filters and do many arty things on posts — so it is a point worth talking about with our teens. We can ask them if how they feel that social media exercises their creative muscles.
It so happens that the entire interior of Facebook was covered with art installations. Our host said, “We have great internships where we invite in artists because it is so key that all our employees be reminded to think outside the box.“
We all want young people to be thinking outside the box and executing on their ideas. I think back to a screening when I was talking with two teen girls about what was happening related to their phone use and one said: “Everything is OK I guess, but I am bummed that I don’t do any of the art projects that I used to.”
With many of our kids on Spring Break, now is a good time to think about helping them find things to do creatively online and offline.
If you are tired of barking at them to get offline, here are some ideas to help redirect them into something more creative online — and by the way, it can be a great opportunity to do it with them. Also, if there is a creative tool they already know and love, have them teach it to you (Don’t you just love when you witness their excitement of teaching us things?)
HERE ARE SOME OFFLINE SUGGESTIONS FOR CREATIVITY:
Here are a few questions to get their brains thinking about some of these ideas:
We would love for you to share this TTT any way that works for you, whether that’s on social media or via a newsletter. If you want to send it out in your newsletter we just ask that you credit us and link to our website, and let us know at lisa@screenagersmovie.com.
HOST A SCREENING to help spark change.
FIND EVENT LISTINGS
Do you organize professional development in schools? We now have a 6-hour, 3-part training module. Request more information here Professional Development.
Stay in touch with the Screenagers community on Facebook, Twitter and leave comments below.
March 19, 2019
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
We respect your privacy.
When we screened Screenagers to employees at Pixar, I had the following interchange with the organizer Guido Quaroni, V.P. of Software R&D (and also the voice Guido in Pixar’s film, Cars): I said “It must be hard to find enough software coders for all you do. He replied, “No, it is not too hard — yes, we compete with Google down the way but that’s okay because frankly, we are a bit cooler.” Then he paused and continued “The real challenge is finding the creatives...the people to write the stories, to do the animation, to create the set designs.” I was taken struck by this response.
This is not surprising because it's hard work to be creative. The brain of teens, like us, gets seduced into relaxation through entertainment. Meanwhile, the inner critic starts making himself and herself comfortably at home sometime around age 11 plus or minus a couple of years.
A while back, a team at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park asked me to come to show Screenagers and talk afterward. When I brought up the 3% finding about creativity, one of the VPs said that he knew of the study and that it did not include activities done on Instagram (FB had recently bought Instagram). Many teens do add filters and do many arty things on posts — so it is a point worth talking about with our teens. We can ask them if how they feel that social media exercises their creative muscles.
It so happens that the entire interior of Facebook was covered with art installations. Our host said, “We have great internships where we invite in artists because it is so key that all our employees be reminded to think outside the box.“
We all want young people to be thinking outside the box and executing on their ideas. I think back to a screening when I was talking with two teen girls about what was happening related to their phone use and one said: “Everything is OK I guess, but I am bummed that I don’t do any of the art projects that I used to.”
With many of our kids on Spring Break, now is a good time to think about helping them find things to do creatively online and offline.
If you are tired of barking at them to get offline, here are some ideas to help redirect them into something more creative online — and by the way, it can be a great opportunity to do it with them. Also, if there is a creative tool they already know and love, have them teach it to you (Don’t you just love when you witness their excitement of teaching us things?)
HERE ARE SOME OFFLINE SUGGESTIONS FOR CREATIVITY:
Here are a few questions to get their brains thinking about some of these ideas:
We would love for you to share this TTT any way that works for you, whether that’s on social media or via a newsletter. If you want to send it out in your newsletter we just ask that you credit us and link to our website, and let us know at lisa@screenagersmovie.com.
HOST A SCREENING to help spark change.
FIND EVENT LISTINGS
Do you organize professional development in schools? We now have a 6-hour, 3-part training module. Request more information here Professional Development.
Stay in touch with the Screenagers community on Facebook, Twitter and leave comments below.
March 19, 2019
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
It feels like we’re finally hitting a tipping point. The harms from social media in young people’s lives have been building for far too long, and bold solutions can’t wait any longer. That’s why what just happened in Australia is extremely exciting. Their new nationwide move marks one of the biggest attempts yet to protect kids online. And as we released a new podcast episode yesterday featuring a mother who lost her 14-year-old son after a tragic connection made through social media, I couldn’t help but think: this is exactly the kind of real-world action families have been desperate for. In today’s blog, I share five key things to understand about what Australia is doing because it’s big, it’s controversial, and it might just spark global change.
READ MORE >
I hear from so many parents who feel conflicted about their own phone habits when it comes to modeling healthy use for their kids. They’ll say, “I tell my kids to get off their screens, but then I’m on mine all the time.” Today I introduce two moms who are taking on my One Small Change Challenge and share how you can try it too.
READ MORE >
This week’s blog explores how influencers and social media promoting so-called “Healthy” ideals — from food rules to fitness fads — can quietly lead young people toward disordered eating. Featuring insights from Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a leading expert on eating disorders, we unpack how to spot harmful messages and start honest conversations with kids about wellness, body image, and what “healthy” really means.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, 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.
