Research + News

The Dangers Of Distracted Parenting

When it comes to children’s development, parents should worry less about kids’ screen time—and more about their own. Read the article here.

Next Year, People Will Spend More Time Online Than They Will Watching TV. That’s A First.

In 2019, people are expected to spend an average of 170.6 minutes each day on online activities like watching videos on YouTube, sharing photos on Facebook and shopping on Amazon. They’ll spend slightly less time — 170.3 minutes —watching TV. Read the full article here.

What A New Study Reveals About Selfies And Teenage Body Image

From Facebook and Twitter, to Instagram and Snapchat, it’s no secret social media has become a common form of communication, but have you ever left your feeds feeling bad about yourself? If so, you’re not alone. Read the rest of the article here.

Parents’ Ultimate Guide To Snapchat

Is Snapchat safe for kids? How does it work? And what’s with Snapstreaks? Everything curious parents need to know about this ultra-popular app from Common Sense Media. Read the article here.

Ten Ways “Grown-Up” Christians Can Set A Better Example For Gen Z On Social Media

Dear Christians On Social Media, Gen Z Is Watching. Read this article from Jonathan Morrow for the Impact 360 Institute here.

Cyberbullying: The Risks And Helping Your Child Recover

Cyberbulling is on the rise, but our children’s ability to deal with it is not keeping pace. Read the article here.

Console Upgrades Continue To Drive Interest For U.S. Video Gamers

Change is inevitable, and nowhere is that more so than in video games, where transformation can happen in the blink of an eye, thanks to the velocity inherent in digital media. Read the article here.

This Study Reveals How Teens Can Become Desensitized To Pornographic Material Over Time

A new study published  aims to explore the frequency and intentional or unintentional nature of exposure to online sexual materials and its possible desensitizing effect on the perception of online sexual content over time. Read the article here.

Coaches: Youth Sports, Social Media, Parents Have Changed The Job

The impact of social media, and the role parents play in their children’s lives, has drastically altered the job of youth coaches. Read the article here.

Homework, Not Games, The Reason Why China’s Teens Go Online?

Homework, not gaming, was the top reason cited by teenage respondents for going online, according to a study by Tencent Holdings, which is facing public scrutiny over its role in policing gaming addiction among youths. Read the article here.

Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018

The latest report from the Pew Research Center says that YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular online platforms among teens. Fully 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and 45% say they are online ‘almost constantly.’ Read the report here.

U.S. Games 360 Report: 2018

For the ninth year in a row, Nielsen has conducted extensive research into how Americans feel about—and consume—gaming. Read the report here.

Seven Symptoms Of Too Much Social Media Use

Tim Elmore blogs on what happens to teens with too much social media exposure. Read his blog here.

Are Smartphones Causing More Teen Suicides?

Increases in depression and suicide appeared among teens in 2012 – the same time smartphone ownership became the norm. Read the article here.

I Wish My Mom’s Phone Wasn’t Invented, 2nd Grader Writes In School Project

Elementary school teacher Jen Beason said four of her students told her they wished phones were never invented after giving the class a writing prompt. Read the article here.

US Kids Say Social Media Stars Are More Influential Than Celebrities Or The President

There’s no denying the influence of social media celebrities on America’s youth as new research from Mintel reveals that more than one third (34%) of kids aged 6-17 consider social media stars* to be among their top role models, outranking the influence of musicians (33%), athletes (27%), actors (22%) and even the President (16%).

Read the full article here.

Fortnite On Android Is Coming This Summer

Epic has revealed that is planning to launch its battle royale shooter for Google’s mobile operating system this summer. Read the article here.

Facebook Launches Youth Portal To Educate Teens On The Platform, How Their Data Is Being Used

Facebook has released a new Youth Portal that offers some guidance to teens on how to navigate the service, how to stay secure, while also helping them understand how their data is used. Read the article here.

Battle Royale(ty) – Top Fortnite Players To Watch

With the game entering the cultural zeitgeist and players earning celebrity status—particularly among teen boys—here are a few gamers to keep an eye on. Read the article here.

Live Streaming Apps Put Young Teens At Risk For Sex Predators, Advocates Warn

The rise in popularity of livestreaming apps is putting young teens and pre-teens at growing risk of becoming victims of sex predators and distributors of child porn, advocates say. Read the article here.

Hunched-Over Teens With Text Next Can’t See The Damage They Are Doing To Themselves

Teenagers bent over cell phones, laptops and tablets are setting themselves up for years of pain. Read the article here.

How Fortnite Captured Teens’ Hearts And Minds

The craze for the third-person shooter game has elements of Beatlemania, the opioid crisis, and eating Tide Pods. Read the article here.

The Murky Facts Of The ‘Deodorant Challenge’ – And Other Viral Teen ‘Crazes’

Dumb and dangerous online teen challenges are repeat visitors to the news cycle. And they bring with them a whole world of factual murkiness. Read the article here.

Kids Not Immune To Lure Of ‘Smart’ Toys

While child privacy issues remain a major obstacle — and rightly so — “smart” toys are poised for serious growth over the next several years. Read the article here.

The Teenage Social-Media Trap

Teens increasingly measure and manage their social success online—and it may be taking a toll on their mental health. Read the full article here.

What Parents Need To Know About Social Media And Anxiety

Learn to recognize the warning signs of anxiety disorder and help your kid keep social media use healthy and productive. Read the full blog post from Common Sense Media here.

The Real Victim Of Cyberbullying Is… The Cyberbully?

There’s also a new kind of self-aggression being taken by teens; a new psychological study has suggested there are teenagers who undergo digital self-harm. Teenagers who perform digital self-harm post derogatory comments about themselves anonymously on social media. Read the article here.

Researchers Explore Pornography’s Effect On Long-Term Relationships

Married men and women who use pornography are more likely to get divorced than men and women who do not, researchers say. Porn is a driver in making relationships worse, increasing the divorce risk. Read the full article here.

When Teens Cyberbully Themselves

In a study of nearly 5,600 U.S. youths ages 12 to 17, about 6 percent say they’ve engaged in some sort of digital self-harm. More than half in that subgroup say they’ve bullied themselves this way more than once. Read the article here.

Fixing The Broken Web – Before It’s Too Late

What can be done to fix the state of the Internet? Read the article here.

A New Study Shows That Students Learn Way More Effectively From Print Textbooks Than Screens

While new forms of classroom technology like digital textbooks are more accessible and portable, it would be wrong to assume that students will automatically be better served by digital reading simply because they prefer it. Read the article here.

Yes Means Yes: New Apps Formalize Sexual Consent

In the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp, young people have more concerns over sexual consent than ever. New apps aim to quell some of those concerns by recording consent from each party before they engage in intimate activity. Read the article here.

Social Media Use In 2018

A majority of Americans use Facebook and YouTube, but young adults are especially heavy users of Snapchat and Instagram. Read the latest from the Pew Research Center here.

I Was Sold On Backpage.com: The Story Of Jane Doe

Backpage has been shut down in a collaborative effort between the FBI and other government agencies. However, to give this victory meaning we need to understand how child sex trafficking impacts all of us. Read the article here.

Study Finds Over 3,300 Android Apps Improperly Tracking Kids

There’s little doubt that mobile apps sometimes overstep their bounds by collecting more data from kids than the law allows. Read the article here.

Heavy Smartphone Use Tied To Anxiety, Loneliness, Depression

New research suggests the convenience of smartphones can facilitate overuse and addiction. Read the article here.

China’s Selfie Culture: Youth Obsessed With The Power Of Appearances

Meitu’s popular apps and a flippant attitude towards plastic surgery are changing what it means to be beautiful, but the result is not always pretty. Read the article here.

More Than 80% Of Teens Own iPhone, Survey Says

Yet again, it appears the preferred smartphone of teens is the iPhone. Read the article here.

Teen Monitoring Apps Don’t Work And Just Make Teens Hate Their Parents, Study Finds

Parental control apps don’t always work well, and according to preliminary research, they can also drive a wedge between teens and parents. Read the full article here.

On Netflix, A Growing Wave Of Shows For And About Teenagers

Netflix has continued to add shows for audiences in the “in-between” ages of teens and tweens. Read the full article here.

Amazon Extends Its Lead In Parental Controls

Amazon, which already has some of the most parent-friendly options for its Fire tablets, added some more improvements. Read the article here.

58% Of Parents Concerned About Negative Health Effects In Children Using Virtual Reality

Parents see virtual reality as providing some benefits to their children, but they also have concerns. Read the article here.

You Know Who’s Really Addicted To Their Phones? The Olds

The data suggests that the ones most hooked on their devices are those graying Gen Xers. Read the article here.

Google Is Equipping More Rural School Buses With Wi-Fi And Chromebooks

Providing students with dependable Wi-Fi before and after school is a boon for those who might lack broadband internet at home, giving them two opportunities daily to complete assignments or study for exams while on the bus. Read the article here.

Where’s Your Teen Sleeping? Check Chuck E. Cheese, then Walmart

Adventure seekers are hiding overnight in stores for ‘24-hour challenge’—and are really, really bored. Read the article here.

Amazon Reportedly Wants To Create Checking Accounts For Teens

Amazon is in early discussions with banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Capital One Financial Corp. to create something akin to checking accounts that will be aimed at teenagers. Read the article here.

Sorry New York Times, Sexting Is NOT Normal For Teens, And Should Not Be Celebrated

A recent column in the New York Times by Dr. Perri Klass gives the impression that sexting is a rather normal, even healthy aspect of teenage sexuality. Read a rebuttal here.

How Video Games Turn Teenagers Into Millionaires

From making their own games, to broadcasting live online, to playing professionally in packed stadiums – how entrepreneurs in their teens and twenties earn a living on video games. Read the article here.

Parents May Fret, But Teens And Even Experts Say Social Media Use Has Its Benefits

Teens and mentors talk about social media’s effects on their lives. Read the article here.

Esports Racks Up Points With Hard-To-Reach Demo: Young Males

As platforms like Twitch become destinations in their own right, and esports leagues become more formal in their structures, the opportunities for brands to engage becomes clearer. Read the full article here.

Gen-Z Relieved To Escape Their Smartphones For Several Weeks, Study Suggests

mbers of Generation Z are relieved when placed in a situation where they are unable to access their smartphones for several weeks, suggests a study conducted by Screen Education, a non-profit organization that addresses smartphone addiction. Read the article here.

Music Revenues Rise Double Digits In 2017

Teenagers Are Fueling A Competitive Gaming Tidal Wave

Video games have come a long way since the days of Atari and Sega. Instead of pulling up a beanbag chair up to the tube TV in your parents’ basement, now there are worldwide competitions among top-ranked gamers and players streaming their games to millions of subscribers on YouTube. Read the full article here.

Kids Are Having Issues Holding Their Pencils Because Of Technology

It doesn’t just stop at handwriting – fine motor skill challenges could lead to trouble buttoning clothes, tying shoes and more. Read the article here.

Social Media Friends Can Bruise Your Body Image

Seeing too many social media posts from friends about their fitness activity can harm your body image, a new study contends. Read the article here.

Teen Suicides Rise In Tandem With Cyberbullying – And Advocates Have Had Enough

Families and legislators have banded together to fight a scourge that is harming and even killing teenagers. Read the article here.

No Simple Answer To Impact Of Smartphone On Teens

New research suggests the impact of cell phones is dependent upon many variables, including the vulnerability of the teen. Read the article here.

How Teens Use Fake Instagram Accounts To Relieve The Pressure Of Perfection

Fake Instagram accounts, often referred to as “finstas” or “spam accounts”, have become the norm for many teens – but their reasoning for creating these is not as sinister as you think. Read the article here.

What Happened Online in 2017 Within 60 Seconds?

This is a quick compendium of things up and downloaded, posted and searched for, sent and received, listened to and watched in bits and bytes. View the infographic and access the report here.

Through Social Media, Teens Learn From Others’ Stories And Stand Up For Their Beliefs

Viacom research revealed that through social media, teens experience the power of hearing others’ voices – and of using their own. Read the article here.

Are Young Adults Growing Tired Of Constant Social Connectivity?

Many are rethinking social media habits. Read the article here.

What Parents Need To Know About Sexting

Tips for talking with your child about sexting from JAMA Pediatrics. Read the article here.

Sexting Is Increasingly Common For Teens

The study’s authors warned that sexts, especially ones seen by people other than the intended recipient, could lead to harassment and cyberbullying — perhaps even sexual assault and suicide. Read the article here.

The Purge: New Apps Help The Tech Addicted With Digital Detox

With Millennials checking their phones an estimated 150 times a day—at least six times an hour discounting sleep—it isn’t surprising that they sometimes feel the need to detox from all of this connection. Read the article here.

That Teen Sexting Study: What Else You Need To Know

A new teen sexting research review published in JAMA Pediatrics found that about one in four teens have received a “sext,” a text message with sexual content, and approximately one in seven have sent one. Read the article here.

Gen Z Engaging With 10 Hours Of Online Content A Day

According to research by Adobe into the UK’s content consumption habits, Generation Z spend a whopping 10.6 hours engaging with online content every single day. Read the article here.

Parents Need To Start Talking To Their Tweens About The Risks Of Porn

Today teenagers are viewing far more pornography than their parents realize. And the porn they’re watching is much more “hardcore” than moms and dads could possibly imagine. Read the article here.

New Report Details The Devastating Effects Social Media Is Having On Generation Z

A study released in Jan 2018 by Barna Research Group reveals that Generation Z is more emotionally affected by the perils of social media than other generations who are also online. Read the article here.

For Some Parents, Snapchat Usage Is A Concern

Of the many major social networking apps out there, parents have expressed the most concern about their teens using Snapchat. Read the article here.

American Airlines Agent Saves Teens From Suspected Human Trafficking Plot

Authorities are crediting a quick thinking airline employee for preventing two teenagers from becoming victims of human trafficking. Read the article here.

Teens Post Online Content To Appear Interesting, Popular And Attractive

Teens work very hard to create a favorable online image through careful selection of which photos, activities and links to post on Facebook and Instagram, according to a recent study from the University of California, Irvine. Read the article here.

The Question We Don’t Want To Ask Our Teens

Teens are likely watching much more pornography than we think they are. Worse, it’s shaping, even distorting, how they believe sex should be. Read the article here.

How Is Digital Text Affecting Student Comprehension?

Researchers found that digital reading was faster but less effective as a tool for helping students process and learn information. Read more from the Growing Leaders’ blog post here.

Video Games As Varsity Sports At Some Colleges

Student-athletes compete in online games such as League of Legends, Overwatch and Hearthstone with other teams in the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Read the article here.

This Simple Solution To Smartphone Addiction Is Now Used In Over 600 U.S. Schools

Graham Dugoni, 31, started Yondr to remind people what it’s like to live phone-free. Read the article here.

Control Your Phone, Don’t Let It Control You

Common Sense Media provides tips for using your device intentionally and being a great digital role model. Read the article here.

Snapchat’s New Update Triggers Revolt By Millions Of Teens

Snapchat’s massive teen userbase is outraged at an update rolled out last week, and is already desperately trying to get the old version back. Read the article here.

How Brands Can Combat Teen Smartphone Addiction

Youth-oriented brands have led the way in developing innovative mobile campaigns targeting teens, and utilizing social media to keep them continually engaged. And now these same brands need to lead in addressing the negative effects among teens, including disconnecting from family, friends and the “real world” around them. Read the full article here.

What The Screen Time Experts Do With Their Own Kids

Parents today struggle to set screen time guidelines. One big reason is a lack of role models. Grandma doesn’t have any tried-and-true sayings about iPad time. This stuff is just too new. Read the full article here.

The Growing Leaders blog discusses the issue of digital distraction and what we can do to help Gen Z from being distracted. Read the blog post here.

Health Experts Urge Facebook To Shut Down Messenger Kids

Child development advocates are calling on Facebook to discontinue its new Messenger Kids app, which is targeted at 6 to 12 year olds. Read the article here.

Earbuds Made My Teens Tune Me Out, So I Changed How We Listen To Music

Nicole Roach, for Common Sense Media, explains how her and her husband turned the tables on their teens and got them to unplug and open up about their favorite musical artists. Read the article here.

Despite YouTube and Amazon’s Efforts, Record Numbers Of Teens Are Still Eating Tide Pods

The “eating Tide Pods” meme continues to be one of the more baffling parts of 2018. Read the article here.

Teens More Likely To Be Hacking Computers Than Smoking Or Having Sex

Modern 14-year-olds are eschewing these traditional forms of acting out – in favor of hacking computers from their bedrooms. Read the article here.

U.S. Video Game Industry Revenue Reaches $36 Billion in 2017

The US video game industry generated a record $36 billion in revenue in 2017, up 18 percent from 2016. Read the article here.

Why One Hour A Day Is The Perfect Amount of Screen Time For Teens

The happiest teens spend just under an hour a day on social and other digital media, a new study suggests. Read the article here.

What Teen Sexting Reveals About Women And Sexual Coercion

Many girls feel pressured to comply with requests to send naked photos of themselves to boys who demand them. Read the article here.

Does The Internet Change Beliefs About Religious Affiliations?

New research finds that the digital environment, specifically the Internet, may decrease the likelihood of a person affiliating with a religious tradition or believing that only one religion is true. Read the article here.

Cutting-Edge Content From Digital Publishers Keeps Millennials Coming Back For More

The growth of digital content, both text and video, has transformed the way people engage with media—whether that’s getting breaking news, watching game highlights, checking out the latest fashion trends or figuring out what’s for dinner. Read the article here.

The Sneaky Science Behind Your Kid’s Tech Obsession

The first step toward resisting the pull of digital products like Snapchat, Instagram, and Netflix is recognizing the tricks they use to keep you hooked. Read the article here.

Most Millennials, GenZers Spend At Least Six Hours A Day On Their Cell Phones

It’s no secret that younger people are glued to their screens for much of the day. Read the article here.

9 Ways Porn And Predators Will Target Kids In 2018

To keep kids safe in the digital age, parents need to stay one step ahead of trends and know exactly what they are up against. Read the full article here.

“What Should I Do?”: Young Women’s Reported Dilemmas With Nude Photographs

A thematic analysis of young women’s stories reveals that they received conflicting messages regarding sexting. Read the research here.

A&E ‘Undercover High’ Reveals How Cell Phones Destroy Education

What is it about the cell phone addiction that makes kids push back so ferociously at the suggestion that they put down their phones in order to pay attention in class (or interact with family members at dinner)? Read the article here.

Fitbit Considers Developing Smartwatch For Kids

In recent years the market for devices that help parents track their children’s health has grown enormously. Read the article here.

Bullying and Cyberbullying

A 2014 McAfee study revealed that 87 percent of youths have witnessed cyberbullying and 49 percent of students have regretted something they have posted online. Read this blog post from Jim Burns here.

2 Apple Investors Call On It To Counter Teens’ iPhone Addiction

The Apple iPhone is far and away the most popular mobile device among teens — too popular, in fact, according to two of the company’s investors who are calling on the company to study its “unintentional negative consequences.” Read the article here.

Tops of 2017: Television and Social Media

Shows that may not have cracked the top 10 in viewership made up for it in social buzz, demonstrating the dynamic value of television in 2017. Read the article here.

Video Game Stars: Players As Celebrity

Gone are the days where the plotlines of Thursday night sitcoms are discussed in the schoolyard Friday. Your kids are potentially more likely to be watching talented or charismatic gamers play online and partaking in communal chat rooms with fellow fans. Read the article here.

Teenagers, Stop Asking For Nude Photos

An analysis of nearly 500 accounts from 12- to 18-year-old girls about their negative experiences with sexting found that over two-thirds had been asked for explicit images. Read the article here.