Back to top

Including Tips for Parents

Benjamin Rosen, Ph.D.
• December 27, 2018

In this edition, Benjamin Rosen, Ph.D., explores the complexity of the existing research on the effects of increased digital media consumption on children and adolescents. He argues that while some concerns are valid, others are often overgeneralized and sensationalized. The situation is not as dire as some fear and contextual factors matter.

Dr. Rosen provides specific strategies for parents to manage the expectations around screen time, reduce conflict and promote their children's well-being in the digital age.

Benjamin Rosen, Ph.D.

Staff Therapist
Dr. Rosen received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with an area of concentration in child, adolescent and family psychology. Dr. Rosen has specialized training in evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents and their families, as well as experience working with couples and individually with adults.
References & Citations

AAP Council on Communications and Media (2016). Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 138(5):e2016259.

AAP Council on Communications and Media (2016). Media and Young Minds. Pediatrics, 138(5):e20162591.

American Psychological Association (2015). Resolution on Violent Video Games. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/policy/violent-video-games.aspx.

Gingold, J.A., Simon, A.E., & Schoendorf, K.C. (2014). “Excess Screen Time in US Children: Association with family rules and alternative activities.” Clinical Pediatrics, 53(1), 41-50.

Goldfield, G.S., Murray, M., Maras, D., Wilson, A.L., Phillips, P., Kenny, G.P., Hadjiyannakis, S., Alberga, A., Cameron, J.D., Tulluch, H., & Sigal, R.J.
(2016). “Screen Time is Associated with Depressive Symptomatology Among Obese Adolescents: A HEARTY study.” European Journal of Pediatrics, 175, 909-919.

Granic, I, Lobel, A., & Engels, R.C.M.E. (2014). “The Benefits of Playing Video Games.” American Psychologist, 69(1), 66-78.

Greitemeyer, T., & Mugge, D.O. (2014). “Video Games Do Affect Social Outcomes: A meta-analytic review of the effects of violent and prosocial video game play.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(5), 578-589.

Lauricella, A.R., Wartella, E., & Rideout, V.J. (2015). “Young children’s screen time: The complex role of parent and child factors.” Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 36, 11-17.

Matsuda, M. (2005). Mobile Communication and Selective Sociality. In Ito, M., Matsuda, M., & Okabe, D (Eds.). Personal, Portable, Pedestrian: Mobile phones in Japanese life. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

O’Keeffe, G.S., Clarke-Pearson, K., & Counsel on Communications and Media (2011). “The Impact of Social Medial on Children, Adolescents, and Families.” Pediatrics, 127, 800-804.

Paulus, M.P., Squeglia, L.M., Bagot, K., Jacobus, J., Kuplicki, R., Breslin, F.J., Bodurka, J., Sheffield Morris, A., Thompson, W.K., Bartsch, H., & Tapert, S.F. (2019). “Screen media activity and brain structure in youth: Evidence for diverse structural correlation networks from the ABCD study.” NeuroImage, 185, 140-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.10.040.

Przybylski, A.K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). “A Large- Scale Test of the Goldilocks Hypothesis: Quantifying the relations between digital-screen use and the mental well-being of adolescents.” Psychological Science, 28(2), 204-215.

Przybylski & Weinstein (2017). “Digital Screen Time Limits and Young Children’s Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From a Population-Based Study.” Child Development (00), 1-10.

Twenge, J.M., Joiner, T.E., Rogers, M.L., & Martin, G.N. (2018). “Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen Time.” Clinical Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-27.

UNICEF (2017). “The State of the World’s Children: Children in a digital world.” Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_101992.html.