Teens Spend 9 Hours A Day Using Media

CNN recently reported on a census conducted by Common Sense which found that teens engage in 9 hours of media per day. These sources of media include: watching TV, videos and movies, playing video games, reading, listening to music and checking social media. This study suggests that teens and tweens spend more time with technology more than time with their teachers and parents.

If teens are spending 9 hours with technology, they may also be spending a lot of time multi-tasking which does not allow for the ability to learn and retain information.

”Teenagers think that multitasking during homework doesn’t affect their ability to learn and ... we know it does,” said Steyer, citing studies such as one at Stanford, which found dramatic differences in cognitive control and the ability to process information between heavy media multitaskers and light media multitaskers.

“It’s completely obvious that you can’t multitask and be as effective and competent.”

As media consumption continues, and teens gain more access to this evolving source of communication and entertainment, parents and educators must be mindful of the positive and negative consequences.

Read more about teens and their over-use of media here.