Digital Smarts - Are the Kids Alright?

The California Partners Project partnered with the Child Mind Institute to take a deep look at how life during Covid is being experienced by teens who are coping with loss, social isolation, and screen saturation. A report called “Are the Kids Alright?” includes in-depth interviews with 46 teenagers, between 13 and 17 years old, in California. The surveyed teens were asked to keep detailed, week-long journals of their habits and lifestyles.

While a relatively small sampling and based solely in California, the study did find that many teens are struggling, relying heavily on screens to handle the isolation of the past several months. Other key findings included that teens are experiencing “a tremendous loss due to school closure and social isolation" and are using "social media and gaming (as) the main way to meet their social needs." Also, the extent of their technology use and its impact "aren't obvious, even to those closest to teens," according to the report.

Included in the report are several ways parents can connect with and support their kids. Parents should support sleep by encouraging healthy behaviors like regular bedtimes, not eating large meals late in the evening, and not consuming caffeine more than four hours before going to bed. Parents should also try to encourage exercise, since moderate exercise each day can promote restorative sleep and aid health. It can also help to create a schedule that teens can stick to.

Parents are also urged to model behavior they want to see their kids follow. Parents looking to promote healthy screen time boundaries should be aware of how frequently they use technology, and should brainstorm and support alternative activities that can be used to fill time. It can also help to encourage "tech mindfulness:" Basically, when you pick up your phone, think about why you're using the device and what you hope to get out of it.