Screens and Childhood: Navigating the Digital Age w/ Ross Parker (Summers Series 24)

In this episode, Ross Parker, an educator and technologist, discusses the themes of his book, “Screens that Eat Children.” He explores the impact of digital technology on childhood and education, sharing personal anecdotes and practical strategies for creating balanced digital lives. Parker emphasizes the importance of whole-school policies on digital use and the potential for government regulation on children’s screen time. Parker also addresses current issues like gaming addictions and the digital divide, offering insights into fostering a balanced digital life at home and in educational settings. He reflects on the future of humanity in a tech-saturated world, making this episode essential for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, education, and well-being. Timestamps [02:23] Ross’ Early Experiences with Screens [03:08] What is meant by screens? [3:48] Cultural Impact of Screens [6:13] Primary Function of Technology & Our Students [9:00] Whole School Technology Policies [10:55] Creating a Balanced Digital Life at Home [14:13] A Strong Foundation & Freedom [16:08] Ross’ Family Smartphone Rules [17:38] Making Screen Time Impactful [17:55] The Science Behind Doom Scrolling [19:20] Should the government regulate children’s screen time? [22:20] Gaming Addictions [24:00] The Future of Humanity & Digital Technology [27:40] AR & VR: Mediums & Messages [29:40] Digital Divide [30:00] Where to find Ross Parker Notable Quotes “I find that really intriguing because for my parents' generation [...] TV was the threat, but I actually think TV now is some of the most healthy screen time. Right? If you can sit down for 30 minutes or 60 minutes or 90 minutes and watch some quality content without a phone distracting you. That’s a rare chunk of really focussed time. And if you can do that with your family, with a bit of food, I think that’s really high quality time.” “If you go back fifteen years the primary function that most adults brought to computers was work [...] and that is still more or else the case for adults, especially older adults. For kids, the primary use for most digital technology is play [...] the moment you sit a child down you are activating all the neurological circuits around play and therefore the focus is right from the off away from the learning.” “So digital technology is being designed [...] maximising the impact on our attention to grab our eyeballs. It’s not even a fair fight! It’s not like kids or adults have a fair shot of using most devices sensibly.” I can really imagine a future where smartphones come with a picture of a really sad lonely looking person and a surgeon general’s warning, “This product is bad for your health. Let’s Connect Connect With Ross Parker E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.screensthateatchildren.com Connect With Mike Pierre LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-pierre/ Connect With Katlyn Darling https://www.linkedin.com/in/katlyn-darling-7019558a/ Connect with Celiah Bunsie LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Celiah Bunsie⁠⁠  Connect With Dana Specker Watts  LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaspeckerwatts/⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/teachwatts⁠⁠ More Resources Head over iss.idu to check out ISS website for events and more. Sign up for Moreland University to elevate your career as an educator at www.moreland.edu Join the community of professional educators considering the role of inclusion in the classroom culture at seniainternational.org Check out inspirecitizens who inspire schools to live their mission of global citizenship at inspirecitizens.org The ISS EDUlearn® Passport is the ultimate subscription for your professional development. Try it out now: ⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/gqytehA3⁠