Study: Cut Down on Social Media and Video Games, Increase Teens’ Focus at School
By Movieguide® Staff
A new study from the Center of Gambling Studies at Rutgers University found that middle-school children that use the internet, social media, or play video games in excess have lower grades.
The findings concluded by offering parents and children one hour a day of media use on the weekdays and a max of four hours on the weekends.
“Interactive technology is widely used to promote children’s educational access and achievement,” author Vivien (Wen Li) Anthony said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has been essential to facilitating remote learning. At the same time, there is a growing concern that excessive technology use, particularly for entertainment, may adversely affect children’s educational development by facilitating undesirable study habits and detracting from time spent on learning activities.”
Medical Press reported:
The researchers, which include Professor Lia Nower of the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies and a researcher from Renmin University of China, analyzed the China Education Panel Survey data, a national survey of educational needs and outcomes of children in China. Approximately 10,000 first-year middle school students were surveyed and followed. Their average age was 13.5 years.
Further findings reportedly showed that students who played over four hours of video games, social platforms and other forms of media a day were four times more likely to skip class.
“Such findings are critical, particularly in light of the recent movement toward online learning in countries throughout the world,” Anthony said. “In a learning environment that integrates the internet, it is easy for children to move across educational and entertainment platforms during learning without alerting teachers or adults to alternate activities.”
As online interaction increased exponentially in 2020 with online learning, Anthony claimed that moderation was vital for students to be more engaged at school.
At Movieguide®, we believe that that time should be replaced by biblical learning. Movieguide® previously reported:
A new report by Lifeway Research shows that the best way for a child to maintain his faith through adolescence and into adulthood is by creating a habit of regular Bible reading.
According to the survey:
Most churchgoing Protestant parents of young adults say their kids grew up to be Christians.
But half of them don’t practice the Christian faith, their parents say.
And the biggest factor predicting their spiritual health as young adults is whether they read the Bible regularly as kids.
Those are among the findings of a new study among Protestant churchgoers about parenting and spirituality from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. The study was sponsored by Lifeway Kids for use in the book Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith.
For the study, researchers surveyed 2,000 Protestant and nondenominational churchgoers. All attend services at least once a month and have adult children ages 18 to 30.
Researchers wanted to know what parenting practices pay off over the long haul when it comes to spiritual health, said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.
“Churchgoing parents want to pass on their faith to their kids—and to see their children make that faith their own,” said McConnell. “But they don’t always know how best to make that happen.”
When children developed this habit, they grew into adults who wanted to actively be part of the church and engage the culture around them for Christ.
This spiritual discipline goes beyond the church walls, though, as regular Bible reading can also help shape a child’s worldview.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
