Welcome to “The Media Generation”
Teens spend so much time watching television and playing their computer and video games that the Kaiser Family Foundation has called this generation “The Media Generation.”
The recent study found that children ages 8 to 18 watched television, played video games, on their computers, and listened to music for a total of 6 hours and 23 minutes EVERY DAY! Many children were doing two or more activities at the same time. Most of this time is still spent watching television. The children spent almost four hours a day watching television. With so much time in front of television and other media, perhaps Kaiser should have labeled it “The Generation Addicted to Media.”
What excessive use of television, video games and the computer may be doing to you
The amount of time you spend in front of a television, video, and computer screen is important, because these activities have been linked to obesity, attention problems (such as ADHD), and poor grades. Violent content can condition you to accept violence in your life. The sexual content of many popular shows and games can encourage you to experiment before you are ready. Television can act as a depressant, stifle your creativity, encourage conformity, and simply waste your precious time.
Find out if you are part of “The Generation Addicted to Media”:
1. Does your family have more than one television? Yes [] No []
2. Are you in front of a screen for more than 2 hours a day? Yes [] No []
3. Do you sometimes have trouble watching television or video games?
jingles “out of your head”? Yes [] No []
4. Is there a television / video game / computer on your
at home a lot or all the time? Yes [] No []
5. Do you have a television, video game, and / or computer in your
Room? Yes [] No []
6. Is it easy for you to turn off the TV or video game on the
in the middle of a favorite show / game? Yes [] No []
7. Do you ever rush home, abandoning friends and family, to
watch your favorite TV show, play video games, or go to
computer? Yes [] No []
8. Do you eat frequently in front of the television?
video games or computer? Yes [] No []
9. Have you ever caught yourself unintentionally imitating
a TV or video game character? Yes [] No []
10. Do you talk and play with your friends more than you?
watch television, play games and play games on computers? Yes [] No []
11. Can you turn off the television, computer, and video games?
right now and leave them for three days? Yes [] No []
12. Do you ever browse without thinking about television channels or
The Internet? Yes [] No []
13. Do you need television, video games, or a computer to relax after
A hard day? Yes [] No []
14. Do you feel nervous, anxious, or “not okay” if there is no television?
A video game or a computer playing? Yes [] No []
15. Do you watch television, play video games and / or play on the
computer rather than spending time with your family? Yes [] No []
16. Do you ever watch TV, play video games, or surf
Internet longer than you intend? Yes [] No []
17. Do you feel that you spend too much time with television, video games,
or computer? Yes [] No []
18. Missed a special event with friends or family?
why were you watching a tv show? Yes [] No []
19. Have you ever tried to stop watching TV, playing videos?
games, or on the computer, but were unsuccessful? Yes [] No []
20. Do you have difficulty limiting the time you watch television,
play video games or use the computer? Yes [] No []
* Note: Time spent in front of the computer for homework purposes does not count:
To calculate your score:
For all questions except # 6, # 10 and # 11, give yourself 1 point for each “Yes” answer and 0 points for each “No”. For questions n. 6, n. 10 and n. 11, give yourself 0 points for each “Yes” answer and 1 point for each “No”. Add up your total.
Your total: ____________
Punctuation:
0-6: Excellent! Your television, computer, and video games do not control your life. You are. But keep an eye on how much time you spend on these activities to make sure an addiction doesn’t occur to you.
7-14: You are moderately addicted to television, video games, or the computer. Maybe all of them. The good news is that with a little effort, a list of fun off-screen activities, and a reasonable schedule, you can keep your addiction under control. “The TV-Free System” also helps you create a schedule that keeps you busy with fun, goal-focused activities. Follow your dreams instead of staring at a screen.
15-20: Oh darling. You probably have a serious addiction problem. You may need to go to extreme measures, even ditching your TV or video games, to be in control of your time. Start with the device that wastes the most time. The good news is that “The TV-FREE System” was designed to help even the most serious addict, and can also be used for video games or computer addiction.
Life is too short to “see” it go by.