Welcome to “The Media Generation”
Teenagers spend so much time watching television and playing computer and video games that the Kaiser Family Foundation has dubbed this generation “The Media Generation.”
The recent study found that children ages 8 to 18 watched TV, played video games, used 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 every day watching television. With so much time spent on television and other media, perhaps Kaiser should have labeled him “The Media Junkie Generation.”
What excessive TV, video game and computer use may be doing to you
The amount of time you spend in front of a TV, video, and computer screen is important, as 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, stifling your creativity, encouraging conformity, and simply wasting your valuable time.
Find out if you are part of “The Media Addicted Generation”:
1. Does your family have more than one television? Yeah [] 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 TV or playing video games?
“out of your head” jingles? Yeah [] No []
4. Is there a TV/video game/computer playing in your
at home most of the time or all the time? Yeah [] No []
5. Do you have a television, video game, and/or computer in your
bedroom? Yeah [] No []
6. Is it easy for you to turn off the TV/video game in the
in the middle of a favorite show/game? Yeah [] No []
7. Do you ever run home, leaving friends and family, to
watch your favorite TV show, play video games or go to the
computer? Yeah [] No []
8. Do you eat frequently while in front of the television,
video games or computer? Yeah [] No []
9. Have you ever caught yourself inadvertently imitating
A TV or video game character? Yeah [] No []
10. Do you talk and play with your friends more than you
watch TV, play games and play with computers? Yeah [] No []
11. Can you turn off the TV, computer and video games?
right now and lock them out for three days? Yeah [] No []
12. Do you ever mindlessly scroll through the TV channels or
The Internet? Yeah [] No []
13. Do you need television, video games or a computer to relax after
A hard day? Yeah [] No []
14. Do you feel nervous, anxious, or “not okay” if there is no TV,
video game, or a computer playing? Yeah [] No []
15. Do you watch TV, play video games and/or play in the
computer more than spending time with your family? Yeah [] No []
16. Do you ever watch TV, play video games, or surf
Internet longer than you intend? Yeah [] No []
17. Do you feel that you spend too much time with television, video games,
or computer? Yeah [] No []
18. Have you missed a special event with friends or family?
why were you watching a tv show? Yeah [] No []
19. Have you ever tried to stop watching TV, playing videos
games, or go to the computer, but did not succeed? Yeah [] No []
20. Do you have difficulty limiting the time you watch television,
play video games, or go to the computer? Yeah [] No []
*Note: Time spent on the computer for homework does not count:
To calculate your score:
For all questions except #6, #10 and #11, award 1 point for each “Yes” answer and 0 points for each “No”. For questions #6, #10, and #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 TV, computer and video games are not in control of your life. You are. But keep an eye on how much time you spend doing these activities to make sure you don’t get caught up in an addiction.
7-14: Has a moderate addiction 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 “NO TV System” also helps you create a schedule that keeps you busy with fun, goal-focused activities. Follow your dreams instead of looking at a screen..
15-20: Oh darling. You probably have a serious addiction problem. You may need to take extreme measures, such as getting rid of your TV or video games, to control 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 addicts, and can also be used for computer or video game addiction.
Life is too short to “watch” it go by.