We were incredibly disappointed when we learned early this year that the Kaiser Family Foundation was terminating their “Generation M” ongoing study of teens and media use. Done in five-year increments, the study began in 1999 and served as an eye-opening measure of how media use among 8 to 18-year-olds was changing as we moved further and further into the digital age.
However, there’s good news. Our friends at Common Sense Media have picked up the ball and are looking in new ways at media use among 8 to 18-year-olds in today’s rapidly changing media landscape. Just three days ago they released their first of what we hope will be an ongoing series of reports, this one called “The Common Sense Census: Media Use By Tweens and Teens.”
I scanned the research for the first time this morning. After giving it a good look I hope to offer some responses and recommendations. . . although the Common Sense folks have done a good job of that in the report. Until you have time to digest what’s in the report for yourself, I want to encourage you to take a look at the infographic embedded below. It highlights some of the key findings. (In addition, you can access the infographic here).
This is great information! Do you know of an accompanying report that disseminates this information into potential dangers, and even benefits from media consumption in young people? In other words, one could interpret this information on their own and make some, probably accurate, conclusions, but scientifically, what is all of this interacting with media doing to our young people, our culture and ultimately our churches?
Thanks.