Film explores teen addiction to technology
The Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families will host screenings of the documentary "Screenagers" next week in Carol Stream and Glendale Heights.
The award-winning film explores family struggles over social media, video games and internet addiction. It was produced and directed by Dr. Delaney Ruston, a physician and filmmaker who watched her children became increasingly focused on technology, with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span.
She wondered about the impact of all the time her children spent online and the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time. How much technology is too much? How does learning, playing and socializing online affect teens developing moral instinct and self-esteem.
The film screening and discussion with Ruston will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Glenbard North High School, 990 N. Kuhn Road, Carol Stream.
The program will be repeated at noon Thursday, May 4, at the Marquardt District 15 Administration Center, 1860 Glen Ellyn Road, Glendale Heights.
Through poignant and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from leading authors, psychologists and brain scientists, "Screenagers" reveals the science behind how tech time affects kids' development and offers suggestions about how adults can empower young people to best navigate the digital world and find balance.
For details, visit glenbardgps.org or contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at (630) 942-7668 or gilda_ross@glenbard.org.