St. Joseph Catholic Church is excited to partner with USD 355 to offer a screening of Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age. In a world dominated by screens, St. Joseph hopes to assist community members in their quest to understand the impact of technology on the health and well being of friends and family members - particularly our youth. This is a public event open to all community members (including students 7th grade+).
On Wednesday, October 16, students in 7 -12 grade will be shown the film during school hours at the Ellinwood High School Auditorium. That evening, parents, teachers, coaches, and all interested community members are encouraged to attend the screening at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Center at 7 pm. Screenings will be followed with an opportunity for a moderated discussion, and parents are encouraged to continue the conversation at home with their children.
From the filmmaker:
SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in The Digital Age has been screened more than 8,000 times to 4 million people in more than 70 countries around the world. With multiple screenings happening daily in communities across the globe, SCREENAGERS is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and offer parents and families proven solutions that work. What started out as a personal story for one has grown into a national movement, helping millions of teens and their families navigate growing up in a world with instant access to screens.
ABOUT
Physician and filmmaker, Delaney Ruston decided to make SCREENAGERS when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming, and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatedly how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest, unexplored parenting issues of our time.
As a director, Ruston turned the camera on her own family and others—revealing stories of messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. We meet Hannah, a 14-year old victim of social media bullying who struggled trying to hide her social media use from her mom. And Andrew, whose love of video games turned into an addiction taking him from earning straight A’s to flunking out of college.
Interwoven into these stories, are cutting edge science and insights from thought leaders Peggy Orenstein, Sherry Turkle, Simon Sinek, as well as leading brain scientists who present evidence on the real changes in the brain when kids are on screens. SCREENAGERS goes far beyond exposing the risks of screen time, it reveals multiple approaches on how parents and educators can work with kids to help them achieve a healthy amount of screen time.
SCREENAGERS is blazing a new model of distribution. Our community viewing model brings parents and educators together to start a conversation nationwide about how screen time impacts their lives and what they can do about it. As part of the community viewing model, parents, educators, PTAs, religious organizations, medical practices and workplace groups can book their own screenings at www.screenagersmovie.com. Parents are encouraged to bring their kids to the movie.
