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SCREENAGERS documentary exposes risks of screen time

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
January 28th, 2020

Screens are everywhere.

The L.V. Rogers Advisory Council along with Kootenay Lake School District 8 Parent Advisory Council would like to encourage students, parents and the public to view the feature documentary SCREENAGERS — Growing Up in The Digital Age Wednesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Theatre in Nelson.

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.

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 hers ocial 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.

Cost is by donation.

Following the showing there will be a post-screening panel for discussion following includes: 

  • Kari Kroker (LVR English teacher)  
  • Javier Gonzalez Plasencia (SD8 Schools Mental Health and Addictions Coordinator, B.S.W.C.W.S., M.A. Couns. Psychology)
  • Nicole LeBihan (art therapist who works with parents)
  • Scott Rothermel (SD8 Manager of Safe Schools)
  • Liz Amaral (counselor with parents), 
  • Danny Leeming (teacher with leadership in tech)

Facilitating the evening and panel discussion are Jodi Berman and Cate Baio.

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