Carson Tahoe Health sponsors documentary on screen-time effects

With the sponsored support of Carson Tahoe Health, the Carson City School District will host two evening showings of the 60-minute documentary titled “Screenagers” Thursday at the recently remodeled Bob Boldrick Theatre in the Carson City Community Center. The two showings, beginning at 5:30 and 7 p.m., will be free and open to the public. Parents are encouraged to bring their children.

“The goal of showing this documentary to our community is to bring parents, children and educators together to help start healthy conversations about how screen time impacts their lives,” said Michelle Joy, interim CEO, VP and COO for Carson Tahoe Health. “We (Carson Tahoe Health) felt this presentation would help parents, educators, PTAs, religious organizations, medical practices and workplace groups begin to have those important and deep conversation well before other negative outcomes begin to impact our local mental health resources and ultimately our emergency rooms.”

“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.

“The Carson City School District has made a concerted effort to educate our students, parents, and families about responsible use of technology to enhance learning,” said Dr. LeAnn Morris, lead technology integration specialist with the Carson City School District. “This is the second time we’ve been able to show the ‘Screenagers’ documentary to our students and community. In February 2017, our schools funded the cost of the event, but now with growing concerns to promote optimal wellness for all students, many others are stepping up.”

This documentary and the recent #SaveTheKids event and assemblies have been made possible by generous community partners.

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. The film will introduce 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 and 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.