A new study shows that media usage among today’s 8-18 year olds has increased to an average of seven hours and thirty-eight minutes per day.
That figure is dramatically from 2004 results, which showed an average total of six hours and twenty-one minutes, reports the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds (PDF) still showed TV as the dominant form of media, with four hours and twenty-nine minutes consumed daily on average, with videogames weighing in at one hour and thirteen minutes of daily usage. Boys were also more likely to spend longer periods playing console games than girls, averaging fifty-six minutes a day versus fourteen for girls. PC game usage showed similar results, with boys averaging twenty-five minutes a day and girls a paltry eight minutes.
Only 30% of kids surveyed indicated that their household has rules in place for what videogames they can play, versus a 46.0% figure when it came to limiting television shows.
The study also showed at least a bit of a link between heavy media usage and poor grades, as 47.0% of “heavy” media users reported receiving “fair or poor” grades, versus 23.0% of “light” media users.
71.0% of the youngsters polled said they had a TV in their bedroom and 50.0% had their own videogame console.
Drew Altman, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation added, “The amount of time young people spend with media has grown to where it's even more than a full-time work week.”
56.0% of those polled indicated they had played an entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, versus 71.0% for Guitar Hero/Rock Band and 47.0% for Halo and Madden.
Comments
Re: Study: Media Usage Among Kids Almost a Full Time Job
Let the kids have fun!!!!!!!!! Geez!!!! They don't need to worry about being asked questions for a poll. & I don't know about the grades being low by playing a lot of games. But of course if the kids do play more games than study, then yes the kid will have poor or fair grades.
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Re: Study: Media Usage Among Kids Almost a Full Time Job
A few missing details are that those classified as heavy media users, spend more than 16 hours in a typical day. Heavy media users comprised 21% of their sample. So, it makes intuitive sense that heavy media users are not concentrating their time and effort on academics.
Fortunately, two-thirds of the sample are moderate users (spends 3-16 hours on media per day). Their grade ratios are not different from the light users. So, we can spend a reasonable amount of time on media without grades being adversely affected. A few things, like good time management, self-control and social support, etc. are in order not to go overboard.
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Re: Study: Media Usage Among Kids Almost a Full Time Job
Lol, once again, they're being a little biased in their reports. xD
Well.... if not biased, at least just leaving out the important facts. Either way, it's pretty much universally agreed that TOO much tv/media is not good for anybody...... well, maybe surgeons. They need the dexterity from video games. xD
Re: Study: Media Usage Among Kids Almost a Full Time Job
This seems legitimate. It's common sense that if kids are playing video games 6 to 8 hours a day they are probably not doing their homework or they are doing it half-assed. It's been mentioned before but the key is moderation. Doing anything an excessive amount is never a good thing. Parents if they're worried should keep a better eye on their children like no T.V.'s and computers in the room and forcing them to go outside and play rather then sit on their asses all day watching T.V., movies, playing video games, ect.
"No law means no law" - Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on the First Amendment
Re: Study: Media Usage Among Kids Almost a Full Time Job
Well yah when kids are young they spend a lot of time having fun as a full time job...and then we grow up and then we get a job
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