The report also emphasizes the importance of teaching teens to identify AI-generated content and the difference between paid promotions and personal recommendations. It reiterates the importance of screen time limits, stating that excessive screen time can lead to lost opportunities in other activities crucial for adolescent development. The APA does not provide a specific screen time limit in this report, but it is suggested that families find screen time rules that work for them and be flexible as needs may change as kids grow up.
Key takeaways:
- The American Psychological Association has released new research-based recommendations for families with teenagers, particularly those dealing with video consumption, outlining the risks and potential hazards of videos for kids and strategies for mitigating them.
- The APA advises teens to limit viewing videos that encourage violent or risky behaviors and/or reinforces negative stereotypes, and instead view more content that promotes empathy, learning, emotional well-being and joy.
- As AI services improve, it's getting harder to identify what's AI-generated content and what's created by a real human. The APA emphasizes the importance of teaching teens to question the content they see, recognize the difference between a paid promotion and a personal recommendation, and understand the role of influencers and platforms in promoting healthy content.
- The APA reiterates that screen time limits are still important for teens, as excessive screen time can lead to lost opportunities in other activities critical for adolescent development, such as sleep, physical exercise, hobbies, and in-person social interactions.