Documentaries such as Delaney Ruston's Screenagers (2016) and Screenagers 2: The Next Chapter (2019) have addressed the impact of online/internet/social-meda and pathologies on adolescent users, seemingly mesmerized by their phones or devices. One difference with filmmaker Paul Zehrer's #Kids on Tech is a truly international embrace—interviewing experts around the world—plus asking how the glued-to-the-screen syndrome affects even far younger, developing humans.
The present adult generation, declares one interviewee, is the first to grapple with digital technologies and the dilemma of being screen-addicted (an arguable proposition, especially for those who remember television); thus, imagine how bad the lack of resources is for immature young minds. "Smart phones interfere with brain development," flatly declares Dr. Manfred Spitzer, one of numerous authors and child experts interviewed.
In addition to worry for the very young and early-wired, viewers hear from older children and teens who describe the damaging role that Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok etc. have played in their self-image and relationships.
A noteworthy piece of evidence produced is the Waldorf School in Orange County, a private school that has actually banished computers and "smart" devices from the classroom. Many Silicon-Valley types are said to have chosen to enroll their offspring. One mom (whose household income derives from Google) exults that her children will grow up knowing they should be masters of the new technology, not slaves.
But, ironically, this feat was pulled off by an "elite" institution. Most schools with lesser budgets (or vision) routinely issue free Chromebooks or laptops for student use, which only aggravates the problem of too much time spent on the web. Frequent breaks from the digital world are recommended, a question of balance.
Even with the compelling evidence and statistics, there is a mildly alarmist tone pervading, with a preponderance of German-accent authorities who could have come right of old New Yorker cartoons or Second City sketches about the psychiatric community (for those of you who don't know what New Yorker cartoons or Second City sketches are, um, search online). It's still early to call how much the cyber-phobia over young users is warranted—some might remember similar hang-wringing over the evil influences of comic books or Harry Potter novels. But this spells out the concerns.
What public library shelves would this title be on?
Childcare and technology shelves both look like good memory banks.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
Psychology (especially as pertains to child development), and perhaps family issues/Social Work, are good placement. Curriculum dealing with the impact of high technology on society could also boot this up.
What type of classroom would this documentary resource be suitable for?
Even the full version is suitable for most one-hour classroom sessions, with a 30-minute abridged version leaving room for discussion, at junior-high level and up.