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Media Violence and Community Mobilisation Impacts of Screen Overexposure on Young People's Heath : the Facts, the Damages, the Solutions Montreal, May.

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Presentation on theme: "Media Violence and Community Mobilisation Impacts of Screen Overexposure on Young People's Heath : the Facts, the Damages, the Solutions Montreal, May."— Presentation transcript:

1 Media Violence and Community Mobilisation Impacts of Screen Overexposure on Young People's Heath : the Facts, the Damages, the Solutions Montreal, May 4 th 2011

2 Yet, powerful industries promote unhealthy food and behaviors to them with huge budgets Children & teens asked to become responsible citizens

3 Two groups are obeying opposing interests  On one side, school was created to educate all young people so that they can participate in society  On the other side, TV was created to attract audiences to be sold to advertisers  More people in the audience, higher the price paid by marketers

4 No surprise: screen exposure linked to numerous & various marketing related diseases (MRD) Screen exposure used to turn young people into consumers while schools educate citizens

5 They use most recent knowledge in psychology & neurology to take advantage of their vulnerabilities Marketers pay TV networks expecting them to attract kids & teens primarly as consumers

6 Patrick LeLay, former CEO of TF1, most important TV network in France Purpose of TV: «sell brain time to Coca-Cola» TV must not only attract more viewers......programs must also prepare viewers to welcome commercials

7 7 Research found evidence of screen exposure linked to... Sedentarity, overweight, obesity Aggression, verbal & physical violence Tobacco, drugs & acohol use Poor nutrition, anorexia, boulimia Unhealthy body image & early sexualisation Risky sexual behaviour and attitudes Lost of empathy, compassion Depression, low self esteem Fears, phobias, nightmares, sleep perturbation Criminal car driving School performance and drop-out Attention deficit disorder & hyper-activity

8 8 When advertisers and TV networks informed about MRDs  They deny responsibility  They finance PR efforts to cover their influence & distract the public  They finance media awareness networks that avoid blaming them  They portray themselves as victims of possible censorship by politicians

9 9 Youth violence increasing  Number of elementary school students with behavioural difficulties increased by 300% in 15 years (1985-2000, CSE, QC, Feb 2001)‏  Violent crime rate of 13-17 years old doubled in 20 years + twice as high as adults (Public Safety Dept)

10 10 Canadian Youth Crime Rate (2006) Ron Melchers, Criminology Professor, Ottawa University Trends: minor assaults decrease Trends: minor assaults decrease More serious ones — with weapons — increased More serious ones — with weapons — increased Increase faster w teens 12-17 than other age groups Increase faster w teens 12-17 than other age groups Rate of teens accused of homicide highest since 1961 Rate of teens accused of homicide highest since 1961 Aggravated assaults increased even more Aggravated assaults increased even more

11 11 Non violent and violent crime rates (2006, statcan) Canada's overall crime rate lowest in over 25 years Canada's overall crime rate lowest in over 25 years Youth violent crime rate highest in 45 years Youth violent crime rate highest in 45 years

12 12

13 13 Effect of exposure to media violence Imitation Imitation Dishinibition Dishinibition Approval for violent behaviour Approval for violent behaviour Desensitization (reduction of empathy)‏ Desensitization (reduction of empathy)‏ Conditioning reflexes (videogames rewarding kids for acting without thinking)‏ Conditioning reflexes (videogames rewarding kids for acting without thinking)‏

14 14 Screen exposure vs overweight + obesity (ICIS octobre 2009) ‏   25% of 0-16 years old affected   70% increase in 20 years   Boys + girls both prefer TV more than other screens   Girls prefer computers as 2 nd choice   Boys video games

15 15

16 16 From a public health point of view Julie Mandeville, Statcan, Le Devoir «Cheaper to attract people away from TV than favoring physical activity»

17 17 TV lowers metabolism Statcan june 2008/E nergy spent w 6 activities Unpacking grocery 2,5 Typing / computer 1,8 Play cards 1,5 Reading 1,3 Watching TV 1,0 Sleeping 0,9

18 18 Efforts by Civil Society For over ½ century, parents, teachers, scientists, health professionals, academics For over ½ century, parents, teachers, scientists, health professionals, academics Researched, documented, petitioned Researched, documented, petitioned Requested legislation to regulate the use of media violence to entertain (abuse) children Requested legislation to regulate the use of media violence to entertain (abuse) children As in most fields of human activity, legislation seemed most efficient way to reduce child abusive advertising & entertainment As in most fields of human activity, legislation seemed most efficient way to reduce child abusive advertising & entertainment Most efforts have been ignored, silenced, countered, neutralised, ridiculed, blocked Most efforts have been ignored, silenced, countered, neutralised, ridiculed, blocked WHY and HOW ? WHY and HOW ?

19 19 Media industry : powerful enough to block child protection legislation By lobbying and bullying public deciders By lobbying and bullying public deciders By accusing opponents of favouring censorship and endangering freedom of expression By accusing opponents of favouring censorship and endangering freedom of expression By promising codes of conduct & self regulation as smokescreens while increasing toxic doses By promising codes of conduct & self regulation as smokescreens while increasing toxic doses By using the V-Chip as a way to transfer responsibility for monitoring public airwaves to (individual) parents By using the V-Chip as a way to transfer responsibility for monitoring public airwaves to (individual) parents By funding media literacy organisations as part of a strategy to protect corporate image and countering independent media education initiatives By funding media literacy organisations as part of a strategy to protect corporate image and countering independent media education initiatives By blaming parents for not raising their kids properly By blaming parents for not raising their kids properly

20 20 1996, Dr Thomas N. Robinson Health Research Center Stanford University: SMART program Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television 4-5 th graders, San Jose, California 4-5 th graders, San Jose, California Results published in 2000 Results published in 2000 Journal of the American Medical Association Journal of the American Medical Association

21 21 Reduction of screen time exposure Helped decrease physical + verbal violence by 40-50% Helped decrease physical + verbal violence by 40-50% Prevent obesity Prevent obesity Decrease kids’ request for toys (nag factor)‏ Decrease kids’ request for toys (nag factor)‏

22 22 10-Day Screen-Free Challenge created in Québec in April 2003 (inspired by SMART)‏ Public Safety Departments of Canada and Québec funded the Parents Association of Quebec + Appalache Public Safety Departments of Canada and Québec funded the Parents Association of Quebec + Appalache 11 elementary schools experienced the Challenge 2003-04 + one high school 11 elementary schools experienced the Challenge 2003-04 + one high school Evaluation by parents, students & teachers made public in June 2004 Evaluation by parents, students & teachers made public in June 2004

23 23 Winning strategy includes Teachers and parents agree with joint game plan Teachers and parents agree with joint game plan 3 competencies for children 3 competencies for children Capacity of expression (emotions and opinions)‏ Critical viewing skills Empathy & compassion

24 24 Game plan for screen reduction Students introduced to new game Students introduced to new game Students of whole school belong to the same team Students of whole school belong to the same team Opponents include all screens: TV, video game, computer, Gameboy Opponents include all screens: TV, video game, computer, Gameboy Students face pros working behind screens for 2 industries Students face pros working behind screens for 2 industries

25 25 Preparing the Screen-Free Challenge requires : 3 months training 3 months training 3 workshops with all students 3 workshops with all students 3 presentations with teachers + staff members 3 presentations with teachers + staff members Follow up activities by teachers with their class ‏ Follow up activities by teachers with their class ‏ 3 workshops with parents 3 workshops with parents Parents & community offered to help students win the game Parents & community offered to help students win the game

26 26 K-3 students training workshops 4 exercises to become BRAVE : tell (fear, anger, pain) console, answer, click fear out) 4 exercises to become BRAVE : tell (fear, anger, pain) console, answer, click fear out) Follow-up by teachers (each morning + after recess)‏ Follow-up by teachers (each morning + after recess)‏ Class activities (drawing a movie scene that scared me, drawing myself exercising to become brave) Class activities (drawing a movie scene that scared me, drawing myself exercising to become brave) Cooperation between older and younger students Cooperation between older and younger students

27 27 Workshops with 3-6 th graders Analogy between bacteria carried by food and by media: television, video game, music videos, film videos, songs. Analogy between bacteria carried by food and by media: television, video game, music videos, film videos, songs. Introducing 3 major bacteria : V V, P V, Fear. How do they find their way into us ? Where do they hide ? Introducing 3 major bacteria : V V, P V, Fear. How do they find their way into us ? Where do they hide ? Students search for intoxicated productions in 4 categories and pick the most influential in their own school & community Students search for intoxicated productions in 4 categories and pick the most influential in their own school & community Students offered to classify some of media teachers such as : Howard Stern, Jackie Chan, Jerry Springer, Jackass, Rambo, 50 Cent, Bart Simpson, Terminator, Snoop Dog, Britney Spears, Eminem, South Park, American Pie, etc. Students offered to classify some of media teachers such as : Howard Stern, Jackie Chan, Jerry Springer, Jackass, Rambo, 50 Cent, Bart Simpson, Terminator, Snoop Dog, Britney Spears, Eminem, South Park, American Pie, etc. Students write most frequent verbal abuse heard everyday in their own school resulting from desensitization by MEVE Students write most frequent verbal abuse heard everyday in their own school resulting from desensitization by MEVE

28 28 Workshops / 7-12 graders a) Analogy between Titanic and human brains. b) Underestimating the non visible part of icegerg (power of media) and overestimating the resistance of ship (your brain). c) Media include television, videogame, music video, movies, radio, advertising, etc. d) Introducing 3 major bacteria carried in kids: V V, P V, Fear: how did they find their way into us, where did they hide ? e) Introducing 3 more bacteria with teens : sexism, racism, consumerism. f) Students search for intoxicated productions in 4 categories and name the most influential. g) Students offered to classify Howard Stern, Jackie Chan, Eminem, South Park, Jerry Springer, Jackass, Rambo, 50 Cent, Terminator, Snoop Dog, Britney Spears, Visa ads, WWE, etc. h) Workshops include frequent pauses allowing students to talk & write their own answers. i) Students write the most frequent hurting words heard everyday in their school resulting from desensitization. j) Students testify about kids, teens & adults imitating models used by media to attract viewers: language, behaviour, clothing, food, alcohol & smoking, etc.‏ k) What could a bystander do if not desensitized ? Advice to aggressors, targets, bystanders, teachers, principal, police. l) What could our school choose to do to improve empathy ? m) How could we, as a community, oppose the commercial culture used to abuse children and reduce empathy in society ?

29 29 Impacts of the 10-Day Challenge was evaluated by students, parents and staff J-R Elementary School

30 30 Number of answers 653 children attended J-R in 2007 653 children attended J-R in 2007 Kindergarten : 159/180 parents Kindergarten : 159/180 parents 1-6th grade : 193 parents 1-6th grade : 193 parents 3-6 th grade : 249 students 3-6 th grade : 249 students Total : 352 parents, 249 students, 41 staff Total : 352 parents, 249 students, 41 staff

31 31 Participation in the Challenge and success in the turn-off 96,5% of students participated 96,5% of students participated Average performance: 8.8 days Average performance: 8.8 days Two thirds of students succeeded in turning off all screens for 10 days Two thirds of students succeeded in turning off all screens for 10 days

32 32 Was the Challenge found to be useful ? (N = 336 Parents, 243 children, 39 staff)

33 33 Mood of Children during the Challenge in % (n = 335 parents, 240 children, 38 staff)

34 34 Physical activity & sports / Reading (n = 335 parents, 246 children, 321 parents)‏ Physical activity & sports / Reading (n = 335 parents, 246 children, 321 parents)‏

35 35 Parents and staff (%) noticed improvement of children’s health and well being ?

36 36 Did the Challenge modify children’s involvement in family chores ?

37 37 Attention of children in class, parents implication w the Challenge and quality of homework (n = 26 staff)‏

38 38 Homework quality improved ? (N= 299 parents, 238 children, 18 staff)‏

39 39 Increase of time spent together (parents-children) according to P & C, and time spent w friends (P) in %

40 40 Reduction of fights and mean words at school / home (N=235, 233, 239, 235 children) in %

41 41 Physical violence and verbal violence in class and during recess according to staff in % (N=34-31)‏

42 42 Increased children’s critical viewing skills (33 staff and 303 parents) in %

43 43 Exposure to TV and videogames (%) following the 10 days (n = 244 c 326 p)‏

44 44 Parents agree to keep exposure under 7 hours per week (N=313)‏

45 45 Would they repeat the Challenge ?

46 46 Good news For parents (empowers family government) For parents (empowers family government) For teachers (better learning + less time for conflicts + learning conditions improved)‏ For teachers (better learning + less time for conflicts + learning conditions improved)‏ For children and teens (better viewing skills, more awareness, better protection)‏ For children and teens (better viewing skills, more awareness, better protection)‏ Researchers (studies known by the public)‏ Researchers (studies known by the public)‏ For activists (reducing toxic influence of media, more responsibility for public deciders)‏ For activists (reducing toxic influence of media, more responsibility for public deciders)‏ Benefits to be shared across North America and Europe Benefits to be shared across North America and Europe

47 47 Thank you ! Impacts of Screen Overexposure on Young People's Health: the Facts, the Damages, the Solutions Impacts of Screen Overexposure on Young People's Health: the Facts, the Damages, the Solutions Montreal, May 4-6, 2011 http://screenoverdoseconf.edupax.org Comments and questions welcome at JBrodeur@edupax.org


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