Media and the Family

Last week our shop hosted the second annual conference of scholars doing research on the impact of media on the family. Needless to say, this was of great interest to me and I loved hearing what they had to say for two days. My assistant Brad and I picked everyone up from the airport and brought them to campus for the conference. We were able to join in and listen to their presentations, eat meals with them and attend the activities as we organized and ran the conference. It's always interesting to see what visitors have to say about Utah, BYU, and the LDS church. Hopefully we're making some friends for all three.


One of the rising stars in this whole arena is a young professor named S. Coyne. She is doing important research in areas of great importance, since media impacts all of us. She is centering her research on media impacting the family and it is very interesting. I asked her to come to our home and speak to a woman's group I'm involved in last month. She gave such great practical advice for the group and for everyone who is concerned about the huge impact that media is having on our lives. She quickly went over all the ways the media has changed our lives in the last 30 years. As you know, it's been dramatic and invasive in some ways. Just think about the way the smart cell phone, texting, taking pictures and video with the cell phone, emails, Internet use, computers, digital photography, online shopping, TV, cable TV, movies, books, Kindle, video gaming, pornography, Facebook, magazines, etc. etc. etc. having impacted our lives.
She gave some great practical suggestions for families that I wanted to share. Here we go:
1. We can't escape it unless we live in a cave. It's here to stay and we need to learn now to use at least some of the advances that are available. It is changing so fast and we need to stay up to date of as much as we can, especially if we have children who are using media. We must stay informed and involved in their lives and choices in this area. If not it can consume them and it may be very hard to reclaim them from the addictions that can occur.
2. Have someone (probably a child or grandchild) teach you how to use your cell phone, learn to text, get a Facebook page, play a video game or sports Wii and use your TV. Don't be afraid to ask them. This is a good way to let them share what they know and teach you how to use it. Join with them in the use of media. Don't shy away. Play games with them. Get involved, not only to see what they are doing, but to join in the wonderful advances that are taking place. If you can't beat em, join em.
3. Monitor. You MUST monitor media usage. You can't just walk away and not know what they are doing, how long they are doing it, when they are doing it and with whom they are communicating and absorbing media. Again - knowledge is power. Set reasonable limits with time spent watching & content. Talk about content. If you hear or see something offensive to you, say so. Talk about it. Turn it off, but say why you are turning it off. This is a time to instill values. They NEED you to instill values as a parent and grandparent. Take charge and let your children and grandchildren know what your standards are in your home. You MUST set the stage. No one else can do this but you, the parent or grandparent.

Here is some more to read if interested. Talk with your kids today about media in their lives and how it affects them both positively and negatively!

• Guilty parents rejoice: study finds some active video games count as legitimate exercise - see here.
• Video games are good for girls – if parents play along - see here.
• Film and TV aggression rubs off on viewers, BYU study shows -see here.
• Meaner than fiction: Reality TV high on aggression, study shows - see here.