Q: My fourteen-year-old wants to watch the new season of 13 Reasons Why. Although she read the book, I didn’t allow her to watch the first season, given the controversy surrounding its depiction of suicide. I’m thinking that it might be ok for her to watch now that she is in high school and because… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Teens
Can my teen be charged for a crime based on what she texts to her friends?
Es En Espanol Q: I recently read that a young woman was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for texting a friend to kill himself. I find this case incredibly concerning because the girl who was convicted was only 17 at the time and my own teens text each other in ways that could be easily misinterpreted. For example,… Read more »
How can I get my 14-year-old to stop singing the same pop song over and over again?
Q: My 14 year old son keeps singing Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You, around the house, in the car, at the dinner table, etc. He loves to sing and was just accepted into his new high school’s elite chorale group for next year. While I want to support his creative endeavors, I also recognize that singing Shape… Read more »
Can media use cause teens to be unhappy with their bodies and contribute to eating disorders?
Es En Espanol Q: You have mentioned research showing that using certain media can make teens sad and/or anxious and that there are also studies linking negative feelings to unhealthy eating habits. Therefore, do you think that negative feelings resulting from teens’ media use, as opposed to real-life events, can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors? ~ Starving for… Read more »
I’m 14 and masturbate on webcam for strangers, how can I stop?
Q: I’m 14 and have had this bad habit for a while now, almost a year; I masturbate on webcam for total strangers. My mom’s caught me before, but that didn’t stop me. But now it’s taken control of my life. Like last week, on the last day of school, I masturbated in the boys’… Read more »
Is technology decreasing kids’ ability to communicate face-to-face?
Q: As a mother and a student examining media as a social issue, I’m concerned that technology is decreasing youth’s ability to communicate face-to-face, largely because most of their communication and activities are done through a screen. Is there evidence for this concern? ~ Face Facts, Bridgeport, CT A: Dear Face, Young people walk hand… Read more »
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
If you know a young person who has experienced bullying or cyberbullying, National Bullying Prevention Month is a great opportunity to share resources. PACER (Parents Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights), a non-profit parent training and information center, created National Bullying Prevention Month as a way to promote awareness of the issue. PACER provides a wealth… Read more »
September is Pain Management Awareness Month
September is Pain Management Awareness Month. The American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) established this annual campaign in 2001 to raise awareness through mass media and public forums, and by forming a coalition to increase understanding within the health care community and among families struggling with pain management. Virtual reality headsets are often used to distract… Read more »
Since moving, my teen son spends a lot of time connecting with his old friends through media instead of making new friends – what should I do?
Q: Our family moved recently from the U.S. to Mexico for my husband’s job, and while most things have been transitioning smoothly, I am concerned that my 14-year-old son is spending too much time with screens and not enough time making friends. Since moving, he spends a lot of time Skyping or playing video games… Read more »
What Can I do to Protect My Kids from Seeing Inappropriate Fashion Catalogues?
Q: I recently received the Spring 2015 Catalog from the department store Barneys New York. The catalog was sent to my house without any envelope or sleeve to protect it from being opened by kids, even though it contains pictures that I believe are inappropriate for young children. What can be done to prevent such… Read more »