New Study Says We Spend 25 Days a Year Watching Videos Online
What? According to techgaged.com, internet users ages 16 and up are spending an average of 11 hours and 34 minutes weekly watching videos (such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram) online. For those who don’t want to do the math, that’s 25 days out of the year.
So What? Percentagewise, some might not consider that a huge total. Less than 7%, in fact. However, when you add in additional time spent engaging with other forms of social media, watching TV (including streaming platforms), playing video games (including mobile games) and reading news articles online, that weekly average becomes 38 and a half hours spent looking at screens. That’s practically a full-time job. And it’s more than a fifth of your entire year.
Now What? Teens were included in this survey, but they weren’t its primary focus—which makes those online video-viewing averages all the more concerning. Parents need to be setting the example here. You can hardly expect a teenager to learn the value of taking a break from screens if you can’t do it yourself. So take some time to evaluate your family’s screentime (starting with your own), and perhaps seek some non-digital alternatives.
‘Polyphonic Perception’ Trend Sparks Debate on Social Media
What? Earlier this month, a TikToker uploaded a video claiming that ADHD gave her a “super power of polyphonic perception,” allowing her to separate individual layers of melody within a song. (In this case, the track “From Time” by Drake.)
So What? That video, as well as other videos tagged “polyphonic perception,” went viral this week as the internet debated whether this influencer’s discovery was real or not. And the responses ranged from sympathetic to cruel.
Now What? This trend unpacks three separate, but overlapping, issues. The first is how quickly commenters were to mock and ridicule the influencer. That, in and of itself, is a problem parents should be mindful of. Remind your children that even if they believe the woman is wrong, it doesn’t require a harsh rebuttal. Second, for those who could relate to the influencer (or said they could), it demonstrates how much people, especially teens, yearn to feel special and to feel like they belong. If a perceived quirk will set them apart, teens might cling to that, hoping it will both set them apart and help them find others like them. And finally, if your children look into the origin of the trend and find that song by Drake, they might be exposed to some harsh profanities in the lyrics.
Survey Says 31% of Teens Prefer AI Friends
What? A new survey by Common Sense Media found that 72% of teens have used AI companions at least once, with 52% interacting with them at least a few times a month and 33% saying they use AI for social interactions and relationships.
So What? Of those teens, 8% admitted they use AI “for romantic or flirtatious interactions,” and 9% said their AI companion was “a friend or best friend.” But a staggering 31% of teens found that conversations with AI companions are “as satisfying or more satisfying than those with real-life friends.”
Now What? Besides just general curiosity about the technology, teens said that AI companions are “always available,” “don’t judge” and help them “feel less lonely.” But parents may have a unique opportunity to step in and fill those needs. An AI bot is programmed to give the response it believes the user is searching for—which is probably why teens feel less judged when talking to a chatbot. But rather than try to explain why AI companions are so amiable, simply take the opportunity to be there. Listen to your child. Don’t judge or try to “fix” anything. Remind them that they aren’t alone and that you love them.
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