Is the increasing exposure to daily media such as TV, video games and computers affecting the concentration levels of U.S. children? This disturbing question prompted the Kaiser Family Foundation to conduct a study to find the answer.

A growing complaint among teachers and school psychologists is that it is becoming more and more difficult to hold their students' attention. An expectation from young children has emerged--be constantly entertained or lose interest. Experts stated that diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are skyrocketing and some teachers attribute this exploding epidemic to the effects of the fast-paced media.

Children Easily Distracted

Whether it's the creaking of the air vents or someone talking, children are showing more signs of inability to focus on one task at a time. Teachers have noticed that children's attention spans are decreasing along with their ability to perform organizational tasks.

Studies conducted with college students revealed that when it comes to multi-tasking, mental performance is particularly poor.

"Generation M: Media Study in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds" uncovered the following statistics:

• TVs are on most of the time according to 51 percent of those polled
• Fifty-three percent have no rules about TV viewing
• Sixty-three percent say the TV is usually on during meals
• Boys spend 72 minutes a day on average playing video games
• Black children spend more than four hours in front of the tube every day

The Need For Good Research on Children and the Media

One pediatrician pointed out that children's exposure to violent video games and TV have been found to encourage aggressive types of behavior. He also reported that the more TV a child watched the higher the likelihood that they would become overweight.

One major stumbling block in helping children sort out the advertising claims and the negative effects of the media is the lack of "media literacy" programs in schools.

Experts emphasized that the problem of the media required not only more in-depth studies but also further involvement from parents setting examples for their children on how to make good choices.

Kaiser Family Foundation March 9, 2005 (Free Full-Text PDF)

USA Today March 31, 2005