The essential message from Raising Generation Tech is that excessive or unguided exposure to popular culture and technology is not good for children. Rather than offering the usual ‘end of days’ scenario, Dr. Taylor offers a balanced perspective that provides parents with the insights and practical information they need to ensure that popular culture and technology are tools that benefit their children rather than weapons that hurt them. Dr. Taylor explores the benefits and risks of growing up online, and discusses important topics for parents such as:
- Internet addiction – Children today spend an average of more than 7 ½ hours a day in front of a screen (not including school-related activities). Research indicates that Internet addiction has similar neurophysiological effects as do addictions to drugs, alcohol, and gambling.
- Facebook depression – A growing number of children experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression when they compare their number of “friends,” photos, and status messages with their peers.
- Parents Must Learn Technology– When it comes to social media children are often the experts. Parents must actively learn how to use social media and understand the messages it sends children. This helps parents assume the role of teacher, rather than being left out of the equation all together.
- Teach Kids to be Healthy Skeptics- Children should be critical thinkers who don’t accept popular culture and technology at face value. Parents can teach children to become healthy skeptics by discussing social media and pop culture with them. This discussion will help children understand the difference between positive and negative messages and allow them to make healthy choices.
- Be a Technology Role Model- If parents spend a lot of time reading celebrity magazines, watching Reality TV, or playing video games, their children will also. Parents must reflect on their own relationship with popular culture and technology and decide if it is benefiting or harming their children, then become role models to promote a healthy relationship with both.
About the Author
Jim Taylor, Ph.D., Psychology, has consulted with young people, parents, and educators for more than 27 years. He has been a speaker at hundreds of elementary and secondary schools, education associations, youth-sports programs, and performing-arts organizations around the world.
Jim is the author of 14 books, four of which are parenting books including Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child, Your Children are Under Attack: How Popular Culture is Destroying Your Kids' Values, and How You Can Protect Them, Your Children are Listening: 9 Messages They Need to Hear from You, and, now, Raising Generation Tech: Prepare Your Children for a Media-fueled World. He publishes Prime Family Alert!, a bi-monthly e-newsletter and blogs on parenting for psychologytoday.com, huffingtonpost.com, and other websites around the U.S.
Jim has appeared on NBC's Today Show, Fox News Channel, ABC's World News This Weekend, and the major television network affiliates around the country. He has participated in many radio shows. Dr. Taylor has been an expert source for articles that have appeared in The London Telegraph, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Outside, Men's Health, and many other newspapers and magazines.
Jim lives north of San Francisco with his wife, Sarah, and his daughters, Catie and Gracie.
Jim can be followed on Facebook and Twitter. You can view Jim's interviews and video newsletters on his YouTube channel. To learn more, visit www.drjimtaylor.com.
My Take on the Book
This was a great book that opened my eyes to the many disturbing trends that are becoming prevalent in the world today with the overuse of technology in all of our lives. I am constantly trying to be a good role model in this regard (though I fail sometimes) and this book provides some very sage wisdom for any parent in traversing the world of technology with children. The book was engaging and interesting and I found myself wanting to keep reading as each chapter went by. The author provides some very practical advice for parents to follow and I found myself taking note and starting to weave in some of the ideas into my own family life. This was a great book for all parents of young children today!
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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