In a sea of algorithms, PBS KIDS still puts children first

At a time when concern about adolescent mental wellness and the influence of digital technologies is front and center federal funding cuts to PBS KIDS is not just shortsighted it puts kids at greater hazard in an already challenging media landscape Supporters policymakers and educators across the state are sounding alarms about the impact of social media and equipment on teenagers Yet media s influence on advancing minds doesn t begin at age The youngest among us are no strangers to hardware According to newly distributed figures from Common Sense Media children are getting their own devices at younger ages and are spending more time watching videos including short-form content like YouTube Shorts Reels and TikTok This matters I ve spent nearly two decades working with Minnesota families committed to maximizing the benefits and minimizing the harms of media on kids One truth has dependably guided that work Whoever tells the stories defines the heritage This isn t new to But algorithmically driven content is rapidly taking over media time for young children often prioritizing engagement over quality and delivering stories that lack developmental intention cultural richness and social-emotional depth A new systematic review of one hundred studies on screen use and emotional or cognitive enhancement in kids ages - reinforces this point The stories young children see in media matter Exposure to more age-inappropriate content e g violent or mature content was associated with worse outcomes The good news Educational shows or those focused on social-emotional skills were associated with stronger literacy skills and healthier emotional enhancement Parents are doing their best to deal with the sometimes crushing demands of work care responsibilities and a media landscape flooded with unvetted and sometimes harmful content It s not that great content doesn t exist elsewhere but expecting parents to sort through an ocean of algorithmic recommendations in search of something safe and meaningful is unfair and unrealistic That s what makes PBS KIDS so essential It doesn t just fill gaps left by inadequate systems of care and encouragement for families it does so with content designed specifically for children s developmental necessities It is a rare safe playground in a media landscape where the bulk companies prioritize profits over children s well-being It s no wonder PBS has been the preponderance trusted media organization in this country for twenty-two consecutive years In Fred Rogers famously testified before Congress to advocate for funding calling masses media an expression of care for children He emphasized the role constituents media can play in helping children understand their emotions I feel that if we in populace television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable we will have done a great utility for mental soundness Erin Walsh Credit Submitted photo The benefits of these positive media experiences last A fresh inquiry by the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA detected that nearly twelve years after its debut adolescents still remember Daniel Tiger s Neighborhood as a show that helped them learn social-emotional and life skills Building on the legacy of Mister Rogers Neighborhood the show s creators collaborate with developmental psychologists and early learning experts to ensure the show teaches young children essential life skills such as empathy and emotional regulation skills that predict better mental strength and academic outcomes for kids Policymakers can t wring their hands about teens tech and mental wellbeing on one hand and with the other cut our majority trusted and accessible source of safe developmentally appropriate content for the children Defunding PBS KIDS is not a neutral budget decision It is a clear announcement about what we value We have an opportunity to tell an significant story to kids one that reflects our care for them and the teenagers they will become Erin Walsh is the author of It s Their World Teens Screens and the Science of Adolescence and a co-founder of Minneapolis-based Spark Stitch Institute The post In a sea of algorithms PBS KIDS still puts children first appeared first on MinnPost