Sneaky Ways Video Apps Keep Teens Watching
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How Social Media & Video Apps Keep You Hooked (For Students & Parents)
Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here
Student Discussion Topics
- What keeps you watching or wanting to go back to an app?
- How do you feel when you realize you’ve spent more time on an app than you planned?
- Can you think of any other tactics apps use to keep your attention and keep you scrolling?
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here
Student Discussion Topics
- What keeps you watching or wanting to go back to an app?
- How do you feel when you realize you’ve spent more time on an app than you planned?
- Can you think of any other tactics apps use to keep your attention and keep you scrolling?
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
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How Social Media & Video Apps Keep You Hooked (For Students & Parents)
Why Kids Can't Stop Scrolling (For Students & Parents)
Student Discussion Topics
- Evaluating Your Content
- How would you rate what you watch online on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being “only watch things I care about” and 1 being “whatever shows up on the screen”?
- The Attraction of Video Apps
- What keeps you watching or wanting to go back to an app?
- Compelling or Compulsive?
- What do you think makes certain videos or apps so hard to stop watching once you start?
Student Discussion Topics
- Evaluating Your Content
- How would you rate what you watch online on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being “only watch things I care about” and 1 being “whatever shows up on the screen”?
- The Attraction of Video Apps
- What keeps you watching or wanting to go back to an app?
- Compelling or Compulsive?
- What do you think makes certain videos or apps so hard to stop watching once you start?
Why Kids Can't Stop Scrolling (For Students & Parents)
Why Are Video Apps So Addictive? (For Students & Parents)
Student Discussion Topics
- Two Sides of Video Apps
- What are some pros and cons of your experience with video apps?
- Understanding the Algorithm
- How do you think the videos that show up in your feed are chosen for you?
- Taking Back Control
- How could you change the way you consume content on social media so that it’s more aligned with your interests and makes you feel energized?
Student Discussion Topics
- Two Sides of Video Apps
- What are some pros and cons of your experience with video apps?
- Understanding the Algorithm
- How do you think the videos that show up in your feed are chosen for you?
- Taking Back Control
- How could you change the way you consume content on social media so that it’s more aligned with your interests and makes you feel energized?
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Why Are Video Apps So Addictive? (For Students & Parents)
How Kids Reset Their Screen Time
Student Discussion Topics
- Knowing When to Move On
- Describe a scenario where you might decide you’ve spent too much time looking at a screen (either while you’re on it or after you’ve gotten off)
- Screen Burnout
- How do you feel when you realize you’ve spent more time on an app than you planned?
- Managing Your Time
- What strategies do you think would be most effective in managing how much time you spend on screens?
Student Discussion Topics
- Knowing When to Move On
- Describe a scenario where you might decide you’ve spent too much time looking at a screen (either while you’re on it or after you’ve gotten off)
- Screen Burnout
- How do you feel when you realize you’ve spent more time on an app than you planned?
- Managing Your Time
- What strategies do you think would be most effective in managing how much time you spend on screens?
How Kids Reset Their Screen Time
From Screen Time to Self-Discovery
Student Discussion Topics
Can’t Put It Down
Why is it so easy to spend hours on social media without really meaning to?
Unhealthy Content
What kinds of content that you don’t want to seeor don’t think is healthy have shown up in your social media feeds?
Effects of Overindulging in Social Media
How could consuming too much social media have anegative effect on someone’s mental health, and what underlying problems mightexacerbate that?
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
Student Discussion Topics
Can’t Put It Down
Why is it so easy to spend hours on social media without really meaning to?
Unhealthy Content
What kinds of content that you don’t want to seeor don’t think is healthy have shown up in your social media feeds?
Effects of Overindulging in Social Media
How could consuming too much social media have anegative effect on someone’s mental health, and what underlying problems mightexacerbate that?
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
From Screen Time to Self-Discovery
How to set up Apple Screen Time (For Parents)
Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here
Student Discussion Topics
What limits can we agree on as a family about the positive use of video apps and social media?
What issues, if any, do you have about using Apple ScreenTime as a family, and can we talk those through?
What are some goals we can set to move towards easing restrictions on your video app and social media use?
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here
Student Discussion Topics
What limits can we agree on as a family about the positive use of video apps and social media?
What issues, if any, do you have about using Apple ScreenTime as a family, and can we talk those through?
What are some goals we can set to move towards easing restrictions on your video app and social media use?
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
How to set up Apple Screen Time (For Parents)
How Video Apps Pull You In (For Students & Parents)
Student Discussion Topics
Middle School Students (Dialogue Starters):
Social Media and Time Management
- How long do you think you can reasonably spend online without it interfering with other priorities?
Exploring New Avenues
- What things are you interested in that you might add to your social media feed to make it more productive?
Balancing Screen & Life Time
- Knowing your own habits, what tips do you think would help you reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone?
Student Discussion Topics
Middle School Students (Dialogue Starters):
Social Media and Time Management
- How long do you think you can reasonably spend online without it interfering with other priorities?
Exploring New Avenues
- What things are you interested in that you might add to your social media feed to make it more productive?
Balancing Screen & Life Time
- Knowing your own habits, what tips do you think would help you reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone?
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How Video Apps Pull You In (For Students & Parents)
Tricks Video Apps Use to Keep You Watching (For Parents)
Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here
Key Takeaways:
- TikTok and other video-based apps feature algorithms designed to keep kids on the app for as long as possible, which is key to their profitability
- Short videos can give users a dopamine spike that can make short-video features on social media addictive while shortening students’ attention span
- Turning off autoplay features can help users avoid mindless viewing
- When students make conscious choices of what to watch on social media, they’re more likely to engage their minds and choose content they care about
Dialogue Starters:
Parents of Elementary School Students (to ask students)
Tell Me About TikTok
- Have you watched TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, and if so, what makes them fun for you?
Parents of Middle School Students (to ask students)
Mindful Social-Media Consumption
- If you’re on TikTok, what kinds of videos do you look for—or do you watch whatever pops up?
Parents of High School Students (to ask students)
Talking About Time Management
- How do you balance the amount of time you spend on TikTok and other social media with your other priorities?
More resources for parents, students, & educators
- Best Screen Time Apps for Students
- Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact
- 10 Screen Time Management Tips to Prevent Addiction
- Balancing Video Game Screen Time for Teens
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here
Key Takeaways:
- TikTok and other video-based apps feature algorithms designed to keep kids on the app for as long as possible, which is key to their profitability
- Short videos can give users a dopamine spike that can make short-video features on social media addictive while shortening students’ attention span
- Turning off autoplay features can help users avoid mindless viewing
- When students make conscious choices of what to watch on social media, they’re more likely to engage their minds and choose content they care about
Dialogue Starters:
Parents of Elementary School Students (to ask students)
Tell Me About TikTok
- Have you watched TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, and if so, what makes them fun for you?
Parents of Middle School Students (to ask students)
Mindful Social-Media Consumption
- If you’re on TikTok, what kinds of videos do you look for—or do you watch whatever pops up?
Parents of High School Students (to ask students)
Talking About Time Management
- How do you balance the amount of time you spend on TikTok and other social media with your other priorities?
More resources for parents, students, & educators
- Best Screen Time Apps for Students
- Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact
- 10 Screen Time Management Tips to Prevent Addiction
- Balancing Video Game Screen Time for Teens
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
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Tricks Video Apps Use to Keep You Watching (For Parents)
Negative Effects of Video Apps and Screen Time (For Students & Parents)
Questions to Think About
Social Media and FOMO
What is FOMO, and how does social media contribute to it?
What’s the Harm?
Can you name some of the emotional, physical and other consequences of excessive time spent on social media / video apps?
A Different Approach
What are some ways you could change the way you use and think about popular apps to make using them a more positive experience?
Questions to Think About
Social Media and FOMO
What is FOMO, and how does social media contribute to it?
What’s the Harm?
Can you name some of the emotional, physical and other consequences of excessive time spent on social media / video apps?
A Different Approach
What are some ways you could change the way you use and think about popular apps to make using them a more positive experience?
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Negative Effects of Video Apps and Screen Time (For Students & Parents)
Sneaky Ways Video Apps Keep Teens Watching
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Video apps feature short, catchy videos that draw students in quickly and they are hugely popular. We recognize that there is a lot of amazing content out there that students can use for their benefit, however, too much time spent on these video apps can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and contribute to screen time addiction.
Full Event Replay (Parent video)
What video apps are popular with teens?
- Vine became the original short-form video app when they launched their six-second video format in 2013, however the app has since shut down (Source: NY Times)
- TikTok is currently one of the most popular short-form video apps out there and its popularity encouraged other social media apps like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to add short videos to their platforms
What are the consequences of spending too much time on video apps?
- Excessive screen time can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep
- Video apps can distract you and impact your focus, causing your performance at school to suffer
- Filling too much of your day with screens can take away from time with friends and family members
- Replacing physical activity with screen time can decrease your overall health and contribute to weight problems
- Studies have shown that excessive screen time can impact your mood and may lead to anxiety/depression
- Excessive time on video apps can lead to body image issues due to comparing yourself with others
- Students tell us that their attention span has been impacted by video apps that show short catchy content because they expect things to grab their attention right away
Strategies to Reduce Time on Video Apps
- Turn off the autoplay feature whenever possible
- Take advantage of in-app screen time settings to get reminders to put your phone down after a set period of time
- Use a physical timer to remind you to get off the video app
- Schedule blocks of time for passive screen time and avoid passive screen time outside of those hours
- Use screen time apps to help you stay focused and on track
Best Tools to Help Reduce Time on Video Apps
- Opal - Block distracting websites
- ClearSpace - Free to use for one app (paid for additional apps)
- Freedom - Create limits for your current screen time session
- Off the Grid - Lock your phone down when you need to take a break
- SelfControl - Block distracting websites until a timer expires
- Forest - Watch an image of a tree “grow” the longer you avoid distracting apps
- Learn more about apps to help reduce screen time here
More resources for parents, students, & educators
- Best Screen Time Apps for Students
- Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact
- 10 Screen Time Management Tips to Prevent Addiction
- Balancing Video Game Screen Time for Teens
Conclusion
Video apps can be a lot of fun, especially for students who are looking for some quick entertainment. These short videos are ingrained in pop culture and can also play a role in a student’s social life. Finding ways to use video apps in a balanced way can help students reduce excessive screen time and some of the negative impacts it can have on their lives.
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This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!
Sharon M.
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Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.
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Educator Webinar Attendee
This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.
Irene C.
Educator Webinar Attendee
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