I have always considered myself to be a gray person. When presented with two options, I usually prefer the middle ground. I have always believed that life is not just black or white; there is always a middle within fifty shades of gray. Therefore, when I was asked to write a white paper with a definite call for action, I figured it would be more of a grayish one.
Oh boy, was I wrong.
In the last seven weeks, I have learned a lot about the negative impact of digital media: how it is designed to absorb our brain power, and harm our ability to focus, engage in deep work, and maintain a desired flow state. In addition, social media has some hazardous effects on our social behavior, sleeping patterns, and many mental consequences. Its toxicity overwhelmed me. This grayish paper started to whiten day by day.
In the last decade, there has been a persistent decline in children’s academic performance in the US. The math and reading scores have reached their lowest levels in decades. Simultaneously, there has been an increase in the use of digital media among the same population. I believe those two trends are connected. Digital media is ruining our children’s brain power. The good news is that there is a lot we can do to save our kids.
Implementing a nationwide school phone ban should be our next immediate step. In my white paper, I report the positive consequences of such a ban and provide practical strategies for doing it tomorrow. We can also increase parental awareness, provide detox programs, and revive school book clubs. If you want to join my mission and read more about it, here is the link.
