Teens and digital media: How do we move toward productive public discourse?

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent years, increased attention has been paid to possible linkages between youth digital media use and well-being. Greater scrutiny is certainly warranted, given how much time teens spend with technology and the escalating number of teens who struggle with their mental health. However, a negative frame has shaped much of the public discourse about the relationship teens share with technology. News media in particular have tended to vilify digital media as the central contributor to youth problems, amplifying adult fears and disregarding youth agency in the process. In this commentary, we argue that alternate media narratives are possible and more likely to be productive. Showcasing examples from popular fictional streaming programs Euphoria and Ginny & Georgia, we highlight how complicated, nuanced representations of teens’ digital media interactions can more realistically and poignantly address the contemporary moment. We conclude by challenging scholars to consider how they can engage with media storytellers, particularly journalists, in an effort to shape a public discourse about youth and digital media that is more accurate, meaningful, and productive.