March 29, 2024
Dawn Wolf, Information Systems director for the Diocese of Sioux Falls

Dawn Wolf, Information Systems director for the Diocese of Sioux Falls recommends a couple of helpful websites, including Commonsensemedia.org. An article on their website offers the following suggests, which Wolf said she endorses as well:

  1. Be Present
  2. Control the Wifi (there are some great tools out there)
  3. Remove temptation
  4. Use Parental Controls (on smart TV’s and many other devices, start early)
  5. Promote and Model Balance (binge watching, the struggle is real)

She also recommends https://protectyoungeyes.com as a helpful resource.

 

 

Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP, D.Min. is a media literacy education specialist who trained at the University of London. She is the co-author of two books on media literacy in faith formation.

Sr. Pacatte offers these thoughts:

“Whether we are consuming media or creating it, or playing it (video games), we have a responsibility to choose well, to be kind, truthful, thoughtful, inspiring even. And if on social media to always ask if what I am posting is necessary. There is a T.H.I.N.K. protocol that can be taught to children and parents in regard to bullying, for example, before posting online (and even for analyzing what we just watched on television):

T = is it true?
H = is it helpful?
I = is it inspiring?
N = is it necessary?
K = is it kind?

Additional helps from Sr. Pacatte can be found at the Pauline Center for Media Studies website, BeMediaMindful.org

There is growing evidence that screen time impacts our brains. Author Nicolas Carr has written books and articles and his website, www.nicholascarr.com, includes a blog where he discusses the re-engineering of our brains.

Many simply help themselves in their screen time consumption by employing the ageless teaching of Jesus fasting. Whether seasonal for Lent or any other time, fasting from social media has been a benefit for many.

Read the Screen Time article from the 2018 October Bishop’s Bulletin