Award winning documentary on media addiction coming to Rexburg
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REXBURG — An award-winning documentary highlighting the druglike effects media and technology can have on teenagers is coming to the Romance Theater.
Brigham Young University-Idaho child development professor Tim Rarick and his wife Jodi Rarick worked to bring the film “SCREENAGERS” to Rexburg. The film was directed by Washington-based physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston and explores teenage struggles with social media, video games, internet addiction and academics.
“It’s really a family issue, it’s a school issue and it’s a community issue,” Tim Rarick said.
The Raricks were inspired by the goal of the film and through their efforts, they’ve received backing from the city of Rexburg, Madison School District 321, Madison Cares and Madison Memorial Hospital to sponsor the event.
The film shares anecdotes from the director’s life as well insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists and offers solutions on how parents can help their children find balance in this digital age.
With his background in child development and family advocacy, Rarick agrees that screens can pose dangers if misused.
“I don’t think teenagers, screens or our technology are the (enemies) it’s really ignorance and our lack of education, whether it’s willful ignorance or innocent ignorance, that’s really the problem,” Rarick said.
He said relationships can be severed and the emotional regulation, learning, and healthy brain functioning can be disrupted through our devices. He said starting with conversations at home can be the steppingstone to learning to work well with our technology.
“This is a problem for all domains of our development. We can turn this tide around with education and with understanding and listening,” Rarick said.
Rarick says the entire community is invited to attend the showings. He said the movie is recommended for children 10 and older and he hopes parents and kids will come together.
The documentary will be showing on Presidents Day, Feb. 19 at three different times — 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Locals are encouraged to reserve tickets for the free event through a link in the event’s Facebook page.
“I’m hoping that some lights will go on in both the parent and the child’s head. I hope that parents will now say, ‘You know what we need to have a weekly family discussion or council,’” Rarick said.