NEW YORK — Do kids watch too much TV? How much “screen time” is too much?
Brooklyn-based photographer Donna Stevens explores the darker side of human’s love for technology, taking photos of children as they watched their favorite TV shows. She calls her series “Idiot Box,” making it clear where she stands on the issue.
“TV is just one of the ever present black screens through which we negotiate our lives today,” she writes.
Stevens tells CNN she doesn’t claim to be an authority on how much screen time a child should get. The policy in her house is no TV before 4 p.m. She admits children can learn a lot from the shows they watch, but also believes large chunks of screen time isn’t good for the imagination.
“Should we exhibit more caution about the role of technology in our children’s lives? Is our techno-paranoia warranted? No matter what gadgetry we may possess and blame for our undoing, do our problems still just remain human?” Donna asks along with her pictures.
Stevens had permission from all of the parents to photograph their children watching TV. She knew the kids from her son’s preschool in New York City.
“A couple, maybe one of the kids, smiled during it,” Stevens tells CNN. “Most of the time they were pretty blank.”
Do you have a “screen time” rule in your house? Weigh in on the WTVR CBS 6 Facebook page.
You can see more of Donna Stevens’ work here and follow her on Instagram.
