ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Most of us use our phones all day every day for everything.
But despite how helpful they can be, they can also be dangerous.
“We all know that we’ve seen an increase in anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, access to pornography online,” Co-host Emily Harrison said. “We know that our kids are not doing okay. And this film really helps parents have a better understanding of what’s really happening.”
On Tuesday, Grandin Theater hosted a special movie night, showing a documentary titled “Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media.”
A film meant to start the conversation amongst the crowd about the impact technology is having.
“This is really a pretty new phenomenon that this generation of kids is growing up with stuff that previous generations didn’t have. And what’s been happening is not okay, and it’s just time to say that our kids need to live an analog, not a digital life.”
Nancy Hans is the executive director for Partnership for Community Wellness, the group behind the screening.
“We need to show everybody.”
“And we truly want parents and grandparents and all adults to know that, you know what? We can do this together, and we don’t really need all these screens in front of our kids.”
After the film, parents, educators, and children had the opportunity to start that conversation and combat this growing problem with the goal of one day impacting future generations.
“So now we’re having to say, look, we all have to put our phones down. We have to get back to going outside and having fun and literally talking to each other face to face as much as we can.”
The Partnership for Community Wellness plans to continue to address societal issues through different monthly programs
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