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There has been a push (for ages now) for getting families to talk about the media their teens consume. It is so important to talk about it because it is a significant part of their lives. It might be difficult and awkward as an adult to relate to what young people watch today, and there may be an urge to condemn everything at first glance. However, talking – or at least checking in periodically with teens – can be a significant first step into opening the lines of communication at home. And it can turn out to be a great conversation.

To start the process, I suggest using the Common Sense Media website (www.commonsensemedia.com/reviews) as a resource for discussion questions. The rating system itself, in my opinion, is a bit on the conservative side. Still, regardless of the rating a show or film receives, Common Sense Media does an excellent job outlining topics a family can discuss in the “Families Can Talk About” section of each page. The section tries to help families make connections between media and real-life situations (Common Sense Media, 2016).

Feel free to use the ratings at your family’s discretion, and remember to develop your own conversation. I am sure that some of you will completely agree with every rating the website provides, and others will disagree with some or all of them. Any way you slice it, the rating system can spark some exemplary conservation with other adults in your family and with your children. You can always ask your teens if they agree with a show’s rating and why. Their answers might surprise you.  

References

Common Sense Media (2016). Parent reviews, family reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews