Buncombe County Schools -

Parents of Buncombe County Schools students are invited to SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age. The film will be shown Thursday, March 28 at 6pm in the North Buncombe Middle School theater. Admission is free.

Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston made SCREENAGERS after finding herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. She felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially with phones, social media, gaming, and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatedly how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest, unexplored parenting issues of our time.

As a director, Ruston turned the camera on her own family and others - revealing stories of messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. The stories are intertwined with insights from leading brain scientists who present evidence on the real changes in the brain when kids are on screens. SCREENAGERS provides multiple approaches on how parents and educators can work with kids to help them achieve a healthy amount of screen time.

“Partnering with parents in their child's education has always been crucial to student success,” said Dr. Shane Cassida, Buncombe County Schools Director of Student Services. “This event will provide parents the opportunity to see and hear first-hand how the digital world is impacting the social and emotional lives of their children.”  

Audience members are encouraged to stay after the film and participate in a discussion of their ideas and experiences. Families can also get information on dealing with cyber bullying from BCS Student Services

“We will be able to show key signals for parents to notice with their child's digital-social media use and real-world strategies to combat the negative effects that often result,” Cassida shared. "We hope families leave with real strategies to promote safer and healthier use of social-media platforms within their homes.”