Money Makers: Survey for 4th-9th Graders

In the second decade of the 21^st Century, social media has been an integral part of adolescent lives. In fact, three-quarters of all teens have created a social media profile, and one in four has reportedly posted a video of themselves on the internet. Children ages 8 to 18 have reported using digital media for up to 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, and current psychological research is beginning to examine the influence of media over the growing identities among our nation’s youth.

At UCLA’s Children’s Digital Media Center @ Los Angeles, researchers have examined media use for over 20 years, starting initial studies with television, then video games, and in the earlier days of the Internet, examining chat rooms and blogs. Current studies follow the use of social networking websites, video sharing platforms, as well as the values within them. In a line of study written for Huffington Post, Los Angeles researchers found that tween values may be changing, a result of their excessive social media usage.

As part of this announcement, the Children’s Digital Media Center is seeking to determine if the results found in Los Angeles extend to the rest of the country. If you have children at home who are in 4^th through 9^th grade, the Children's Digital Media Center would greatly appreciate it if they could take an online survey; they can take it anywhere, on a home computer, an iPad, or even an iPod. The questionnaire lasts approximately 15 to 20 minutes long and for participating, your family will be entered into a raffle to win $100!

To take the survey, please click the link here.