Park City Day School to host free premiere of Screenagers: The Elementary School Age Edition

Photo: Screenagers: Elementary School Addition

PARK CITY, Utah—On Thursday, October 10, Park City Day School will host the national premiere of Screenagers: The Elementary School Edition, a free in-person event exploring the impact of technology on children’s lives. The screening will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the school’s campus at 3120 Pinebrook Road. The event is open to the public, and kids are welcome to attend.

Screenagers: The Elementary School Edition explores the growing concern that children are becoming overly reliant on technology at an early age. Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston, who directed the documentary, saw firsthand how her own children spent many hours a day in front of screens. This led her to question the effects of excessive screen time and the conflicts it creates in homes and schools.

The film takes a personal approach as Dr. Ruston explores her own family’s struggles with social media, video games, and internet addiction. It features insights from experts, including psychologists, brain scientists, and authors, to reveal how screen time affects children’s development and offers practical solutions for helping kids find balance in the digital age.

“There is overwhelming evidence that our children are in crisis due in large part to social media and cell phone addiction,” said Brad McCutcheon, Head of School at Park City Day School. “The overwhelming uptick in depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation in the last decade is undoubtedly top of mind for all parents. As responsible adults and educators, it’s up to us to shine a light on this pervasive epidemic and ultimately help children make healthy choices around technology. We are excited to invite our parents and the Park City community at large to view Screenagers and engage in this critical conversation.”

The documentary delves into issues such as social media use, the impact of video games, and the stress around managing screen time, while also offering solutions that empower children to better navigate technology. The evening will conclude with a community discussion aimed at finding ways to address these challenges.

“Technology is helping kids connect to peers and improve their wellness as use of devices continues to rise, but we cannot overlook technology’s parallel contribution to the growing youth mental health crisis,” said Emily Merian, a school-based social worker at Park City Day School. “As caregivers, we must effectively reduce the negative effects of ‘screen time,’ and know we are experiencing this new era as a community.”

Parents are eager to take part in the discussion. “There’s so much needed attention on youth mental health right now. Social media and screen time are two big pieces of that conversation,” said Amanda Ramsey, a parent at the school. “The answers will look different for every family, but we now know that smartphones and too much screen time are changing childhood. If we can talk with our kids, hear other parents’ experiences, and use this research to create solutions for our families, I think we will see kids (and even parents) with a stronger sense of self, healthier relationships, and fewer risk factors for depression and anxiety.”

For more information or to reserve your spot visit the event’s Eventbrite page.