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Submitted By: Parth Arora & Khushi Agarwalla

 TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Introduction 2-3
2. Review of “Childhood 4-7
2.0: The Living
Experiment”

3. Is The Internet A Help 8-10

Or A Hinderance For
Mankind?

4. The connection between 11-13

media psychology and
Childhood 2.0.

5. Conclusion 14

6. References 15

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 INTRODUCTION
Children born in the current era are referred to as "Gen Z," and they
are growing up in the digital era. In today's society, technologies are
pervasive and have drastically changed how things grow. They can
achieve almost anything since they live in an efficient world. It is
challenging for elderly people to adjust to the newest trends. This
documentary compares modern children to earlier childhoods and
discusses the risks associated with social media.

A digital childhood presents several difficulties and is not necessarily

advantageous to society. We used to play outside activities back then.
Although children nowadays are unable to function without their
devices because they are so glued to screens, these devices may
increase tension and anxiety. To be a healthy and balanced adult, they
must be responsible enough to take breaks from their electronics on
occasion. Their over-reliance on social media has prevented them from
gaining the critical skills necessary for in-person interactions. There
are now more chances to exploit children's privacy more widely. They
must understand how they can protect themselves online. It is the
responsibility of parents to educate their children about internet safety
from a young age. Teaching them about the risks associated with using
the internet and informing them of strangers who shouldn't be
detained. It was important for kids to feel comfortable approaching
their parents with whatever issues they were having. What is meant by
good and wrong. It is advantageous for parents and their children to
have an open connection.

The youngsters of today must be different. Individuals occasionally

remove their posts when they don't receive any likes since they feel
better when they receive a lot of them. Who has the most followers is
always in rivalry with one another. Social networking may become
extremely harmful in a variety of ways. It is unfiltered by undesirable
content. Sometimes we lose sight of the reality that social media posts

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don't always accurately depict people's lives. They like contrasting
their chapter with that of others. When someone's life is going better
than theirs, they begin to doubt their own value. These days,
youngsters' lives are so difficult that many believe suicide is the only
way to put an end to them. We live in a time where individuals are
looking for approval on social media because they feel compelled to be
socially acceptable. We must recognize that we are all unique.

Technology, on the other hand, will continue to advance. It will always

evolve in the hands of current people and be passed down to future
generations. As a result, the advancement of technology will continue
to alter the behaviour and lifestyle of future generations.

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 REVIEW OF “CHILDHOOD 2.0: THE
LIVING EXPERIMENT”
As everyone is aware, this age is more likely to focus on technology
and devices. Yes, technology makes our lives easier, but do we really
realize that it is also consuming human beings? Innovation Statistics
show that by 2020, 8 billion devices will be connected to the internet,
accounting for 40% of the world's population. Not only that, but
younger children are also using gadgets and the internet—children as
young as three or five years old are proficient with cell phones.
Compared to our parents' and grandparents' generation, who didn't
acquire mobile devices until they were in their middle or possibly late
20s. It is evident that this generation and theirs differ greatly from one
another.

I watched Childhood 2.0 last week and thought it was worth my time.
It was available for free on Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.
The opinions expressed by educators, child psychologists, parents, and
kids are pertinent and well-presented. Childhood used to signify one
thing, but in the last twenty years, it has come to symbolize something
completely else. As the title of the movie implies, screens might be
thought of as bringing in a "new childhood." One of the primary
messages of the movie is that, despite ample evidence to the contrary,
most parents still find it hard to accept, the world that exists on
screens nowadays is considerably more hazardous than the world "out
there" in neighbourhoods or on the streets. This is supported by
Childhood 2.0, which persuasively presents the argument.

This 90-minute documentary explores a variety of topics, including the

allure of gadgets and the excessive amount of time spent using them,
the function of social media, bullying caused by screens and the
ensuing self-harm and suicide, sexting, and pornography. Screen users
of all ages should give each of these subjects careful thought and
consideration. The subject of screens and children is so critically
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significant because there are so many themes to cover, all of which
probe deeply into the essence of every screen user's personality and
soul.

The children's statements, who are between the ages of seven and
seventeen, are what I find to be the most impactful aspect of the
movie. Children talk about how captivating and alluring their gadgets
are, how much pressure they put on them, and how difficult it is to
limit their use. Their observations are deep and occasionally
existential. For instance, a teenage lad muses on the inconspicuous
influence social media have on a person's formative years, stating:

“(The impact)’s not outright and it’s not something you can just see when
you go online. It’s something that’s behind the scenes and it’s something
that affects someone over years and years and slowly changes the way they
think.”

To be precise, this is accurate. Furthermore, even though it's

encouraging to see that youth can recognize that these forces are
affecting both themselves and their peers, it’s equally depressing to
learn that people believe they can do nothing to stop it. At least some
of them dislike it and are aware of the harm, but they are unable to
stop it. They are the subjects of a screen-based sociological
experiment, just like all of their peers. "Right now, we're effectively
living in an experiment," a commentator in the movie says in reference
to this. What effect will this have on us? In a generation's time, we'll
find out."

• When I think back on Childhood 2.0, three important facts come to

mind:

1) We need to be aware of the profound, life-changing effects that

screen time is having on children's lives (as well as our own). We
can't ignore it, minimize it, or continue to be ignorant. A film
such as Childhood 2.0 is important and worthwhile because it

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 makes us face the realities that arise from and through screen
time, for both us and our children. To turn a blind eye is to let
destructive and all-consuming forces wreak havoc on our
children's growth and mental well-being. The statement that
their souls are in jeopardy is not hyperbole.
2) We can't lose hope or approach "doomsday." Many raise their
hands in despair due to the difficulty and scope of this issue. Can
they do anything? Very little. This same sentiment is echoed by
parents in Childhood 2.0, who say things like "It's very difficult
to opt out," "The train has already left the station, way before I
realized," and "It's already too late." For the exact reason that it
all seems too overwhelming, people ignore this problem and
keep their heads in the sand. Avoiding these issues, though, is
not an option; we have to face the challenges he presents,
educate ourselves, and then act. This brings me to:
3) You have options for what you can do. It's still possible. While
giving up and wringing your hands are undoubtedly useless,
acting is not. As a matter of fact, we have to act! Education is the
first step toward reducing the harm caused by "Childhood 2.0"
life. After that, we should grab tools, get involved, and apply best
practices.

• What types of tasks are you capable of? A few choices are:

—Enroll in a tech course with a family focus, such as "Creating a

Teach Healthy Family," or consult with a screen coach, such as
Nicole Rawson from Screen Time Clinic.

—Get your teenagers and other families together to watch

Screenagers or Like in a group setting. These movies are best
viewed in small groups with discussions led by a facilitator.

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 —Find and install parental controls on the electronics your
children use (you can start with this guide).

—Take your children on a short "reset course," such as my 21-

day Reset, which will enable you to both go through a digital
detox and have strategic, guided conversations about the process
and its ramifications.

The moment of action is now. The benefits of today's screen-based

"Childhood 2.0" are not greater than the drawbacks unless we are
proactive, engaged, and driven to reduce the numerous harmful
components.
This is something we can accomplish. We must, too.

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 IS THE INTERNET A HELP OR A
HINDERANCE FOR MANKIND?

• ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY: Childhood 2.0 is a powerful

informative documentary about the effects of the Internet on
humanity. Childhood was more or less unchanged for several
millennia, but since the birth of social media in 2007 the world for
grown-ups has completely changed. Twenty years ago, our parents
worried about stranger danger and whether or not we were home by
the time the streetlights came on. But for parents raising the first
generation of kids with smartphones, everything is different.
Childhood 2.0 takes a deep dive into what coming of age really
looks like today and just how much things have changed thanks to
the internet and social media.

• PORNOGRAPHY: In 2019 porn-sites received more traffic than

Amazon, Twitter and Netflix combined. Most of our parents are not
aware that gadgets and other technology are also medium and way
of early exposure of children to pornography because it is made
easy for many people to access it, as it is widely distributed across
various platforms and different applications which is more likely
easier for younger ages to see it. And concerning the early exposure
to pornography, young people are most likely to experience nude
sharing and sexting which is shocking to hear because that is not
appropriate for the people like them.

• WE ARE LIVING IN AN EXPERIMENT: In 30 years the world

has completely changed. The pace of innovation and development
on the internet has been so fast that many of us are not able to keep
track. Moreover, in the process, some of the guardrails to keep an
industry accountable have been set aside in the spirit of innovation.

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 Having said that, the attack of the internet predators is also
increasing and getting worse as they come like a thief who does not
choose their targets even if it is young or adult people. This kind of
situation just proves that the world outside our houses is way better
and safer rather than the cyber world or the environment we are in
when we are on the internet.

• CYBER GROOMING & SEXTORTION: About 60% of the

children who experience sextortion, actually know the perpetrator.
Sextortion refers to a category of sexual exploitation in which
threatened release of sexual images or information is the means of
blackmail. Cyber grooming is the online practice of establishing an
emotional bond with child for the express purpose of physically or
sexually abusing the child. I feel that the most important way to
communicate is by talking face to face. This generation of people
are losing their ability to communicate through a face to face and
we are always communicating on social media websites and spend a
lot of hours scrolling to different platforms. But the thing is, we
cannot say that even if we are just using our smartphones, we are
not prone to bullying but that is not true because this absolutely
exists in the cyber world where more people can easily create their
fake accounts which give them a lot of courage to bully somebody.

• MENTAL HEALTH: Suicide rates have doubled among young

people ages 10 to 24, since the rise of Facebook and social media in
2007. About 1.12 million kids presented to the ER for suicide
attempt or suicidal ideation in 2015. 43% of those were under 11
years old. y. In relation to that, more people are also getting
vulnerable to anxiety and depression which unfortunately resulted
in a rapid increase in the suicide rate in the world as they cannot
speak up and talk about problems to their parents because they
think that their parents will not understand what the internet can

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 bring to their children. Nowadays, the battle is not about the
physical aspect of life, but it is all about the mental and emotional
side of living. This generation is more than about physical bullying
because of the excessive use of mobile devices and other technology
we can encounter the risks and bad side of using it.

• WHAT IS HAPPENING?
• Cyberbullying
• teens78%

• tweens76%
• Mental health issues
• teens67%

• tweens55%
• Sexual Content
• teens84%

• tweens71%

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 The connection between media
psychology and Childhood 2.0.

Media psychology is a relatively new branch of psychology that

investigates how media and technology influence people. Because our
lives are constantly bombarded with media and technology, studying
the impact of media has become an essential component of
psychology. However, the interdisciplinary nature of the field, as well
as the constant changes in how people interact with media, make it
difficult to define.

Media psychology is the study of how media, including technology and

diverse types of communication, influences human behaviour,
attitudes, and emotions. Examining the psychological and social effects
of growing up in a digital age, analysing how kids engage with
technology, and weighing the wider societal ramifications of these
exchanges, the documentary "Childhood 2.0" is related to media
psychology. Films that explore youth in the digital age frequently touch
on a number of media psychology-related topics.

They are as follows:

• Effect of Technology on Development: Documentaries may

examine the ways in which children's exposure to digital media
and technology affects their cognitive, social, and emotional
growth. Media psychologists investigate how various media can
influence people's beliefs and actions from a young age.
• Screen Time and Well-Being: When talking about modern
childhood, people frequently bring up the subject of how much
time kids spend using screens. Documentaries tackling topics like
sleep disturbance, attention span, and general well-being may
look at the psychological consequences of excessive screen
usage.

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 • In the era of digital parenting: Media psychology also takes into
account the parental role of directing and supervising their
children's media consumption. Documentaries may explore how
parents may encourage healthy media habits and the difficulties
they encounter when navigating the digital world.
• Internet Socialisation and Communication: With the proliferation
of digital communication channels, documentaries may examine
how kids establish and sustain relationships on the internet. The
effects of these virtual contacts on social skills, empathy, and the
formation of a sense of self are studied by media psychologists.
• Knowledge of Media: Knowledge of media is necessary to
comprehend and navigate the digital world. Documentaries may
emphasise how crucial it is to instil in kids a critical analysis and
interpretation of media messages. Media psychologists
investigate how educating people about media literacy can
enable them to interact with media in a more knowledgeable
manner.
• Cyberbullying and Mental Health: Children's mental health can
be significantly impacted by the negative aspects of online
interactions, such as cyberbullying. Documentaries may discuss
how these unpleasant situations affect people's psychological
health and how they might be avoided or dealt with.

It depicted children's lives on social media and the parents' and

guardians' responses to it, progressively presenting and outlining
opposing viewpoints that were apparent in their responses. Though
age, gender, and experiences vary, perspectives are rotating and
coming from different angles. While status may not be the primary
issue, it is lacking in that regard. An elderly person recounting their
own childhood experiences was a powerful way to understand the
origins of the older generation and how things were very different from
how they are now.

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As a long-term solution that is not helpful and beneficial for everyone,
the method we used to deal with boredom is ineffective since it only
serves to encourage addiction and more serious issues. Let's face it: we
are powerless to stop the world's technological advancements and
innovation. The problems we face are merely the result of using the
internet excessively. Our only option is to learn self-control so that we
can use technology responsibly. Additionally, by increasing awareness
and developing appropriate education about the cyber world for
everyone—parents included—we can reduce the potential the harm
that the cyber world may do to a large number of people in the future
by also increasing awareness of it and providing appropriate education
about it for everyone—parents included. Therefore, let's encourage in-
person socialization because it is far preferable to rely on the company
of a friend rather than technology, and people should minimize their
online interactions in favor of in-person interactions.

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 CONCLUSION

Although social media are a great tool to connect with people, we often
use them in a way that sets us apart.

The “Childhood 2.0” documentary was very helpful in bringing

attention to this kind of subject and enlightening those who are
unaware of it. The technique employed was effective in that it included
a wide range of viewpoints from various genders and generations,
making the film relatable to a wide audience. This demonstrates the
obvious differences in lifestyle between the past and the present. In
actuality, we are unable to travel back in time to a time when
technology did not exist or when certain associated issues were non-
existent. Technology is a wonderful invention, but its overuse by
people is the only thing that makes it harmful to them.

Ideally, a lot of people will see this kind of documentary, which will
educate them about this kind of issue and teach them to cherish life
even in the face of increasingly difficult obstacles, whether or not they
are connected to the internet.

Ultimately this film is a reflection of the world we currently live in and

a resource to be contemplated. We have made every attempt to craft
an honest picture of what childhood is today, kids spending more time
online and less engaging in real life, free play, and autonomy. What are
the effects on the next generation's mental, physical, and spiritual
health? Childhood was more or less unchanged for millennia — this is
Childhood 2.0.

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 REFERENCES
1. https://www.childhood2movie.com/
2. https://www.researchgate.net/
3. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-
reviews/childhood-20
4. www.verywellmind.com

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