Teens and Multi-tasking

Media Multi-tasking

• Media multi-tasking ̵1; the consumption of more than one source of media content at one time ̵1; is common with teenagers. In fact, teens manage to consume 10 hours and 45 minutes of media use into seven hours and 30 minutes of consulting media each day by multi-tasking, according to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation report. For example, teens may watch television while browsing the Internet on a computer or smartphone while also texting with friends. Teens may also work on homework while listening to music and texting.

The Mind Switching

• Teens may think they multi-task efficiently, but undertaking more than one activity at a time slows a teen̵7;s productivity and may even have an impact on learning, according to a February 2009 article published on the American Psychological Association website, written by Rebecca A. Clay. The mind does not perform tasks and processes simultaneously. Rather, it must switch back and forth between tasks to work. Every time the mind switches, something is lost on one task or the other and the mind must search for where to pick up again. Because a teen̵7;s brain is less developed than an adult̵7;s brain, it is less efficient. This means that teens cannot multi-task as well as they will be able to later as adults.

Results of Multi-tasking

• When teens attempt to learn something while multi-tasking, it may be more difficult to retain the information, according to a 2006 study, published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." Memory may suffer during multi-tasking because the brain must use the less effective basal ganglia for learning. When focusing completely on one activity, the hippocampus, or the "declarative memory system," handles the task. Teenagers who use media heavily and regularly engage in multi-tasking, especially when doing schoolwork, may earn fair or poor grades, according to Kaiser Family Foundation. Multi-tasking may also cause teens to feel overwhelmed, confused and unhappy.

Recommendations

• While teenagers need the ability to handle significant amounts of information, they also need skills that enable them to focus on one task effectively and efficiently, advises educator Karen Bradley, writing for ̶0;Independent School" magazine. Focusing on one task improves problem-solving, creative thinking and extensive learning to help the teen retain the information. Encourage a teenager to focus on one task, especially when he is learning. Share that regular breaks will avoid information overload. Suggest that your teen drill short-term memories to commit them to long-term memories.