The number of smartphone users in America has grown by more than 200 million in the past decade. Thirty-five percent of users in the U.S. check their phones, including social media, more than 50 times a day, according to the US edition of Deloitte's 2018 Global Mobile Consumer Survey.
Emerson Hospital has partnered with Turning Life On, a local grassroots movement that promotes digital wellness through consultation with parents, teens, schools and communities. Together, we have launched a program to raise awareness about the impacts electronic devices have on youth and provide research-backed advice that empowers families to make healthy choices about digital device use.
We invite you to explore this page for tips and resources, and to become involved with our Digital Wellness program.
Click on the below links to discover how exposure to digital media can affect different aspects of your health and social interactions, as well as some suggestions to improve your digital wellness in these areas.
Podcast Series
Tune in to our new podcast series “Supporting Youth in Achieving Digital Wellness” to hear from a variety of experts about digital wellness.
Podcast 1: The Six Pillars of Digital Wellness with Kelsey Magnuson, the community benefits coordinator with Emerson Hospital, and Adrienne Principe, founder and executive director of Turning Life On
Podcast 2: Physical Health. Amy Forrer, MD, of Emerson Family Medicine in Maynard, explains how a child's physical health can be affected by technology use.
Podcast 3: Spiritual Health, Learning and Productivity with Anthony Rao, PsyD. and Adrienne Principe, founder and executive director of Turning Life On
Podcast 4: Mental Health and Relationships. Adrienne Principe talks with Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD, a clinical psychologist, school consultant and author of "The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age".
Podcast 5: A Youth Perspective. Aliza Kopans, a high school senior and youth advisory board member for Children's Screen Time Action Network, shares her perspective on how people can support youth in achieving digital wellness.
Podcast 6: Privacy and Safety. Tyler Russell, a school resource officer for the Acton-Boxborough School District, and Detective Keith Edward Campbell of the Acton Police Department's Youth Services program, talk about privacy and safety when it comes to digital wellness.
Listen to more from our physicians and clinicians on our Health Works Here podcast page, or through Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Spotify.