【英语语言学习】青少年花在电子产品上的时间远多于睡觉时间

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

And a new study from a group called Common Sense Media reports that teenagers now spend up to nine hours a day on various screen devices. That's probably more than they sleep. We're joined by Jim Steyer, founder¹ and CEO of Common Sense Media, which tries to help schools and families navigate² media and technology. Thanks so much for being with us.

JIM STEYER: Great to be here, Scott.

SIMON: So what do they watch for nine hours? Or what do they do?

STEYER: Well, first of all, the sheer volume is just phenomenal. The idea that nine hours a day, not including time spent in school, is how much time our teens are spending with media and technology just shows you how central it is to their lives. It's really like the air they breathe now. And they do various different kinds of thing. There's not one stereotype³ of kid. So some are heavy video game players. Some love social media. Others just like to sit back and watch TV or listen to music. But they are doing nine hours a day, on average, of media and technology, and it is really shaping their lives.

SIMON: You found that girls spend more time on social media than boys. An interesting subfact, if you will, is that, according to your findings, only about 1 of 3 teenagers who are on social media say that they like it, quote, "a lot."

STEYER: That's right, Scott. I think both of those facts are really interesting in terms of this study. First of all, there are stark⁴ differences between boys and girls. But the other fact you mention, the fact that only a third of kids like social media, is really startling. It's much more of a utility to them. It's not something like TV or music, that they just love to do and spend time with. It's something they feel they have to do. And I think that's one of most interesting statistics of the entire study.

SIMON: What did you find in this survey, Mr. Steyer, that might worry you the most, as a citizen and maybe a parent?

STEYER: As the parent of four kids and as a longtime educator, I think that stat that really struck me in a concerning way was the fact that 2 out of 3 students in this massive survey said that they multitask while doing their homework. That means that they are reading Shakespeare, hopefully, but also, at the same time, on their Facebook or Instagram account or Snapchatting or texting with their friends. And the truth is, research from some of my colleagues at Stanford and elsewhere make it clear that you cannot concentrate effectively on two things at once and that multitasking gets in the way of concentration and good study habits. So the fact that 2 out of 3 teens in this country are multitasking while doing their homework is a major message to parents and teachers across the country.

SIMON: I'm sorry. I didn't get that last part. I was just posting on Facebook.

STEYER: (Laughter) Yes, and I was too busy texting to remember what I actually said to you, Scott.

SIMON: (Laughter) Are we being just a little bit fussy⁵ because I try to remember that Nancy Hanks told her son Abe Lincoln that he spent too much time with his head in a book?

STEYER: So I think what we need to do when we see such a robust⁶ study like this is pause, recognize that we are in a new era of childhood and adolescence⁷, and it's up to all of us to try to make this a very positive part of our lives.

SIMON: So are ideas like digital cleanses⁸ as, maybe, unavailing as trying to diet that way?

STEYER: No, I actually think that digital cleanses, or just taking time out away from technology and media, are great things. I mean, one of the clear messages from this study is that parents need to be role models around this. If you're constantly glued to your phone or putting that device in the middle of your dinner table, what kind of message is that sending to your youngster? So I think that, in a funny way, parents have as much to learn from this study as kids do. And it's incumbent⁹ upon parents to make sure that smart and thoughtful, balanced use of technology is part of parenting 101 in the decades ahead.

SIMON: Jim Steyer, the CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, thanks so much for being with us.

STEYER: My pleasure, Scott.

1 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

2 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

3 stereotype   

n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框

参考例句：

• He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
• There's always been a stereotype about successful businessmen.人们对于成功商人一直都有一种固定印象。

4 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

5 fussy   

adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的

参考例句：

• He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
• The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 adolescence   

n.青春期，青少年

参考例句：

• Adolescence is the process of going from childhood to maturity.青春期是从少年到成年的过渡期。
• The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence.这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。

8 cleanses   

弄干净，清洗( cleanse的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Prayer cleanses the soul, but pain cleanses the body. 祈祷净化灵魂，而痛苦则净化身体。
• With water and iodine from the closet, he cleanses my lip. 用温水和碘从壁橱里，他洗净我的嘴唇。

9 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。