Growing Up with Common Sense | Common Sense (2024)

Common Sense Media developed a research-based rating system unlike any other, co-created with experts in childhood development and children's media literacy.

Because media profoundly affects kids' social, emotional, and physical development, Common Sense evaluates media for age appropriateness, diverse representations, and learning potential. We rate the high-profile media titles that are intended for—or appeal to—kids age 2 to 18, including movies, games, books, podcasts, apps, websites, and TV shows.

Our ratings are written by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by creators, media partners, or funders in any way. The ratings aim to inform, educate, and guide families so they better understand what kids can handle at every age.

Technology made its way into schools not only via classroom tools and lessons, but also in students' social lives and study habits. With increased connectivity came a host of new concerns, and schools were torn: They were desperate to protect kids from the risks of the online world, but they also recognized that technology would be a core skill for learning and for life.

Our K–12 Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum was the first program of its kind to teach students to take ownership of their digital lives, while also supporting teachers with cutting-edge classroom tools. The curriculum was developed in partnership with Dr. Carrie James and Dr. Emily Weinstein, as well as Dr. Howard Gardner, at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and guided by research with thousands of educators.

Since 2011, Common Sense has published dozens of research reports on the impact of media and technology on kids and families. We began by tracking kids' media use, and today, the Common Sense Census is the definitive source for understanding how kids ages 0–8 and 8–18 spend time with media.

Over time, we have expanded our research program to comprehend the complex role of media and technology in kids' lives. We've explored how teens view social media, the challenges and potential of virtual reality, and how media impacts the family dynamic and kids' mental health. We've also studied diverse representations in media, including portrayals of gender, race, and ethnicity in both traditional and online content.

Common Sense research has been cited in congressional hearings, in proposed legislation, and in the State of the Union address, and is frequently cited in the national press.

Parents and schools face numerous challenges when it comes to balancing the use of education and consumer apps with their concerns about online privacy and security.

The Common Sense Privacy Program was created to champion child and student privacy and to support parents and caregivers, educators, schools, and communities on a path toward a more secure digital future for all kids. Our evaluations help parents and educators make sense of the complex policies and terms related to popular tools used in homes and classrooms across the country. Our cutting-edge research analyzes privacy and security industry trends, and we work with companies and consumers to educate them about and advocate for better privacy practices.

At Common Sense, our years of research into the connection between technology and kids' mental health has centered social media in the discussion of digital well-being.

Common Sense has committed to conducting new research, providing new content and curricular resources, and building public awareness about this extremely sensitive topic. We launched the Healthy Young Minds campaign in April 2023, a comprehensive, multiyear initiative focused on building public understanding of the youth mental health crisis, spotlighting solutions, and catalyzing momentum for industry and policy change.

When the pandemic forced 55 million schoolkids to learn from home, Common Sense went into action. We had known for years that millions of kids lacked adequate internet connections and computers at home to do their work, a problem widely known as the homework gap. But it was hard to get Washington to make this a priority.

In 2021, President Biden signed into law the historic and long overdue $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $65 billion to help ensure that everyone in the U.S. is connected to high-speed internet. This law represents the single largest investment ever toward closing the digital divide and ensuring that every home and business has access to broadband connectivity, which is critical to thrive in today's economy, in school, and in society. And Common Sense's research and advocacy played a big part in securing this key investment.

But our work didn't stop with securing the funds—we continue to develop resources and initiatives that help eligible families get connected.

#DeviceFreeDinner: "Distracted Parents."

By 2016, young kids were spending more time in front of screens than they were spending doing any other activity besides sleep — and many teens were actually logging more screen time daily than sleep.

It's not just about family movie night anymore: It's about how kids socialize and do their homework, how families keep in touch, and the conversations we have (or don't have) during dinner. Media and devices are part of the fabric of daily life, forever changing how we all connect, create, and learn.

Our core issues are now at the center of a national dialogue about the impact of media and technology on the health and well-being of America's kids and the future of our democracy.

• Felt, L. J., & Robb, M. B. (2016). Technology addiction: Concern, controversy, and finding balance. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/2016_csm_technology_addiction_executive_summary.pdf

  Lauricella, A. R., Cingel, D. P., Beaudoin-Ryan, L., Robb, M. B., Saphir, M., & Wartella, E. A. (2016). The Common Sense census: Plugged-in parents of tweens and teens. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/common-sense-parent-census_executivesummary_for-web.pdf

  Rideout, V. (2017). The Common Sense census: Media use by kids age zero to eight. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/0-8_executivesummary_release_final_1.pdf