Email from Enough Is Enough #ProtectKidsOnline     Teenagers spend an average of 8.5 hours per day on screens — not for school-related purposes, but for social media, scrolling, and texting. (Common Sense Media, 2022). Many kids admit they're spending too much time on screens and want to cut back. Some feel their screen use isn't productive, may be embarrassed about time spent on digital devices, and may even indicate a desire to engage in more meaningful activities. School districts and states nationwide are stepping in with policies limiting phone use during school, creating tech-free zones, and promoting digital wellness. Educational initiatives are also raising awareness about how screen time affects mental health and learning. One such initiative is Screen-Free Week, held annually the first week in May. Families, schools, libraries, and communities unplug from digital entertainment to rediscover life beyond screens. The aim is to encourage people to reduce entertainment screen use and reflect on their relationship with technology. Teens with 4 or more hours of daily screen use are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety (27.1%) and depression (25.9%) compared to those with less screen time. (NCHS Data Brief, Oct. 2024) In 2024, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 43, launching a statewide effort to help families reduce children's screen time and protect them from addictive social media. Virginia is taking early action with its own Screen-Free Week, April 13–19, encouraging families to connect offline and reduce screen time by 25% in 2025. This campaign aligns with Enough Is Enough's Virginia Statewide Internet Safety Initiative, which focuses on public education, policy, and law enforcement collaboration. We're proud to partner with the Attorney General’s Office on "Protecting Kids Online" Town Halls as part of these efforts. We encourage your family to join this effort by setting screen time limits, promoting physical activity, and establishing screen-free zones or times, like meals or bedtime. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a crucial time to recognize the dangers of online exploitation and abuse. In 2023, NCMEC’s CyberTipline received 36.2 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation online, containing more than 105 million images, videos and other files. They also saw an explosion in reports of online enticement, an increase of more than 300% between 2021 – 2023. These figures don’t even include content on the dark web or livestream platforms. We're grateful for your most generous gift to help Enough Is Enough continue our vital work in educating the public about the dangers of social media, the impact of excessive screen time addiction and preventing the online exploitation of children. Your support enables us to develop resources, conduct outreach programs, and empower communities to protect children and families in the digital age. Thank you for partnering with us! IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS IMPACTFUL PODCAST ON SCREEN ADDICTION ... Click here to watch or listen to the podcast! Online Gaming and Internet Addiction Screen time and internet addiction expert Dr. Andrew Doan joins Donna to discuss the dangerous world of internet and video game addiction. They address the alarming rise of addiction among children and teens, the neuroscience behind it, and how predators exploit online games for grooming. Watch this podcast to gain invaluable wisdom on recognizing addictive behaviors, getting professional help, and implementing effective prevention strategies to safeguard youth. DONATE HERE! FUND THE FIGHT Please remember to share this information with your family and friends using the social icons here! Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Enough.org InternetSafety101.org We Can't Keep Children & Families Safe Online Without You!   Enough Is Enough® is a national non-partisan, non-profit organization who has led the fight to make the Internet safer for children and families since 1994. EIE's efforts are focused on combating internet p*rnography, child sexual abuse material, sexual predation, sex trafficking and cyberbullying by incorporating a four-pronged prevention strategy with shared responsibilities between the public, corporate America, government and faith community. STAY CONNECTED   Enough Is Enough | PO Box 1532 | Great Falls, VA 22066 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice