Messiah presents ‘Screenagers’
- “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” will be shown on Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – Messiah Lutheran Church will air a timely documentary film about the struggles that face parents and teenagers in a world of social media posts, tweets and snaps.
The documentary “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” will be aired on Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. The movie will be presented at the church, 7740 U.S. 72 West in Madison.
The 68-minute documentary by physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston addresses the pervasive issues and struggles parents and teenagers face in the digital age.
Ruston prompts parents to ask themselves: “Are you watching your kids scroll through life, with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span?”
Ruston explores struggles about social media, video games, academics and Internet addiction. Through poignant and funny stories, “Screenagers” reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and also offers solutions on how adults can empower their kids to best navigate the digital world to find balance.
The movie is geared for fifth-graders and older with their parents. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. An optional, moderated discussion will follow the movie.
Janell Zesinger, who serves as Messiah Lutheran’s Education and Youth Council Representative, is organizing the event. Janell and her husband Mark have three school-aged children.
“Ideally, parents and their kids come to an informed understanding on what is healthy and safe use of technology and come to terms and set limits on what behaviors are harmful or unhealthy,” Janell Zesinger said about planning this community event.
“My hope is that parents and teens watch this movie together and afterwards talk about the issues it presents before things become a problem,” Zesinger said. “That really is the goal of Messiah hosting the movie.”
Tickets are $7 per person. For advance tickets, visit mlutheran.org/screenagers. Any proceeds over expenses for the movie will be donated to local outreach missions.
For specific questions about “Screenagers,” email Zesinger at education_rep@mlutheran.org.
Messiah Lutheran Church was founded in 1990 by Rev. Scott Peterson and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. For information, visit mlutheran.org.
