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Teens

My 18-year-old son is addicted to video games, what can I do?
 My 18-year-old son is addicted to video games, what can I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Our 18-year-old son started playing video games at age 9 and became addicted gradually. We struggled with him over the years to limit the time he was online. It became the center of his world, especially when he hit puberty and was dealing with insecurity, anxiety, and depression. The games became more and more…

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Making ‘friends’ with your children’s media—and how it can help you parent
 Making ‘friends’ with your children’s media—and how it can help you parent 150 150 Mediatrics

The Mediatrician® contributed to the following post on A Platform for Good, the Family Online Safety Institute's resource page and blog. Last winter, a father read an angry letter his 15-year-old daughter had posted on Facebook. In response, he put nine bullets into her laptop and posted the video online. Within weeks, it had garnered millions…

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My 15-year-old daughter is having pornographic conversations online–what do I do?
 My 15-year-old daughter is having pornographic conversations online–what do I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I found out that my 15-year-old daughter has a profile on a social network site where she has pornographic conversations with boys. Is this normal teenage behavior? How can I get through to her without driving her further into secrecy?

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My teen loves a role-playing game involving torture, what should I do?
 My teen loves a role-playing game involving torture, what should I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 16-year-old son loves playing role-play games on the Internet. We recently became concerned, though, when we found out that the plots often involve torture. We are wondering why he is attracted to this kind of play and if there are any long or short term risks we should know about. We wonder if…

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How do I limit my child’s media time if he’s physically fit and gets good grades?
 How do I limit my child’s media time if he’s physically fit and gets good grades? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My child is in third grade, and he’s already diagnosed with ADHD. He has a high IQ, is in honors classes, and is physically active—he’s a Gold-medal wrestler. He still uses media for too many hours each day, though. Given that he’s in good shape and gets good grades, how can I tell him…

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How do I stop my teen from sharing inappropriate Facebook posts?
 How do I stop my teen from sharing inappropriate Facebook posts? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: We have stopped our 17-year-old daughter from using Facebook a number of times due to angry and inappropriate postings. We put unrecognizable passwords in, but she keeps creating or restarting Facebook pages. I believe she has one now, and I can’t find it. She has probably blocked me. Is there any way of totally…

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How do I help my 14-year-old cope with the Aurora movie theater shooting?
 How do I help my 14-year-old cope with the Aurora movie theater shooting? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 14 year old son has been anticipating the release of the new Batman movie ever since he saw the trailer last year. He pre-ordered his tickets for opening weekend and was all set to go with friends when he heard about the theater shooting at the midnight showing in Aurora Colorado. The news…

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How can parents make the internet a safe place to play?
 How can parents make the internet a safe place to play? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: With kids of all ages using the internet for everything from socializing to finding information to playing games, how can we keep them as safe as they can be in that world? -Net Nervous A: Dear Net Nervous, You’re right–just like the school playground, the internet is a place where children play, learn, and…

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How can I stop my son from texting while driving?
 How can I stop my son from texting while driving? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I’ve been begging my teen son not to text while driving, but I know he does it anyway. What can I do to get him to stop? –Texting and Driving in Beverly, MA A: Dear Texting and Driving, You’re right to be concerned–according to a recent study, 38% admitted to driving and texting at…

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What can I do for my 15-year-old son, who has Asperger’s and ADHD and seems addicted to video games?
 What can I do for my 15-year-old son, who has Asperger’s and ADHD and seems addicted to video games? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My son is 15 and displays symptoms of video game addiction, including lying and sneaking to try to gain access. He has Asperger’s and ADHD, and regardless of what medication regimen we try, the gaming obsession remains. I recently asked the psychiatrist to hospitalize him and treat him as they would other addicts, but…

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