Apr
Review of Captivated DVD
How many hours per week do you think you spend using some kind of media? Most of us are using some type of media much of the time throughout the day, whether it be your smartphone, computer, iPod, television, gaming devices, etc. It has become a constant thing where we feel like we always have to be connected.
-The average teen uses 7 1/2 hours of media each day.
-The average person watches almost 5 hours of TV each day.
-43% of 3-4 year olds have TVs in their rooms.
So, after I read some of the statistics and watched the trailer for Captivated, I knew I needed to watch it. The DVD is a little over an hour and a half long and also includes a lot of bonus material. I rarely watch TV or movies, so finding time to watch it actually proved to be a challenge to me, but I am glad that I took the time out to watch the documentary- I learned quite a bit from the dvd and found it to be very informative and thought provoking.
Captivated starts out by discussing how much media we consume. It is a scary thought to me that the average American child watches more than 53 hours of TV per week. And, by the time a child graduates from high school- he or she will have spent more time in front of a TV than in a classroom. I was pretty shocked by both of those statistics.
Next, the documentary goes on to talk about the content of what we are watching and consuming. Media definitely has an influence on how we behave and our attitudes- this can be a positive or negative thing, but we can’t deny that it has a huge influence.
The idea that we are being held captive to media is the next topic in the DVD. People have become addicted to the internet and video games. People use these things to escape from reality and they are not living a real life- it’s a fantasy. Researchers have found that being addicted to video games compares to a gambling addiction. And, it has been found that 10% of children are actually addicted to video games. What a sobering thought.
The documentary finishes up by talking about how media is a battleground and finally about getting freedom from media. They do not give any specific guidelines or try to tell you that you can’t use any media at all. But rather, they suggest Biblical principals that you need to consider when making choices about the media you allow in your home and how much time you spend using media is acceptable.
Captivated is meant for adults to watch (although it has been approved for all ages). I think it something you can certainly watch with your teens and have a family discussion afterwards about what you want to happen in your household. I recommend paying the $16.95 for the DVD (shipping is free!) and watching it to see what you think. I know I am planning to make some changes in our family after watching Captivated, and while I am sure I will be met with resistance, I believe the changes are necessary.