Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Psychologist Linn (The Case for Make Believe) delivers a stunning examination of how marketing, technology, and consumer capitalism impact the well-being of children. Arguing that children are "essential targets" for advertisers and technology companies, Linn cites evidence that "toddlers are more prone to tantrums when they transition off being on a screen than they when they transition from engaging with a book," that virtual prizes won through video game education products undermine "the value of experience" while "promot the value of acquisition," and that companies use online games to encourage children to nag their parents into purchasing a product. Linn also discusses campaigns to stop Disney from marketing Baby Einstein videos as educational for babies and Google from "collecting and monetizing children's personal information on YouTube Kids." Highlighting how cuts in public education funding exacerbate the issue, Linn notes that supplemental teaching materials donated or discounted by corporations often promote brand recognition or offer a slanted perspective on such issues as energy production and addiction. Throughout, Linn's copious case studies and lucid explanations of the latest research into childhood development build a convincing argument. This is a must-read for parents and educators. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In 2020, Linn (The Case for Make Believe), a ventriloquist, psychologist, and expert in creative play, was in the midst of writing this book when the pandemic took center stage, followed by the terror of the murder of George Floyd and others. It made her wonder if her concerns were still important. But her research found a very real connection between commercialized culture and systemic racism and its effects on children and the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. She also noted research was in abundance on the topics of chronic family stress, poverty, inadequate schools, and racism denying children a healthy childhood, but there was little acknowledgement of the effects of the continuous immersion in digital culture, a situation heightened by COVID. Linn argues that the goals of big business and big tech are to transform children into lifetime consumers and to play a major role in shaping their values, relationships, and even how they learn. VERDICT A guide on changing course both individually and as a society, by an experienced activist; a must-read.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional generation. In 2004, Linn, a psychologist specializing in childhood development, published Consuming Kids, a landmark study on how corporations develop marketing campaigns specifically aimed at young people. In the ensuing years, there has been a seismic shift in technology, with a flood of smartphones, tablets, and interactive apps, and children are connecting to the online world at younger ages. Some companies are even marketing screen-based games for babies. Lego, once seen as a toy that encouraged creativity and innovation, now comes with apps that direct what the child should do, and stuffed toys can now sing, dance, walk, or talk at the push of a button. "The more a toy can do, the less a child needs to do," writes the author. "And the less a child does with a toy, the less useful that child's play is to healthy development." One of the book's hardest-hitting chapters examines "pester power," encouraged by marketers in order to place an emphasis on brands, which allows for the sale not just of individual toys, but entire product lines. Brand addiction is a sure path to profitability. The nadir of cynicism is when researchers profile teens to determine their psychological weaknesses so they can target advertising at them. Linn recounts numerous horror stories about manipulation, but she is proactive in her advice. "Postpone getting your child a smartphone until at least eighth grade," she writes. "When it comes to raising children, smartphones are probably the most pernicious of all tech devices." Read books with them, or go outside to play. Put down your own devices so you do not set a bad example. Set limits on screen time, and don't yield to nagging for more stuff. In other words, be an active and involved parent. Linn's examination of how screens have taken over childhood is a must-read for any parent. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
