Screen Deep Neurodivergent Children and Media Use with Meryl Alper, PhD
8 snips
Apr 2, 2025 
Meryl Alper, an Associate Professor at Northeastern University and expert on neurodiversity and digital media, dives into the complexities of neurodivergent children's interactions with technology. She debunks myths linking screen time to ADHD and autism, highlighting the unique benefits digital media can offer, like fostering communication and connection. Alper emphasizes the importance of understanding not just time spent on screens, but the quality of that engagement. Plus, she explores the role of algorithms on platforms like TikTok in shaping identity, urging for safer, more inclusive digital environments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Neurodivergence Varies Widely
- Neurodivergence is a broad umbrella; media experiences vary widely across individuals and diagnoses.
- Contexts like socioeconomic status, healthcare, and education shape media use as much as diagnoses do.
Stereotypes And Spurious Causality
- Tech-savvy stereotypes of neurodivergent kids overlook underemployment and social challenges.
- Claims that screen media cause autism or ADHD are spurious and ignore developmental origins.
Ecology Explains Media Choices
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological model helps explain how home, school, and neighborhood shape media use.
- Media can fill gaps when services or safe spaces are lacking, making use sometimes necessary rather than optional.
