Monitor Your Media Use and Exposure

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Like counting calories or carbohydrates, being aware of what you consume can end up making you consume less or at least make wiser choices about your media diet. Parents often find that if they limit the hours per day or week of their children’s “screen time” (TV, video games, Internet use), children tend to be much more selective in their media choices. Monitoring your own media use—including what you read or watch intentionally as well as the peripheral messages you are exposed to along the way—encourages you to take more responsibility for your exposure to media messages.