The influence of television, video games, and the internet on children's creativity

For many children, substantial amounts of time are devoted almost every day to screen media, including television viewing, video game play, and online Internet activities. This chapter discusses exposure to these types of media activities and some of the ways they influence creativity. In particular, research investigating the extent to which different kinds of media activities might stimulate or, alternatively, have a negative reductive impact on, the development of creativity is reviewed. The evidence generally establishes a negative relationship between media use, particularly lean-back media such as television viewing, and creativity. An important positive exception is when children are exposed to educational television content that is designed to teach creativity through imaginative characters. Although many youth use newer media to view television content, children also lean forward and create content, such as online characters that engage in imaginative creative activities, such as role-playing.