Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch

What's Hot? 07/31/20

Trending Today on Twitter - 7/31/20
1. #BlackIsKing
2. #ThankYouGolic
3. #fridaymorning
4. #Eid Mubarak
5. #EpsteinFiles
6. #FridayVibes
7. Wawa
8. Steve Scalise
9. Brandy
10. Tomorrow is August
Source: Twitter

Trending Today on Google - 7/31/20
1. Herman Cain
2. NBA
3. Pacita Abad
4. John Lewis
5. Earthquake
6. Apple stock
7. Trump Twitter
8. Eid al-adha
9. Jennifer Holliday
10. Friendship Day
Source: Google

Top Five on Spotify - 7/31/20
1. cardigan - Taylor Swift
2. exile (feat. Bon Iver) - Taylor Swift
3. the 1 - Taylor Swift
4. ROCKSTAR (feat. Roddy Ricch) - DaBaby
5. Wishing Well - Juice WRLD
Source: Spotify

Top Five on Apple Music - 7/31/20
1. For The Night (feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby) - Pop Smoke
2. Mood Swings (feat. Lil Tjay) - Pop Smoke
3. the 1 - Taylor Swift
4. ROCKSTAR (feat. Roddy Ricch) - DaBaby
5. We Paid - Lil Baby & 42 Dugg
Source: Apple Music

TV Shows Trending on Streaming Services - 7/31/20
1. Cursed  - Netflix
2. Dark - Netflix
3. Perry Mason - HBO
4. Yellowstone - Peacock
5. Kingdom - Netflix
Source: Reelgood

Trending Today on YouTube - 7/31/20
1. Billie Eilish - my future
2. Mulatto - Muwop ft. Gucci Mane
3. Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer - ALREADY
4. The Official Labrant Family Labor and Delivery
5. CLIPPERS at LAKERS | Full Game Highlights
Source: YouTube

Netflix Top 5 in the U.S. Today - 7/31/20
1. shameless
2. The Kissing Booth 2
3. Animal Crackers
4. The Last Dance
5. Last Chance U
Source: Netflix

Texting Bans Save Teens Lives

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on Forbes.com.

When laws that ban teenage drivers in the United States from texting, using hand-held phones, and engaging in other distracted behavior are implemented, they work. It’s important, as motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among teens in this country, and distracted driving is known to increase the crash risk for all drivers.

Those are the highlights of a new study that set out to determine the link between state distracted driving laws and fatal crash rates involving 16- to 19-year-old drivers.

“Distracted Driving Laws and Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities," published in the journal Pediatrics in June, found that states with primary texting bans had significantly lower crash death rates overall involving teen drivers.

Researchers analyzed  38,215 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. involving teen drivers and passengers between 2007-2017, based on federal data. Deaths involving teenage drivers increased with each year of age; they were highest for 19-year-old drivers.

The number of states with any type of distracted driving law increased from 15 in 2007 to 47 in 2017, the time period of the study. Rates of fatal crashes involving 16-19-year-old drivers decreased by nearly a third during that time. Primary laws were most effective, but states with secondary laws also experienced a lower death rate than states with no laws at all. In addition, primary and secondary texting laws were associated with a reduction in teenage passenger deaths.

Source: Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2020/07/19/texting-bans-save-teens-lives-new-study-finds/#4a84165a6c23

High School Athletes Require Longer Recovery After Concussion

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on Newswise.

Young athletes are sidelined for at least one month after suffering a concussion, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study that provides new perspective on concussions and brain injuries.

The findings published by Orthopedics, a nationally recognized, peer-reviewed journal for orthopedic surgeons, are from a study conducted between September 2013 and December 2016. The study focused on 357 high school adolescents who sustained one or more concussions by analyzing historical data and then comparing it to more recent findings tied to an increase in reported concussions among young athletes.

The average age of the study’s patients was 15-and-a-half years with nearly 62% being males, the most common sport participated in by these athletes was football, followed by hockey and then soccer. From the study’s participants, 14 % reported suffering from amnesia and 33 % reported a history of concussions.

The research team also found that athletes who have suffered concussions have a higher incidence of non-contact lower extremity injuries due to balance issues after concussions which may have implications on the performance, safety, and well-being of athletes.

“Historically, the literature reported a concussion prevalence of 4-5%, however, recent studies have found that nearly 20% of adolescents have suffered at least one concussion, there’s a huge disparity in terms of reporting over time,” says Dr. Jildeh. Previously, it was thought that young age was a protective factor against concussion and that the neuroplasticity offered fast recovery. However, this thinking has been disproven with more recent studies.

Kelechi Okoroha, M.D., a Henry Ford sports medicine surgeon, and study co-author, points to the findings as a baseline for young athletes with a history of concussions, “Depending on the number of concussions, the 30-day mark gives us a baseline for how much time adolescent athletes required before returning to sport,” he says.

Source: Newswise
https://www.newswise.com/articles/study-high-school-athletes-require-longer-recovery-after-concussion

Hidden Danger: Most Young People Reporting Suicidal Thoughts Only Display Mild Mental Distress

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on StudyFinds.

When it comes to mental health awareness, it might seem reasonable that a lot of attention focuses on people at high risk for suicide. Unfortunately, a recent study finds many young people who consider harming themselves are not showing signs of mental distress.

The study in the journal BMJ Open finds the majority of young people who have suicidal thoughts fall into the low to no-risk range.

“It appears that self-harm and suicidal thinking among young people dramatically increases well within the normal or non-clinical range of mental distress,” said Professor Peter Jones from Cambridge University.

In two separate studies, over 3,400 participants between ages 14 and 24 had their common mental distress (CMD) levels analyzed.

The data reveals young people experiencing severe mental distress had the highest risk of suicide. But this only makes up a small portion of the group. Researchers say 78 and 76 percent of the subjects experiencing suicidal thoughts have only mild or moderate CMD levels, respectively.

“Our findings help explain why research focusing on high-risk subjects has yet to translate into useful clinical tools for predicting suicide risk,” Jones explains. “Self-harm and suicidal thoughts merit a swift response even if they occur without further evidence of a psychiatric disorder.”

Source: Study Finds
https://www.studyfinds.org/young-people-suicidal-thoughts-mental-distress/

CDC Issues Call to Reopen America's Schools This Fall

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on HealthDay.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a document supporting the reopening of the nation's schools this fall.

"As families and policymakers make decisions about their children returning to school, it is important to consider the full spectrum of benefits and risks of both in-person and virtual learning options," the agency said.

The COVID-19-related health risks to kids are minimal compared to those faced by adults, the CDC said.

Citing numerous studies, the agency stressed that "the best available evidence indicates if children become infected, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms. Death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults."

According to the CDC, just 7% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, and less than 0.1% of related deaths, have occurred in people under the age of 18. And so far in 2020, fewer children have died from COVID-19 than typically die from the flu in a given year.

Kids also appear to transmit the new coronavirus at a lower rate than adults, the CDC said. And as for potential transmission from children to adults, "there have also been few reports of children being the primary source of COVID-19 transmission among family members," the CDC said. "This is consistent with data from both virus and antibody testing, suggesting that children are not the primary drivers of COVID-19 spread in schools or in the community."

As to the benefits of reopening classrooms, "the harms attributed to closed schools on the social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant," the CDC said.

Poor and minority children are especially hurt by school closures, the CDC added.

Then there's the critical importance of the socialization school brings to developing children. According to the CDC, "important social interactions that facilitate the development of critical social and emotional skills are greatly curtailed or limited when students are not physically in school."

School closure and extended home quarantine are even being linked to higher rates of mental health issues in kids, including post-traumatic stress disorder, the CDC said.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/infectious-disease-information-21/coronavirus-1008/cdc-issues-call-to-reopen-america-s-schools-this-fall-759812.html

What's Hot? 07/24/20

Trending Today on Twitter - 7/24/20
1. #TheWorstEndingEver
2. #Folklore
3. #fridaymorning
4. #FridayMotivation
5. #FridayFeeling
6. Gase
7. Flo Milli
8. David Brooks
9. Jerry Taft
10. Good Friday
Source: Twitter

Trending Today on Google - 7/24/20
1. Jerry Taft
2. Sushant Singh Rajput
3. Marlon Wayans
4. Ted Yoho
5. MLB
6. Seattle Kraken
7. Taylor Swift
8. Roy Jones Jr
9. Max Ehrich
10. Washington Football Team
Source: Google

Top Five on Spotify - 7/24/20
1. The Climb Back - J. Cole
2. Wishing Well - Juice WRLD
3. Lion King On Ice - J. Cole
4. Come & Go (With Marshmello) - Juice WRLD
5. ROCKSTAR (feat. Roddy Ricch) - DaBaby
Source: Spotify

Top Five on Apple Music - 7/24/20
1. The Climb Back - J. Cole
2. Lion King On Ice - J. Cole
3. For The Night (feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby) - Pop Smoke
4. POPSTAR (feat. Drake) - DJ Khaled
5. Come & Go - Juice WRLD & Marshmello
Source: Apple Music

TV Shows Trending on Streaming Services - 7/24/20
1. Dark - Netflix
2. Hanna - Prime Video
3. Down to Earth with Zac Efron - Netflix
4. Cursed  - Netflix
5. Brave New World - Peacock
Source: Reelgood

Trending Today on YouTube - 7/24/20
1. One Direction - 10 Years of One Direction
2. Halo Infinite | Campaign Gameplay Premiere
3. J. Cole - The Climb Back
4. Halo Infinite | Campaign Gameplay Trailer
5. J. Cole - Lion King on Ice
Source: YouTube

Netflix Top 5 in the U.S. Today - 7/24/20
1. Fear City - New York vs The Mafia
2. Cursed
3. The Last Dance
4. IP MAN 4
5. Dark Desire
Source: Netflix

Excessive Screen Time for Toddlers Linked to Less Physical Activity, Stunted Development

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on Study Finds.

As the world continues to advance, technology is becoming a bigger part of every child’s development. Playing on various digital devices for too long, however, can be just as bad for kids as it is for adults. A recent study says excessive screen time may stunt a child’s growth, especially if they start using devices around age two or three.

Researchers in Singapore examined over 500 children. Their findings lead them to recommend parents follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, advising a limit of one hour per day for a child's screen time. This amount should be even less for children younger than five.

Study authors say screen time tends to replace time children usually spend sleeping or engaging in physical activity. This can lead to a variety of health problems, including high risk of obesity and lower mental development.

For the study, parents were asked to report on their children’s screen time at age two and again one year later. Activities like playing video games, watching TV, and using a tablet or phone were all included in the results.

When the children turned five, they continuously wore an activity tracker for seven days. That tracker monitors sleep, time spent sitting, and how much light-to-strenuous physical activity the youngsters get.

On average, the average child watched 2.5 hours of television. TV is the most used device. Children spending at least three hours a day in front of a screen are also spending an average of 40 more minutes sitting down compared to more active five-year-olds.

The results also revealed children at age five were also less active if they’ve been using devices too much early on. Those youths got about 30 minutes less light activity each day and 10 minutes less vigorous exercise as well.

Source: Study Finds
https://www.studyfinds.org/more-screen-time-less-activity/

Legal Marijuana May Be Slowing Reductions in Teen Marijuana Use

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on University of Washington.

The legalization of marijuana for Washington state adults may be thwarting a steady downward trend in teen marijuana use, according to new research from the University of Washington.

The longitudinal study of more than 230 teens and young adults finds that teens may be more likely to use marijuana following legalization — with the proliferation of stores and increasing adult use of the drug — than they otherwise would have been.

“When we think about marijuana legalization, a worry is that underage use may go up,” said Jennifer Bailey, the study’s lead author and principal investigator with the Social Development Research Group in the UW School of Social Work. “Early use and heavy use during adolescence can have a lot of negative health consequences, then and later in life, so we don’t want teen use to be going up.”

Researchers examined whether marijuana legalization led to teen use of the drug, as well as teens’ perceptions that the drug is harmful. Controlling for age, sex, race, and parent education of the participants, researchers found that kids who entered their teens more recently were less likely to report they’d used marijuana in the past year. For example, 11% of kids born before 2000 reported using marijuana over the past year at age 15, but only 5% of kids born after 2000 said they used marijuana at age 15.

That finding goes along with the general downward trend in teen substance use. But it was after accounting for this trend that the effect of legalization showed up, Bailey said. Controlling for the year when kids were born, teens interviewed after voter approval in 2012 of nonmedical marijuana were several times more likely to report they’d used marijuana in the past year. Bailey thinks this means that marijuana legalization may be working against the decreases in teen substance use seen in the recent past.

The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Source: University of Washington
https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/07/20/legal-marijuana-may-be-slowing-reductions-in-teen-marijuana-use-study-says/

Sleep Problems in Early Childhood Linked to Teens' Mental Health Issues

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on HealthDay.

Teens who had sleep problems as babies or tots may be at risk for mental health disorders, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 13,000 people who were part of a British study in the 1990s. Their parents reported their sleep behavior six times between the ages of 6 months and 5.8 years.

Those who had irregular sleep routines from 6 months on and who often woke at night at 18 months of age were more likely to experience psychotic episodes as teens, the study found.

Getting less sleep at night and going to bed later at age 3.5 was associated with a borderline personality disorder during adolescence, according to the University of Birmingham study published July 11 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

"We know from previous research that persistent nightmares in children have been associated with both psychosis and borderline personality disorder. But nightmares do not tell the whole story -- we've found that, in fact, a number of behavioral sleep problems in childhood can point towards these problems in adolescence," said lead researcher Isabel Morales-Muñoz, an honorary research fellow at the university.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/sleep-problems-in-early-childhood-linked-to-teens-mental-health-issues-759247.html

Parent-Teen Conflicts Less Troublesome When Teens Feel Loved

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on Yale News.

A new study from the Yale Child Study Center finds that parents can lessen the effects of inevitable conflict with their teenage children by showing emotional warmth and that this can make a difference within the course of a day.

Published in the journal Emotion, “When Do Adolescents Feel Loved?” is the first study of its kind to examine fluctuations in how loved teens feel at a daily level.

Using three weeks of daily diary entries submitted by parents and teens, the investigators — John Coffey (Yale University and Sewanee: The University of the South), Mengya Xia (University of Alabama), and Greg Fosco (Pennsylvania State University) — were able to link parents’ displays of warmth and parents’ perceptions of conflict to daily fluctuations in how loved their teens were feeling.

Irrespective of the general closeness of the parent-teen relationships, researchers found that teens reported feeling more loved on days when parents reported showing more warmth in the form of affection, understanding, and praise. Likewise, teens reported feeling less loved on days when parents reported more conflict than usual.

More importantly, the researchers said, they also found that parents can mitigate the impact of conflict by showing their teen warmth. In other words, on days when parents were warm, high levels of conflict didn’t reduce how loved teens felt.

To mitigate conflict, warmth had to be conveyed on the same day — but the warmth and conflict did not need to be related, the researchers found.

Source: Yale News
https://news.yale.edu/2020/07/14/parent-teen-conflicts-less-troublesome-when-teens-feel-loved-study-shows