Common Sense Media Announces New Common Sense Seal for TV Honorees
New options for teens are lacking, as prime-time choices are sparse; Seal helps families find TV worth watching in a complex, crowded media landscape.
San Francisco, CA – Common Sense Media, the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology, is announcing the second round of Common Sense Seal for TV honorees, building on the inaugural titles announced in October 2015. This honor aims to recognize standout new TV series and specials that offer quality media experiences families can enjoy together.
The 28 Seal awardees have met Common Sense Media's highest editorial standards for overall quality based on entertainment value, engagement, and impact, along with worthwhile themes, messages, and role models. This season's honorees include one Web series, seven TV movies, and 20 episodic series. They debuted between October 2, 2015, and March 15, 2016, and currently are available on network, cable, and streaming/online platforms.
In November 2015, the Common Sense Census found that teens and tweens are spending between six and nine hours daily with entertainment media. Common Sense aims to help parents navigate the complex media landscape and find the most compelling, high-quality content offered.
"In today's digital world, it's harder and harder for parents to eliminate screen time," said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. "With information on the quality of programming, parents can, and should, harness the power of media and technology to promote positive, healthy development."
Through innovative research and collaborations with educators, experts in child development, and parents, Common Sense has identified developmentally appropriate media that can be a powerful tool in teaching positive character strengths. As the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) is increasingly recognized, Common Sense has developed a new tool to further curate quality media: tagging TV shows and movies that demonstrate character strengths. All Common Sense TV Seal honorees promote one or more of the 11 character strengths we've highlighted which include integrity, compassion, gratitude, self-control, empathy, humility, teamwork, courage, curiosity, communication, and perseverance.
The majority of the newest Seal awardees (14) are aimed at kids age 5 to 7. Titles for preschoolers (age 2 to 4) received six Seals; and those for kids age 8 and up received eight. Notably, of the 90 newly airing shows aimed at kids age 13 and older, only one received the Seal (Degrassi Next Class).
Of the major TV networks, only NBC and CBS earned Seals during this period, with three and one shows awarded, respectively. Significantly, only one scripted prime-time offering on a major network received the seal (Supergirl). Streaming platforms accounted for five Seals, two each for Netflix and Amazon, and one for a Disney/YouTube Web series. By network, Disney accounts for the most Seals, with seven across all its platforms, comprising fully one-fourth of the newest Seal honorees.
The Common Sense Seal for TV awardees are:
TV SHOW
NETWORK
AGE
RELEASE DATE
Born This Way
A&E
12
12/8/2015
Just Add Magic
Amazon
6
1/15/2016
The Kicks
Amazon
6
Fall 2016 (pilot available 2015)
Supergirl
CBS
11
10/26/2015
Invisible Sister (TV movie)
Disney
8
10/9/2015
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (TV movie)
Disney
6
11/22/2015
Stuck in the Middle
Disney
7
3/14/2016
The Lion Guard (TV Show)
Disney Jr.
5
1/16/2016
PJ Masks
Disney Jr.
4
10/5/2015
Lab Rats: Elite Force
Disney XD
7
3/2/2016
Star Darlings (Web series)
Disney/YouTube
7
10/6/2015
How to Dance in Ohio (TV movie)
HBO
12
10/26/2015
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow (TV movie)
Lifetime
8
11/21/2015
Project Runway Junior
Lifetime
11
11/12/2015
Breakthrough
Nat Geo
12
11/1/2015
Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors (TV movie)
NBC
7
12/10/2015
Little Big Shots
NBC
6
3/8/2016
The Wiz Live (TV movie)
NBC
6
12/3/2015
Care Bears and Cousins
Netflix
3
12/18/2015
Degrassi Next Class
Netflix
14
1/15/2016
Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom
Nick Jr.
3
10/5/2015
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race to the Top
Nick Jr.
4
11/23/2015
The Halo Effect
Nickelodeon
6
1/15/2016
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir
Nickelodeon
7
12/16/2015
Nature Cat
PBS
5
11/21/2015
Ready Jet Go
PBS
3
2/15/2016
Floogals
Sprout
5
1/15/2016
Little People
Sprout
3
3/7/2016
About Common Sense Media's Ratings
Common Sense Media rates and reviews media based on a combination of two factors: age-appropriateness and quality. We rely on developmental guidelines culled from some of the nation's leading authorities to determine which content is appropriate for which ages. Common Sense Media reviews feature a content grid that evaluates specific elements of each title, including messages, role models, violence/scariness, sex, language, consumerism, and substance use. We know every family and every child is different, but all families need information to make great media choices. Common Sense Media reviews also include suggested discussion points for families, providing an opportunity for parents to talk about themes and issues that arise and to convey their own views and values. Common Sense Media ratings and reviews are available on our website, through our mobile app, and through our distribution partners. Our unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and are not influenced by the content creators or by our funders.
About Common Sense
Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families and educators thrive in a world of media and technology. We rate, educate, and advocate on behalf of kids, families, and schools. Common Sense Media, which facilitates the consumer website, offers the world's largest and most trusted library of age-based ratings and reviews of all types of content targeted at kids, and our research-based curriculum and tools are used in over 100,000 U.S. schools. For more information, go to www.commonsensemedia.org.
Press contact:
Michelle Hernandez
415-553-6797
[email protected]
###