Information for Parents

Eighth Grade

Eighth Grade

Common Sense Media Age 14

Parents Need To Know

Positive Messages
Promotes open communication between teens and parents, including through device-free dinners (in one scene, Kayla is on her phone for a whole meal, until her father asks her to take out her earbuds so they can talk), social media boundaries, and one-on-one sharing of what's going on at school and personally. Explores the difficulties of going through adolescence in the age of social media -- and the courage it takes to love and speak up for yourself as a teen.
Positive Role Models & Representations
Violence
The middle school goes through an active shooter drill in which an authority pretends to shoot the kids who didn't hide properly. He makes the kids repeat what they're supposed to do during a real school shooting.
Sex
A teen boy is thought to be masturbating in class during a sex ed video about puberty: His T-shirt is pulled over his head and knees, and noises and hand movements can be seen. A girl stares longingly and lustfully at a boy her age. Suggestive comments and conversations about hook-up culture, sharing nude photos, and "how far" Kayla has gone or is willing to go physically with a boy; she tells someone she's really good at oral sex. Kayla then researches oral sex on YouTube; video screen shots and brief glimpse of a sex toy are shown. She picks up a banana to, presumably, practice but is interrupted. A boy takes his shirt off during a game of Truth or Dare and asks Kayla to do the same; she refuses.
Language
Strong language, often used by teens: "f--k," "s--t," "d--k," "ass," "goddamn," "p---y," "Jesus Christ," "loser," etc. Also sex-related terms, including "blow job." Middle-finger gestures.
Consumerism
Several brands visible: MacBook, iPhone, LL Bean, Adidas, Steph Curry jersey, Instagram, Chevy Tahoe, Gatorade, Buzzfeed, Speedo, Vans, Coca-Cola/Diet Coke, Snapchat, Charlotte Russe, YouTube, Mountain Dew, Claire's, Hamilton calendar, Rick and Morty.
Education Value
Ease of Play
Privacy
A boy is shown sniffing a marker, presumably for a potential high.
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