Will Ferrell shows us what not to do at the dinner table

Take it from Will Ferrell, device-filled dinners are not fun.

The comedian stars in a new PSA from Common Sense, which shows how technology can easily distract from significant family time. In the video, a family gathers around the dinner table, all of them talking about how much they miss Dad. Dad, or Ferrell, is sat at the end of the table, completely distracted by Instagram.

The video accompanies a new enlightening study regarding the media habits of young children. The four-year study found that the use of media devices by children -- not surprisingly -- has skyrocketed over the past few years.

Today, nearly 95% of families with children up to the age of 8 have a smartphone. One in 10 kids 8 or under has an internet-connected smart toy, while many children watch television and play on screens before bed, much to the dissuasion of pediatricians.

Said Common Sense CEO James P. Steyer: "Over the last six years, we have seen massive growth in media use and tablet ownership, and we haven't even begun to experience the explosion of new technologies like virtual reality and voice-activated assistants in our homes. If we want to ensure our kids develop well and are successful in life, we have to make sure they get the most out of tech while protecting them from potential risks -- and that means paying close attention to the role media is playing in their lives."

You can read Common Sense's full, eye-opening report here.

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