Founder of the "Wait Until 8th" movement, Brooke Shannon, joins Dr. Delaney Ruston for a conversation. Brooke shares insights on the Wait Until 8th pledge, its community-based approach, and strategies for parents to manage digital exposure responsibly. 

The conversation also covers personal experiences, handling pushbacks, and practical steps for parents who have already given their kids smartphones and/or social media but decide they want to rein in their use. 

Time Code:

00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

00:31 Introducing Brooke Shannon and Wait Until 8th

02:47 How the Wait Until 8th Pledge Works

04:20 Partnership with Screenagers and Community Impact

07:46 Brooke's Personal Story and Motivation

13:57 Challenges and Pushbacks

19:25 Practical Tips for Parents

20:38 Parental Controls and Ongoing Conversations

27:43 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes

Resources:

1. Wait Until 8th

2. Brooke Shannon

3. Smartphone alternatives

4. Social media family-conversation guide

In recent days, Instagram has launched a range of new features designed to protect teens who are using the platform. Today we revisit this episode of the Screenagers podcast where Dr. Ruston spoke with three teen girls from middle school, high school, and college about their experiences, both good and bad, with Instagram.

They discuss why they joined the platform, how they use it, and the types of content they see, including ads and influencer posts. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of social media, including issues of comparison, curated posts, and the prevalence of ads. In addition, they touch on issues of subliminal messaging and the risks and benefits of posting about one’s true emotional state. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

01:20 Meet the Teen Guests

02:31 First Impressions of Instagram

04:54 The Allure and Pitfalls of Instagram

09:16 Ads and Influencers: A Deep Dive

13:10 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

22:35 Likes, Comments, and Posting Etiquette

27:18 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with author Peggy Orenstein about a media-fueled risky sexual practice that is happening among some teens today — choking, also called sexual strangulation. Orenstein, who has spent many years researching sexuality among youth for her books “Girls and Sex” and “Boys and Sex,” investigated the topic of sexual choking for a New York Times article that was published last month. Today, Orenstein shares some of her findings from that investigation, including the influence of pornography and other media on this new trend.  What are the psychological and physical risks of this practice? And what are ways to have productive conversations with young people on this and related topics? This episode also includes a 19-year-old discussing her concerns about sexual choking. This episode is intended for adult audiences. 

Featured Expert

Peggy Orenstein

Research References

The Troubling Trend in Teen Sex -New York Times Article by Peggy Orenstein

What is rough sex, who does it, and who likes it? Findings from a probability sample of US undergraduate students (Archives of Sexual Behavior)

Additional Links 

Yes Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know about Today’s Teens and Sex, by Debby Herbenick

Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between,  by Shafia Zaloum

Want Me by Tracy, by Clark Flory

Girls and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein 

Boys and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

00:17 The Shocking Reality of Choking in Sexual Encounters Among Youth

01:18 Mainstream Media's Role in Normalizing BDSM and Choking

02:02 Insightful Conversation with Peggy Ornstein on Sexual Strangulation

05:42 The Alarming Data on Choking Among College Students

07:42 The Influence of Media and Social Media on Sexual Behavior

13:24 Addressing the Risks and How to Talk About Them

20:56 Empowering Youth to Speak Out and Advocate for Safety

24:12 Concluding Thoughts and Resources for Challenging Conversations

In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Casey O’Roarty, Med., who is a well-recognized expert in Positive Discipline, particularly when it comes to tweens and teens. She is the author of Joyful Courage and the host of the Joyful Courage podcast and has spent over 15 years working with families. In this episode, Casey provides real-life anecdotes about when kids sneak screen time when they have meltdowns and other behaviors, and she explores fostering curiosity, addressing meltdowns, and finding the delicate balance between having firmness while fostering a strong parent-child relationship.  In addition, another guest, a mother of three kids,  shares her experience with ditching her old parenting ways to adopt the Positive Discipline approach.

Show Notes

Casey O’Roarty’s website

Sometimes, gaming is not all fun and games. Foul words and degrading comments are all too common when kids and teens play video games together. From first-person shooter games like Call of Duty to building games like Minecraft and Roblox, competitive banter can be ugly. In this episode, Dr Ruston talks with Dr. Kishonna Gray, assistant professor of digital studies at the University of Kentucky, who researches various human dynamics that occur during video gaming. Dr. Gray works with parents and youth on how to manage the hard parts of gaming culture and shares many insights and solutions on today’s show. A teen gamer adds thoughts as well. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Kishona Gray

We're bringing back this episode today to help with the common arguments in the home about screen time and what to do. What is a parenting strategy that can promote healthy screen use, and other positive behaviors, while at the same time decrease fighting? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with one of her favorite parenting experts, Dr. Tammy Fisher Huson, about a strategy that has made a real difference in Dr. Ruston's own home. 

Parenting kids has always had challenges, but now, in the tech revolution, conflicts are at a new level. The good news is that research shows that conflicts done well have all sorts of benefits for youth. But how do we ensure healthier conflicts? On today’s episode, Dr. Ruston talks with Lisa Damour, Ph.D. psychologist and author of three New York Times best-selling books about adolescents, including “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” The episode explores teen psychology, common screen time arguments, and several approaches to having healthier conflicts. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Lisa Damour’s website 

The Ask Lisa Podcast

Books by Lisa Damour:

Untangled

Under Pressure 

The Emotional Lives Of Teenagers

Concerns over Snapchat use by its many young users seem to be discussed much less than concerns over TikTok and Instagram. Yet, issues with Snapchat are plenty — be it social conflicts or the sexually explicit material that can be seen on the app. In today's episode, Dr. Ruston discusses these topics and more with a high school boy and a young woman in college. The guests discuss problems created by the App's Snapscore feature, which is a ranking given to users based on how many snaps they send or receive. In addition, they talk about social conflicts that can happen on the app, issues around sexual content, and suggestions to parents regarding when to allow the app and how to talk about it with kids.  

The birth of Snapchat

How Snapchat defines Snapscore

Snapchat’s Discover page and connection to Cosmo

About OnlyFans

In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston dives into the pressing issue of social media addiction through the story of one young person, Lars, and insights from the chief of addiction medicine at Stanford, Ana Lembke, MD, and longtime media researcher Douglas Gentile, PhD. Through Lar’s struggle with social media addiction, listeners gain an intimate look at the impact of social media on mental health and identity. The episode sheds light on the various ways compulsive social media use can impact a young person and delves into the science behind digital addiction. Ultimately, Dr. Ruston and her guests offer valuable tips on how to know when social media use is in the zone of a clinical addiction and, most importantly, how to help teens who are in that zone, or wobbling there, to break free. 

Anna Lembke, MD

Douglas Gentile, Ph.D.

Anna Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation

Lars May and Half The Story

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks to author and psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff, Ph.D.,  about the power of self-compassion. They discuss the prevalent issue of self-criticism among parents, particularly regarding screen time, and how adopting self-compassion can help navigate such challenges. Dr. Neff and Dr. Ruston share personal parenting experiences along the way.  The episode provides practical advice to help listeners, parents, and teens initiate their own self-compassion practice.

Kristin Neff, PhD

Self-compassion and Psychological Resilience Among Adolescents and Young Adults (Self and Identity) 

Development and Validation of the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (Journal of Personality Assessment) 

The Development and Assessment of a Scale to Measure Self Assessment  (Self and Identity)

Dr. Kristin Neff’s Website 

Two Books by Dr Neff:

Self Compassion: The Proven Power Of Being Kind To Yourself

Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive

In this episode, Dr. Ruston tackles some of the thorniest screen time parenting issues with social worker Charlie Appelstein. Appelstein is the author of the popular book No Such Thing As A Bad Child. Using the framework of strength-based parenting, they explore strategies to help when youth break screen time rules and lie. They talk about creating fair consequences and what to do when teens are overly dismissive and mean to their parents.  With over 40 years of working with youth and parents, Appelstein has a wealth of effective interventions at his fingertips.

Charlie Appelstein, MSW

00:04 Introduction 

01:15 Understanding Strength-Based Parenting

02:14 Applying Strength-Based Parenting in Real-Life Scenarios

02:38 Addressing the Issue of Chores and Screen Time

05:10 The Power of Positive Reinforcement

06:12 Dealing with Adolescent Anger and Separation

09:03 Setting Boundaries and Consequences

21:21 Understanding and Addressing Lying

25:57 Conclusion: The Power of Reframing and Strength-Based Parenting

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Ruston focuses on the science behind teen risky decision-making, both online and offline. Dr. Ruston speaks with researchers who shed light on the latest brain science, helping us better understand the biology behind adolescents' decision-making processes. With insights from experts such as psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, parents will glean practical advice on guiding their children toward wiser decisions and setting fair consequences for rule-breaking.

EPISODE NOTES

‍Research References

Adolescents’ Cognitive Capacity Reaches Adult Levels Prior to Their Psychosocial Maturity: Evidence for a “Maturity Gap” in a Multinational, Cross-Sectional Sample (Law and Human Behavior)

Biological substrates of emotional reactivity and regulation in adolescence during an emotional go-nogo task (Biological Psychiatry)

Adriana Galvan, PhD

Laurence Steinberg, PhD

Lisa Damour, PhD

Anna Lambke, MD

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, physician/filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston gives some parenting highlights from her new movie Screenagers: Elementary School Edition. Key topics include handling meltdowns during screen time transitions, promoting open communication around social media, and mitigating the negative impacts of violent media. Practical parenting strategies and the importance of active mediation are emphasized, alongside insights from child psychologist Lizz Dexter-Mazza, PsyD, and media researcher and psychologist Doug Gentile, PhD.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote

00:49 Meet Delaney Rustin and Screenagers

00:57 Overview of Screenagers Elementary School Edition

01:49 Parenting Solutions for Screen Time Meltdowns

02:08 Understanding and Managing Meltdowns

03:37 The Importance of Consistency

04:33 Seeking Help for Persistent Issues

04:52 Safety First: Encouraging Open Communication

07:31 Active Mediation vs. Co-Viewing

10:48 Motivational Interviewing with Teens

11:43 Conclusion and Additional Resources

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores the complex issue of weed use among teenagers in today's digital world. The discussion delves into how cannabis is portrayed and often glamorized on social media and the potential risks this poses to young people, including addiction and mental health concerns. The episode also sheds light on the cannabis industry’s lack of stringent regulation and the dangers of high THC products. Importantly, Dr. Ruston offers practical strategies for parents to engage in effective and meaningful conversations with their teens about cannabis use.

Research References

Potency levels of regulated cannabis products in Michigan 2021–2022  (Journal of Forensic Sciences) 

Recent rapid decrease in adolescents’ perception that marijuana is harmful, but no concurrent increase in use  (Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Acute Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescent Marijuana Users (JAMA Pediatrics)

Featured Experts

Sharon Levy, MD

Pam Ling, MD

Additional Links

Recovery support in general 

Marajuana anonymous

Time code of the episode

00:04 Introduction to the Podcast

00:38 Teenagers' Perspective on Cannabis and Social Media

01:53 The Intersection of Cannabis Use and Screen Time

02:28 Medical Misconceptions about Cannabis

03:59 Personal Stories of Cannabis Use and Mental Health

04:19 The Risks of Cannabis Use for Mental Health

05:47 The Reality of Cannabis Addiction

09:26 The Impact of High THC Concentration in Cannabis

11:28 The Role of Vaping in Cannabis Use

12:33 The Need for Regulation in the Cannabis Industry

16:11 Strategies for Talking to Teens about Cannabis

18:52 Seeking Help for Cannabis Addiction

21:19 Personal Strategies for Decreasing Cannabis Use

22:27 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

On today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston dives into the world of teens, vaping, and the cunning tactics e-cigarette companies use on social media. We'll uncover the health hazards of vaping, examine how influencers glamorize it, and we will expose deceptive marketing strategies. Joining me are Dr. Pam Ling and Rob Jackler, featured in my latest film,  Screenagers Under The Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age. They shed light on vaping's dangers and the industry's slick ploys to lure in young people. I also discuss how to empower our youth to see through these manipulations and protect themselves from the vaping industry's grasp.

Research References

Young adult responses to COVID-19 themed tobacco and nicotine product marketing on social media (British Medical Journal). 

#ecig: How Social Media is Changing the Ad Game (Johnson & Wales University)

Effects of Social Media on Adolescents’ Willingness and Intention to Use E-Cigarettes: An Experimental Investigation    (Nicotine and Tobacco Research)

New Approach to Decrease Smoking Among Young Adult Bar Patrons (Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Time Code

00:04 Introduction to the Podcast

00:10 Understanding the Vaping Industry and Its Influence on Teens

00:36 The Role of Social Media in Promoting Vaping

01:55 The Misconceptions about Vaping and E-cigarettes

03:22 The Dangers of Vaping and E-cigarette Chemicals

06:09 The Deceptive Marketing Strategies of Vaping Companies

07:47 The Impact of Influencer Marketing on Vaping

11:50 Activism and Its Role in Combating Vaping

14:57 The Role of FDA and Regulatory Loopholes

19:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston interviews journalist Dashka Slater about her new book, Accountable, where she writes about the true story of a social media account run by a small group of teens who posted racist memes. The account spread quickly and got edgier as it went. The book follows the account’s profound effect on the teens, friends, and high school. Dr. Ruston's interview with Slater dives into issues like what compels teens to do things they know are out of bounds, such as acts of racism, the difference between guilt and shame, and transformative justice. Slater discusses methods of communicating with children about preventing doing such acts, and Dr. Ruston provides strategies for them to use when they encounter friends who do, and shares advice for parents and teens on dealing with the repercussions of online racism and the complexities of forgiveness and empathy.

Here is a link to Dashka Slater’s website, where you can find a link to her book and much more.

Here is Slater’s Substack, where she has lesson plans, too.

00:04 Introduction and Overview

01:04 The Epidemic of Online Racism

01:43 Unveiling the Story of 'Accountable'

02:42 The Impact of Racist Online Activities

03:01 The Discovery and Consequences of the Racist Account

08:34 The Role of Video Games in Promoting Offensive Language

10:10 The Creation and Spread of the Racist Account

11:35 The Bystander Effect and Group Dynamics

18:52 The Impact on the Victims

21:38 Understanding Different Types of Justice

24:56 The Role of Restorative Justice in Schools

44:43 The Power of Forgiveness and Healing

47:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today on The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston discusses skillful ways to respond when your kids break the family tech rules.  One of the most challenging things for parents is knowing how to respond when kids break rules around screen time. Dr. Ruston talks about increasing the chances of kids following rules by getting collaborative input from them. 

Discover the powerful strategy of a "love ambush" and becoming a mental health warrior. In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston unveils the transformative impact of showing up unannounced to support those facing mental health challenges. Through personal stories and practical advice, Dr. Ruston unveils an approach to combatting isolation and building a caring team. 

Summer's heating up. In today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores how we can help teens have a better understanding of what makes up positive romantic relationships, including physical intimacy. In a past survey, teens between the ages of 14 and 17 were asked what sources help them understand sex. Thirty-one percent responded that helpful information was most likely to come from parents and 22 % said friends. Dr. Ruston says parents are a great resource if they want to take on this challenge and get better at it.

In today’s episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston shares recommendations for podcasts that you can listen to with your family this summer. 

So why these recommendations? Well, one of the objectives of the Screenagers movement is finding ways to connect youth and adults for meaningful conversations, not just about tech in our lives, but ways to help build in our kids' critical thinking, empathy, communication skills, and Dr. Ruston is a strong believer that listening to podcasts together and then discussing them can be a really terrific way to do that. It's also a way to celebrate one of the pearls of our tech revolution: the ability of people to become podcasters and to share science, stories, advice, and more.

In today’s episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with an 11-year-old girl, Mira, regarding what she likes about the popular gaming platform Roblox and the video game Minecraft. Mira also shares experiences she’s had with strangers while gaming. Mira discusses specific encounters and how she has handled such situations. Mira’s mom joins for part of the episode. If you have kids who do online gaming, listening to this episode with them can help spark important conversations.

As teens head back to school with even more emotional challenges than ever before due to the pandemic, providing them tools to address such challenges is crucial. Studies show that Social and Emotional Learning, called SEL, can help improve emotional well-being, academics, and more. In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Jordan Posamentier, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Committee for Children, about what constitutes effective SEL programs and how specifically all of us can advocate for getting SEL into all schools.

There was JUUL. Now there is ZYN. Big Tobacco is continuing to make its business model addiction, and its customer base teens and young adults.

In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Dr. Robert Jackler, an expert on how Big Tobacco targets teens with slick and deceptive advertising and misleading products.

Dr. Jackler, a professor at Stanford, talks about ZYN, the small flavored nicotine pouches that are going viral on social media. Created as a so-called safer means of harm reduction for vapes and cigarettes, ZYN packs a powerful punch of nicotine, making them just as harmful.

Dr. Jackler, who conducted research on pouch nicotine for the World Health Organization, shares how ZYN is being deceptively marketed to teens, how they lead to nicotine addiction, and what parents and teens can do to help those who are hooked.

This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences. 

Featured Expert

Dr. Robert Jackler

Research References

Stanford Research into The Impact of Tobacco Advertisin

Additional Links 

Quit The Hit

Hope Lab

UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education

Truth Initiative: This Is Quitting

Time Code

00:00 The Rise of Nicotine Addiction

00:28 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

00:45 Expert Insights with Dr. Robert Jackler

01:10 The Dangers of Nicotine Pouches

03:07 Tobacco Industry Tactics

06:16 Marketing Strategies Targeting Teens

09:14 Flavors and Their Appeal

14:16 Quitting Nicotine: Strategies and Support

17:42 Conclusion and Resources

In today’s episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with two mothers who have been working to have specific family times with less screen interference. First is a mom of four and her experience of doing screen-free family Sundays. Learn about the upsides and the challenges. The other is a mom in Alaska who has prioritized reading with her kids and how they keep screens at bay during this sacred time.  This episode can be a good launching point for experimenting with new screen-free times in your home. 

We've all heard the importance of parents showing a united front to their kids about rules. It’s a good thing to be united, but what about when you’re not? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston looks at strategies parents can turn to when in disagreement — whether married or divorced. We gain insights from clinical psychologist Laura Kastner, Ph.D., and school counselor Tammy Fisher Huson, Ph.D., who both have spent decades working with youth and parents. And we hear from researcher, Doug Gentile, who followed 1400 families for a year regarding family rules.

We are doing episodes on ways families experiment with having specific times for more togetherness and less screen interference. Today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast is with Tiffany Shlain and her daughter, Odessa. Tiffany is the founder of the Webby Awards, a filmmaker, and the author of the book 24/6. The podcast explores her family’s weekly ritual of unplugging Friday night to Saturday evening for “Tech Shabbat.” Tiffany and Odessa explain the what, why, and how of their weekly practice. 

When it comes to cyberbullying, what's fact and what's fiction? What do all kids need to know about how to handle online cruelty and how to help those getting targeted? And what can parents and schools do to be most helpful? On this episode of The Screenagers Project, Dr. Delaney Ruston speaks with psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Englander, who has spent decades researching and writing books on these topics. 

This spring, as vaccination rates increase, more schools are opening their campuses for in-person learning. At the same time, anxiety about returning to school is high for many youth.  How do we help our kids and teens who are experiencing anxious feelings related to school? To address this topic on The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston speaks with a high school student and two child psychologists, Dr. Elizabeth Englander, a researcher, and Dr. Laura Kastner, a clinical psychologist.

Frustrated with his obsession with video gaming, Cam Adair wrote a post about his struggles that went viral. This led to his starting a movement that has brought together thousands to work to create a balanced life at Gamequitters.com. Cam is an international speaker who shares his story about gaming addiction and offers advice to youth and their parents. In today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, he shares his powerful personal story along with his wealth of insights for any youth who enjoys video gaming and any parent who is working to ensure a balanced life for their child.

Everyone knows that many young people play video games based on violent themes, and that shows have far more violence than when adults were kids. When COVID hit, many parents started to allow their kids to play games that they wouldn't have before COVID just because it has been such a source of connection and whatnot.  In today’s episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston wants to understand what are the ways that this violence impacts our youth. We hear from one of Dr. Ruston’s favorite researchers in this area, Douglas Gentile, Ph.D., a child psychologist who has been doing groundbreaking research in this field for over 25 years.

These days Dr. Delaney Ruston hears parents’ concerns around all the video gaming their kids are doing — as well as social media and other screen time.  Some are worried about the risks of developing an addiction to technology. in today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Ruston talks with Ed Spector,  Psy.D., a psychologist who has specialized in working with young people who have been struggling with problematic video gaming and internet use for over a decade.  What is gaming disorder, and why do roughly 50% of teens report feeling addicted to technology? Most importantly, what strategies does Dr. Spector use with his clients that can help all parents help their kids gain more balance in their tech lives, particularly now during COVID?

False information about vaccines has been around before social media, but now it can spread that much faster. The results have been deadly. We all want safe and effective vaccines against COVID.  In today' episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston breaks down some of the false information around vaccines, explores amazing vaccine history, and relates this all to COVID. We also hear from kids and from a renowned vaccine researcher, Dr. Parker Small.

Now more than ever, it is crucial to have the ability to spot disinformation on the internet. How skillful are our kids at spotting disinformation? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, we meet the director of the Stanford History Education Group, Joel Breakstone, PhD, who has researched this topic — and it is not pretty. His team has analyzed how college students, historians, and fact-checkers evaluate websites in order to create effective strategies for spotting disinformation. We learn why the C.R.A.P. Test is outdated, and we hear from teens about how they decide not to reshare a post on social media.

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast Dr. Delaney Ruston is joined by her film and Screenagers partner, Lisa Tabb, to discuss their 'Away for the Day' campaign, which aims to remove smartphones and smartwatches from students during school hours to improve their academic and social well-being. 

They explore the campaign's benefits, the rapid rise of this challenge in elementary schools, and myths surrounding phone policies. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the current NY Times bestselling book The Anxious Generation, also joins Delaney to discuss the negative impact of digital distractions on education.

The episode highlights the global movement towards phone-free schools and urges listeners to support the initiative by visiting awayfortheday.org. The episode also includes an exciting announcement about the upcoming new Screenagers film, which will be released in September called Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition.

Show Notes

Featured Expert

Jonathan Haidt

Research References

Away For The Day

Additional links

Movies: Screenagers Movies

Time code

00:00 Introduction and Exciting Announcement

01:01 Special Episode: Away for the Day Campaign

02:20 Benefits of Phones Away for the Day

03:52 Global Adoption of Away for the Day Policies

11:38 Challenges and Pushbacks

17:51 Student Perspectives and School Experiences

20:43 Interview with Jonathan Haidt

29:29 Conclusion and Call to Action

With back to school starting, and with all the online and offline stressors our kids are facing, The Screenagers Podcast is about improving their well-being by focusing on healthy sleep. Have your kids and teens listen to this show with you! Hear fascinating insights from Dr. Judy Owens, the Director of Sleep Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, and a neurology professor at Harvard Medical School. Explore the latest brain research with neuroscientist Adriana Galvan from UCLA and hear ideas from parents and a teen. Learn new ideas around increasing your child’s chance of getting brain-nourishing sleep now — during these incredibly challenging times — and into the future.

Arguments in the home about screen time are common and more so when school is in session, so what to do? What is a parenting strategy that can promote healthy screen use, and other positive behaviors, while at the same time decrease fighting? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with one of her favorite parenting experts, Dr. Tammy Fisher Huson, about a strategy has made a real difference in Dr. Ruston's own home. 

*And one quick note, past episodes were intentionally created for parents to listen to with their kids but this one is more geared for parents. That said, if you do share it with your kids or teens it may spark a helpful conversation about how your communication is going. 

 It is a brand new world where regular people of all ages can become stars on the internet overnight. But how do young influencers become brand marketers? Is it different for female and male influencers? Kids and teens feel connected and trust YouTubers they follow, but are they aware they are being marketed to? And how is this type of marketing affecting our kids' self-esteem? Today’s episode of The Screenagers Podcast features a talent manager for influencers who gives a behind-the-scenes look at these questions, along with teens who share their personal experiences.

Time on TikTok has been skyrocketing. Why is it attracting such huge numbers of teens? What positives can happen on the app, and what are some of the risks? The sheer amount of time it consumes is what most young people say is TikTok’s biggest downside. On today's episdoe of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston speaks with two teenagers, Marie and Manisha, who answer these questions and others. Dr. Ruston puts on her metaphorical doctor’s coat when both girls share that they want to change their behavior on TikTok. She helps them decide a plan of action, and then we flash forward to hear how they did with their goals. 

Why do some kids and teens get overly frustrated and bored when it’s time to turn off their video games? How to know when game playing has become excessive? What are tips that all families should know for ensuring healthy video game play? In today’s episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores these issues along with a new model of brain biology to help explain irritability and boredom associated with video gaming.  We hear from teens along with psychiatrist Dr. Clifford Sussman who specializes in helping young people regain tech balance. We also hear from Andrew Fulton who was in the film, Screenagers, when he was getting treatment at an internet rehab center, and is now working at the same center helping others recover from videogame overuse.

We're revisiting this poignant episode that highlights how important it is for parents to regularly check-in with their kids about their online activity and behaviors. Dr. Delaney Ruston interviews journalist Dashka Slater about her book, Accountable, where she writes about the true story of a social media account run by a small group of teens who posted racist memes. The account spread quickly and got edgier as it went. The book follows the account’s profound effect on the teens, friends, and high school.

Slater dives into issues like what compels teens to do things they know are out of bounds, such as acts of racism, the difference between guilt and shame, and transformative justice. Slater discusses methods of communicating with children about preventing doing such acts, and Dr. Ruston provides strategies for them to use when they encounter friends who do, and shares advice for parents and teens on dealing with the repercussions of online racism and the complexities of forgiveness and empathy.

Here is a link to Dashka Slater’s website, where you can find a link to her book and much more.

Here is Slater’s Substack, where she has lesson plans, too.

00:04 Introduction and Overview

01:04 The Epidemic of Online Racism

01:43 Unveiling the Story of 'Accountable'

02:42 The Impact of Racist Online Activities

03:01 The Discovery and Consequences of the Racist Account

08:34 The Role of Video Games in Promoting Offensive Language

10:10 The Creation and Spread of the Racist Account

11:35 The Bystander Effect and Group Dynamics

18:52 The Impact on the Victims

21:38 Understanding Different Types of Justice

24:56 The Role of Restorative Justice in Schools

44:43 The Power of Forgiveness and Healing

47:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, Dr Ruston talks with three teen girls from middle school, high school, and college about their experiences, both good and bad, with Instagram. They discuss why they joined the platform, how they use it, and the types of content they see, including ads and influencer posts. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of social media, including issues of comparison, curated posts, and the prevalence of ads. In addition, they touch on issues of subliminal messaging and the risks and benefits of posting about one’s true emotional state. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

01:20 Meet the Teen Guests

02:31 First Impressions of Instagram

04:54 The Allure and Pitfalls of Instagram

09:16 Ads and Influencers: A Deep Dive

13:10 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

22:35 Likes, Comments, and Posting Etiquette

27:18 Final Thoughts and Farewell

How do we get our kids to make healthier choices when it comes to resisting junk food, smoking, or social media? In today’s podcast episode, Dr. Ruston talks with David Yeager, a leading researcher in the science of youth behavior change, motivation, and the power of mindsets, which are essentially our beliefs.

Yeager studies show what happens when youth — who don’t like to be manipulated —  are taught about companies’ manipulative tactics.

This episode also features segments from our movie, Screenagers Under the Influence, which address the impacts of deceptive marketing by e-cigarette companies like Juul. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences. 

Featured Expert

David Yeager, PhD

Research References

Harnessing adolescent values to reduce unhealthy Snacking (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America)

Values-Alignment Messaging Boosts Adolescents' Motivation to Control Social Media Use (Child Development)

Additional links

Book: "10 to 25, The Science of Motivating Young People," by David S. Yaeger

‍Stanford Research into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising 

Robert Jackler, MD

Movie: Screenagers Under The Influence

The Influence of the National truth® Campaign on Smoking Initiation

Time code

00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

00:36 The Art and Science of Communicating with Teens

01:22 Interview with Researcher David Yeager

02:26 Screenagers Under the Influence: Vaping and Juul

06:44 The Junk Food Industry's Manipulative Tactics

19:04 Impact of Anti-Smoking Campaigns

21:56 Conclusion and Call to Action

Featured Expert

David Johnson Ed.D LMHC

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction: The Impact of Parental Trauma on Parenting

01:16 Meet Dr. David Johnson: Insights on Trauma and Parenting

02:10 Understanding Trauma: Definitions and Effects

04:57 Trauma Responses and Their Impact on Behavior

08:15 Screen Time Conflicts: Analyzing Parental Reactions

10:41 The Power of Insight and Intention in Overcoming Trauma

27:58 Family Dynamics and Counseling: Strategies for Healing

30:32 Conclusion and Invitation to Engage

Is social media, smartphones, and the sheer amount of time that young people are on screens really the main reason for the rise in mental health problems of today’s youth? On today’s episode, we delve into this pressing issue with Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, and author of the current New York Times bestselling book, "The Anxious Generation". His insights provide a clear and compelling explanation of why this indeed is likely the case. Beyond just correlational studies, what do actual experiments show us about the link between teen mental health and screen time? Why is the time of puberty particularly concerning when it comes to handing over smartphones and social media? Why does social media seem to impact girls more negatively than boys? These are just some of the questions that today’s episode addresses. In addition, Haidt offers two solutions for improving teen mental health. This episode is not just for adults but also for teens who are directly affected by these issues. Of note, suicidal ideation is mentioned briefly in the episode. 

Featured Expert

Jonathan Haidt, PhD

Research References

Links to research discussed in the episode

Additional Links 

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Time Code

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, Dr. Delaney explores the alarming rise of sleep deprivation among teens starting in 2012, coinciding with the rise of screen time. Featuring clips from Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition and insights from experts Lauren Hale, PhD, and Judith Owens, MD, the episode delves into new brain science around kids and sleep deprivation and health risks linked to melatonin.  Listeners are provided practical advice on how to promote healthy sleep habits, including preventing dependency to digital devices and melatonin. 

Time Codes:

00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

00:29 The Sleep Deprivation Epidemic

02:08 Scientific Insights on Sleep and Brain Health

03:47 Impact of Devices on Sleep

06:23 The Melatonin Debate

08:33 Melatonin Usage and Risks

12:49 Melatonin and Puberty

14:00 Concerns About Long-Term Melatonin Use in Children

14:43 Marketing Melatonin as a Natural Sleep Aid

15:36 The Dangers of Conditioning Kids to Need Sleep Aids

18:03 Parental Strategies for Managing Device Use

19:28 Real-Life Examples of Device Management

21:19 Encouraging Better Sleep Habits in Teens

23:14 Final Thoughts on Melatonin and Sleep Dependency

25:11 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Resources:

Lauren Hale, Ph.D. 

Bio: https://publichealth.stonybrookmedicine.edu/faculty/LaurenHale

Study #1

“Researchers followed nine and ten year olds, and at baseline, they collected data from the kids, from the parents, and analyzed brain skins. Then they followed up with them two years later. The kids, who were insufficient sleepers Compared to the kids who were sufficient sleepers, had changes in their brain development, especially in areas like the basal ganglia and the temporal lobe.

And this corresponded with worse mental health outcomes, worse behavioral outcomes, and measurements of intelligence were lower. This is concerning that insufficient sleep among kids may have lasting consequences. Um, brain development, and possibly into adulthood.”

• Yang, F. N., Xie, W., & Wang, Z. Effects of sleep duration on neurocognitive development in early adolescents in the USA: a propensity score matched, longitudinal, observational study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 6(10), 2022.

Study #2

“My team and I analyzed numerous studies in which we included youth age 6 to 17.

And we showed that just having a mobile device, which includes a phone, a tablet, In the bedroom, even if they didn't use it, was associated with almost a two fold risk of insufficient sleep duration.”

• Carter, B., et al. Association Between Portable Screen-Based Media Device Access or Use and Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 170(12), 1202–1208, 2016.

Judy Owen, M.D. 

Bio: https://www.childrenshospital.org/directory/judith-owens

Study #1

"Recent study... over 500 percent increase in accidental ingestions of melatonin... poison control center reports of a child accidentally taking melatonin."

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Pediatric Melatonin Ingestions — United States, 2012–2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(22), 725–729.

Study #2

"...study that was published out of Canada a few years ago that looked at a wide range of preparations of melatonin that were labeled as being five milligrams. And they... analyzed, with a specific chemical test, how much melatonin these preparations actually contained. It ranged from zero milligrams to 20 milligrams. And in addition to that, about a quarter of the samples they tested had serotonin... Serotonin is what we call a precursor of melatonin. So serotonin is metabolized into melatonin."

• Erland, L. A. E., & Saxena, P. K. (2017). Melatonin Natural Health Products and Supplements: Presence of Serotonin and Significant Variability of Melatonin Content. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(02), 275–281.

Study #3

"We know that melatonin... has an effect on reproductive hormones... There may be some impact on pubertal development of melatonin. Melatonin in humans could potentially have two different effects. It could delay the onset or the beginning of puberty development because it has these suppressing effects on reproductive hormones, or alternatively, if you stop melatonin use in a prepubertal child... you could actually trigger them into early puberty... We have data in animal models that suggests that melatonin has these effects. We don't have that evidence yet in humans... One study looked very short term on the effects of melatonin in children with autism and measured their reproductive hormones as well as some other chemicals in the body and brain and did not find any effect in the short term, but again, the long term meaning of melatonin... years worth of use of melatonin."

Boafo, A., Greenham, S., Alenezi, S., Robillard, R., Pajer, K., Tavakoli, P., & De Koninck, J. (2019). Could long-term administration of melatonin to prepubertal children affect timing of puberty? A clinician’s perspective. Nature and Science of Sleep, Volume 11, 1–10.

In this episode, host Dr. Delaney discusses problematic social media use with therapist and media addiction expert Tracy Markle. Tracy is the founder and co-director of the Digital Media Treatment and Education Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Tracy explains the critical effects social media can have on teen mental health, particularly in girls and shares the therapeutic approaches she used in working with one teen girl in overcoming problematic social media.

Markle employs a family system approach and shares insights on how she included the mom in the treatment approach. 

Resources:

Tracy Markle, MA, LPC founder of Digital Media

Time Code:

00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

01:41 The Impact of Social Media on Teens

02:38 Case Study: A High Schooler's Struggle

03:53 Therapeutic Approaches and Family Systems

05:56 Challenges and Consequences of Social Media Overuse

14:34 Motivational Interviewing and Setting Boundaries

29:25 Skill Building and Final Thoughts

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Delaney dives into a question that sparks debate among educators, parents, and safety experts: Is it safer for students to have their phones during a school lockdown, or could it do more harm than good?

To tackle this complex topic, Dr. Ruston speaks with a school superintendent, two police officers, and Clayton Cranford, a retired school resource officer and founder of Total Safety Solutions. Cranford, who works with schools across the country to improve safety protocols, brings a wealth of real-world experience to the conversation.

Our guests describe scenarios where misinformation and panic have escalated in lockdown situations due to student cell phone use—and how this has, at times, interfered with emergency response efforts. Together, the guests unpack the pros and cons of current phone policies and offer practical recommendations to strike the right balance between connectivity and safety.

To learn about 'Away for the Day', the Screenagers campaign to get phones and smartwatches out of schools visit AwayForTheDay.org

Featured Expert 

Clayton Cranford

Resources

Away for the Day

Common Pushbacks

Total Safety Solutions, LLC

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

00:50 The Case for Phone-Free Schools

01:45 School Safety Concerns and Phone Policies

02:17 Interviews with Experts on School Safety

03:15 Real-Life Incidents and Lessons Learned

05:10 Expert Opinions on Phone Policies

05:25 Challenges Faced by School Administrators

06:38 Understanding Swatting Incidents

09:37 Interview with Clayton Cranford

10:07 Best Practices for School Safety

14:01 The Impact of Phones on School Safety

19:40 Conclusion and Resources

Host Dr. Delaney interviews Natalie Foos, director of VoiceBox and lead author of the eye-opening report, “Coded Companions: Young People’s Relationships with AI Chat Bots."

The discussion centers on the risks posed by AI chatbots in young people's lives, using examples like Snapchat’s My AI and the AI companion app Replika. The report provides concrete examples of deeply troubling things the AIs said to users during testing, conducted with young adults aged 18 to 24.

They discuss concerning features, such as how My AI uses location tracking to target young users with ads and emphasize the importance of educating both youth and adults about the potential dangers of AI companions, particularly regarding data privacy, emotional impact, and ethical implications.

Resources

Coded Companions: Young People’s Relationships With AI Chat Bots 

Natalie Foos, Director of VoiceBox

VoiceBox

VoiceBox’s Ambassador Program

Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?, New York Times, Oct 24, 2024

Time Codes:

00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

00:11 Exploring Companion Chatbots

00:28 Interview with Natalie Foos: VoiceBox and Youth Voices

00:57 Coded Companions Report: AI Chatbots and Youth

01:26 Snapchat's MyAI: Features and Concerns

05:43 Replika: Customizable AI Companions

12:40 Ethical Concerns and Data Privacy

16:42 Emotional Impact of AI Relationships

25:38 Potential Harms and Risks

28:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This holiday season, it is inevitable that many young people will be gifted new smartphones, smartwatches, video games and other personal technology.

With this in mind, today we're bringing back this important conversation with Jonathan Haidt, author of one of 2024's most talked about and best selling books The Anxious Generation, who joined Dr. Delaney to discuss the sheer amount of time that young people are on screens and the connection of this to the rise in mental health problems. 

What do actual experiments show us about the link between teen mental health and screen time? Why is the time of puberty particularly concerning when it comes to handing over smartphones and social media? Why does social media seem to impact girls more negatively than boys? These are just some of the questions that this episode addresses.

In addition, Haidt offers two solutions for improving teen mental health.

This episode is not just for adults but also for teens who are directly affected by these issues. Please note, suicidal ideation is mentioned briefly in the episode. 

Featured Expert

Jonathan Haidt, PhD

Research References

Links to research discussed in the episode

Additional Links 

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to The Screenagers Podcast

00:23 Meet Jonathan Haidt, Author and Social Psychologist

01:29 The Anxious Generation: Key Insights

02:06 Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

03:52 Gender Differences in Mental Health Trends

05:57 Correlational and Experimental Studies on Screen Time

09:04 The Natural Experiment of Facebook's Rollout

12:31 The Hidden Dangers of Social Media

16:59 Aggression and Social Cruelty Online

19:25 Proposed Solutions and Parental Involvement

21:21 Conclusion and Resources