Curious what’s going to be in and what’s going to be out with Gen Alpha in 2025? Titania has a few forecasts that parents definitely need to know about — from TikTok Shop to apps that prioritize mental health.

You can read the full Parents article here.

Welcome to Parenting in a Tech World, the podcast for families raising kids in the digital age. Join Bark CMO Titania Jordan as she unpacks digital dangers, discusses the latest viral social media trends, and shares expert tips for helping protect kids online and in real life.

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentinggeeks

Every year, Bark releases data gathered from billions of online activities to reveal just how common online dangers are, including the top apps flagged for threats. Here’s what you need to know.

View the full report here: https://www.bark.us/annual-report-2024/

Lots of people guess how kids spend time online, but the PEW Research has the receipts. Their recent survey features eye-opening information about the platforms teens are using, how much time they spend on them, and more. We’ve got a breakdown of what parents need to know.

View the full study here: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/

Are you about to crash out? Or are you capping like skibidi ohio? In this episode, we’ve got the five most popular slang terms you should know — and be annoying your child with. Plus, learn all of the ways kids are changing the spelling of words to avoid filters on social media.

Check out our slang guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/teen-text-speak-codes-every-parent-should-know/

And our emoji slang guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/emoji-slang-guide/

Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, joins us to discuss how technology is shaping childhood, and what parents, educators, and policymakers can do to support healthy development.

Learn more about Children and Screens: https://www.childrenandscreens.org/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• International Scientific Congress
• Monthly expert webinars
• Screen Deep Podcast
• Parent tip sheets

Don't forget to sign up for the monthly ScreenShots Newsletter and support Children and Screens via donations.

ChatGPT is showing up in classrooms, homework, and even kids’ casual conversations — but how safe is it? In this episode, Titania and Sam put AI to the test, asking hard-hitting questions to see exactly what kids might encounter. The results? Eye-opening, surprising, and a must-hear for any parent navigating the digital world.

Mike Arterburn, better known as Killer Bee Tactical, goes viral on social media for his takes on both online and real-life safety. Today, he and Titania sit down to discuss his life and what parents really need to know about digital safety — along with a few surprises.

Follow Mike on social media:

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@purepower34

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killer_bee_tactical/

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzC1T0mynakZv9We7klVBuw

Learn more about NCMEC: https://www.missingkids.org/home

Remember when your mom asked, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you?” Today, that’s called FOMO — or “fear of missing out” and with the internet and social media, it’s 10 times more intense. This episode, we teach you how to spot it, talk to your kid about it, and more.

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Brandon Hilkert, Bark’s Chief Technology Officer — and a dad of two. As one of Bark’s co-founders, Brandon shares the story behind the company, how his own parenting experiences shape the products, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of building safer tech for families. 

Looking for advice on raising kids in the digital age? Titania’s new book, Parental Control, is out now – and it’s full of research and tips for making sense of modern day parenting.

Buy your copy: https://www.titaniajordan.com/book

Connect with Titania: https://www.titaniajordan.com/

We’ve got actionable advice if your child has seen something inappropriate online to help them process what they’ve seen, protect them going forward, and turn this experience into an opportunity for growth.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• https://fightthenewdrug.org/
• https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/
• https://www.childhood2movie.com/
• https://www.amazon.com/Good-Pictures-Bad-Porn-Proofing-Todays/dp/0997318732/
• https://www.amazon.com/Good-Pictures-Bad-Jr-Protect/dp/0997318724/

Toni Collier joins us to talk about parenting through the hard stuff in life. Learn how embracing your family's mess can actually help build stronger, more resilient kids. 

Connect with Toni:

• https://www.tonijcollier.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/tonijcollier/
• https://www.facebook.com/colliertoni
• https://youtube.com/@tonijcollier

Order 'Broken Crayons Still Color': https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/brokencrayons/

We're joined by Dr. Zona to learn how parents can get ahead of addiction by starting honest, informed conversations early. From what’s changed since we were kids to practical ways to talk with yours, this is a conversation every caregiver needs to hear.

Follow Dr. Zona:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addictiontokdok/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@addictiontokdok

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Song for Charlie Drug Graph: https://www.songforcharlie.org/page/current-data
• Song for Charlie, "You Need To Know" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSSXlkYhUg
• Song for Charlie, "Real Talk About Fake Pills" YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLApJM_NGL-0P_dBtR3HzHKknnpjmE88Cb&feature=shared
• DEA One Pill Can Kill: https://www.dea.gov/onepill
• DOPA Good Samaritan Law: https://dopa.ge/good-sam
• Bark's Drug Slang Guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/drug-slang-emojis/

Learn from a former social media industry exec turned family advocate how to help keep your kids safe in an age of ever-present social media.

Connect with Nicki and learn more about Scrolling2Death:

• https://www.scrolling2death.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/scrolling2death/
• https://www.youtube.com/@Scrolling2Death
• http://www.linkedin.com/in/nickireisberg

S2D Foundation: https://www.scrolling2death.com/donate

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Better Than Real Life book https://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Real-Life-Persuasive/dp/B0DS1GDTZ6
• Dual Households blog: https://www.bark.us/blog/bark-works-dual-households/

Sarah Adams, known as Mom Uncharted online, is bringing attention to parents who overshare about their kids online as well as kidfluencing, as both can cause real harm to kids.

Follow Sarah:

• https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted
• https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted

Links mentioned in this episode:

• momuncharted.com
• kidsarenotcontent.com
• Watch Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• Learn more about the TAKE IT DOWN Act
• Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

In this episode, Titania talks to Sam Chapman, a father whose son was sold fentanyl-laced drugs on Snapchat and tragically died of an overdose. Today, he’s working to get a law passed that would require social media companies like Snap to open their systems to parental control apps like Bark — so parents stay in the know when it comes to online dangers.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sign the petition for Sammy's Law: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/sammys-law/
• Learn more about Parent Collective: https://parentcollective.org/
• Vanish Mode preview: https://f.io/zWBqTe6g
• Organization for Social Media Safety: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/

iPhones and Androids are the two most popular phones in the world, but only one is safer for kids: Androids. Learn what separates the two, and why your child definitely deserves one.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Chris McKenna, Protect Young Eyes, https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/
• Nicki Reisberg, Scrolling2Death, https://www.scrolling2death.com/
• Podcast Episode with Brandon Hilkert, https://youtu.be/38QGPPhBULk
• Order your Bark Phone, https://www.bark.us/bark-phone/

Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, sleepovers were about popcorn, movie marathons, and maybe calling your crush. Today, phones have transformed them into late night bouts of Snapchat drama, inappropriate video watching, and more.

Dive into the mysterious world of Roblox to learn why kids love it so much, what actually goes on when kids play it, and why it’s surprisingly a dangerous place to let kids spend time.

Resources from this episode:

• Top 5 Hidden Dangers of Roblox: https://www.bark.us/blog/hidden-dangers-roblox/
• How to Make Roblox Safer for Your Kid: https://www.bark.us/blog/safer-roblox/
• Bark's Roblox Parental Controls Tech Guide: https://www.bark.us/tech-guide/gaming-roblox/
• Roblox Parental Controls Guide: https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/30428310121620-Parental-Controls-Overview

Sarah Gardner, founder of the Heat Initiative, joins us to discuss how her team is holding Big Tech accountable for child safety failures. From calling out Apple and Meta to mobilizing public pressure, she shares the wins, challenges, and how we can all help bring the heat.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about the Heat Initiative: https://heatinitiative.org/
• Donate: https://heatinitiative.org/support-us/
• Email Apple and demand more from Meta: https://heatinitiative.org/take-action/

Connect with the Heat Initiative:

• https://www.instagram.com/heatinitiative/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKgRtoOP9x1_hJxWvKcDp0Q
• https://twitter.com/heatinitiative

Killer Mike shares his perspective on parenting in today’s world, offering advice for helping kids navigate both online and offline life. Listen in as he reflects on timeless approaches to raising confident, resilient children.

Today, we chat with Joshua and Brock from Parent ProTech, who equip parents and educators with expert-backed tools to keep kids safe online. They share practical tips on online safety, AI, and how families can actively guide their child’s digital journey.

Learn more about Parent ProTech and connect with the team:

• https://www.parentprotech.com/
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Don't forget to sign up for the Parent ProTech newsletter!

Today’s guest is Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating safer digital spaces for kids. Chris, a longtime friend and partner of Bark, shares insights on online risks and strategies families can use to keep kids safer in the digital world.

Links discussed in this episode:

• Learn more about Protect Young Eyes
• Check out the Childhood 2.0 documentary
• Sign the #DelayIsTheWay Manifesto

Connect with Chris and the PYE team:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter, The Download, to get important updates!

Kristi Wells and Brittany Dunn of the Safe House Project share the urgent realities of child sex trafficking and how families and communities can support children’s safety.

Discussed in this episode:

• Learn more about the Safe House Project
• Download the Simply Report app on the App Store and Google Play
• Read the 2024 Impact Report
• Donate to the Safe House Project
• Learn more about VOCA

Connect with the Safe House Project:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Don't forget to sign up for the Safe House Project newsletter for important updates!