Screen Deep – Details, episodes & analysis

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Screen Deep

Children and Screens

Kids & Family

Education

Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/19d. Total Eps: 37

Screen Deep takes aim at decoding young brains and behavior in a digital world.
Host Kris Perry dives deep with a leading expert in each episode to explore how children and adolescents are affected mentally, physically, and developmentally by digital media use, bringing research and evidence-based perspectives to the essential questions on how to help children thrive today.

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https://www.childrenandscreens.org
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Score global : 73%

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Is My Child Ready for a Smartphone? With Adam Pletter, PsyD

Season 1 · Episode 23

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 • Duration 49:09

A child’s first smartphone is a modern "rite of passage" and today's parents face a challenging decision – when is the right time? Peer pressure and fear of missing out loom heavily, yet there are significant risks to introducing a smart device before a child is ready. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with psychologist and creator of iParent101, Dr. Adam Pletter, about developmental readiness and practical steps for safely introducing a “pocket-sized computer” that allows access to the entirety of the internet. Drawing on his clinical experience and work with both parents and adolescents, Dr. Pletter describes the signs parents can look for to determine whether a child is ready for a smart device, the benefits of parental controls and family communication, and what to do if a child was given access before they were ready.

In this episode, you will learn:

How to spot the signs that a child may be able to handle the responsibility of smartphone ownership.
Why parents and caregivers should plan ahead for adult content exposure when considering the introduction of a smartphone.
How easing into personal device ownership with a less-connected “dumb” device is often helpful to prepare children for full smartphone access.
Strategies to navigate conflict around child smartphone ownership and media use.
How to advocate for safer smartphone design that defaults to child safety and privacy.
Why parental controls and family media plans should be part of an evolving and collaborative conversation with kids around screen use.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
X: @childrenscreens
Bluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social

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Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

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Phones in Schools? What the Research Says with Abe Flanigan, PhD

Season 1 · Episode 22

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • Duration 52:41

Should phones be allowed in the classroom? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Abraham Flanigan, an associate professor of educational psychology at Georgia Southern University about what phones actually do to attention, memory, and classroom climate. Drawing on his research on digital distraction, Dr. Flanigan sheds light on what teachers and students really think, what changes after phones go away, and perspectives on the utility and impacts of limiting device-use in the classroom. The discussion also addresses how some approaches are more effective than others in engaging students and maintaining rapport.

In this episode, you will learn:

What the latest research shows on how phones in the classroom affect focus, motivation, self-regulation, and grades.
Why multitasking is cognitively impossible.
How smartphone use leads to a "dopamine loop" in the brain that can interfere with motivation for other tasks.
How students and educators feel about school smartphone bans.
Why student smartphone access during school emergencies may actually make them less safe.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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AI's Impact on Children's Social and Cognitive Development with Ying Xu, PhD

Season 1 · Episode 13

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 • Duration 49:50

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence systems continue to be deployed rapidly for use in commonly available tools online. How do today’s AI technologies affect children’s development? Will accessible AI tools erode children’s critical thinking skills? Will chatbots disrupt children’s ability to socialize properly?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry explores these timely questions with Dr. Ying Xu, Assistant Professor of AI in Learning and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Xu draws on her research and emerging insights from the field in a nuanced discussion of how children currently think about AI technologies, and the potential risks and benefits of AI for children’s cognitive and social development. She provides suggestions for the ethical development and implementation of AI, with an emphasis on including children in the design process.

In this episode, you will learn:

How children are interacting with generative AI and other new AI tools.
What the latest research says about AI’s impacts on children’s social development.
Where AI can support children’s learning - and where it risks “outsourcing” independent thinking and critical problem-solving skills.
How to tell whether an AI product is appropriate for a child at a specific age.
What AI developers could do to make AI tools safer and developmentally-appropriate for young users.
Why “co-learning” with your children is essential as AI tools continue to evolve.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------

Neurodivergent Children and Media Use with Meryl Alper, PhD

Season 1 · Episode 12

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 • Duration 49:33

Neurodivergent children’s relationships with technology is subject to many common myths and misconceptions: Does digital media use cause ADHD? Do children with autism have more affinity for screens?

In this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry and Dr. Meryl Alper, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern University, address these myths and what her research on digital media and neurodivergent youth can tell us about how they experience media use and potential overuse.

Dr. Alper describes in detail the unique opportunities and risks of digital media for children with autism and ADHD, and provides actionable tips for parents, clinicians, and children’s media companies to best accommodate and include children across the spectrum of neurodiversity.

In this episode, you will learn:

The risks and benefits of media use for neurodivergent youth.
How to think beyond “time spent” on media to evaluate healthy or problematic use.
Why platforms like TikTok are popular for self-diagnosis and identity exploration, and the risks that come with it.
Unique considerations for neurodivergent youth when using social media platforms that rely on manipulative algorithms.
What neurodivergent youth say they really want from their digital media experiences, based on Dr. Alper’s interviews.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
X: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------

Harmful Social Media Algorithms and Children with Imran Ahmed

Season 1 · Episode 11

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 • Duration 50:22

Social media platforms are feeding youth harmful content—fast. From hate speech to pro-eating disorder posts and disinformation, powerful algorithms push dangerous content straight to children. But why? And what can be done to stop it?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, about the hidden dangers of social media algorithms, the risks youth face on various popular platforms, and the urgent need for transparency and accountability in digital spaces.

In this episode, you will learn:

How quickly social media algorithms deliver harmful content to children, such as pro-eating disorder and drug content.
Why platforms are aware of this issue—but choose not to do anything about it.
The need for transparency into social media algorithms to keep children safe from harmful content.
What kind of advocacy is needed to drive stronger protections—and how recent advancements in European policies may provide a model.
The STAR framework for social media reform: Safety by design, Transparency, Accountability and Economic Responsibility.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Video Gaming Effects on Children’s Behavior and Health with Douglas Gentile, PhD

Season 1 · Episode 10

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 • Duration 50:03

The majority of today’s adolescents are video gaming - for many, daily. How much gaming is too much ? Are violent video games actually harmful to children?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry sits down with Dr. Douglas Gentile, a Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University and renowned video gaming expert. Dr. Gentile discusses the latest research on which aspects of gaming can affect child health and development, and the effects of violent media – including video games – on children’s aggressive feelings and behaviors. He also discusses the prevalence of gaming addiction and what features of games make them potentially addictive to children. Finally, Dr. Gentile explains how video games can have positive effects on social behavior and learning as well, and the power parents have to influence their children’s media use and behavioral outcomes.

In this episode, you will learn:

How the 5 “C’s” of video gaming work together to impact child behavior and health.
Why violent video games are linked to increased aggression in youth - and three major effects of violent media.
Why even “cute” animated video games can increase aggression in kids, just as realistically violent games.
How many children are struggling with gaming addiction - and how to recognize the warning signs .
When video games help children learn and encourage prosocial behavior.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Social Media, Mental Health, and Adolescent Social Dynamics with Mitch Prinstein, PhD, ABPP

Episode 9

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 • Duration 42:43

How has social media changed the way teens socialize and interact - and is it affecting their mental health?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry sits down with researcher and Chief of Psychology of the American Psychological Association Mitch Prinstein, PhD, ABPP. Dr. Prinstein describes his research on popularity and likeability in adolescence, and how social media factors into these social dynamics. He also explores how certain aspects of social media, such as social comparison, can yield negative mental health impacts for teens. Finally, Dr. Prinstein takes listeners beneath the surface to discuss his research on the impacts of social media on the brain, explaining how some children might be more susceptible to the negative mental health effects of social media than others, and what parents can do to prevent these effects.

In this episode you will learn:

The difference between popularity and likability - and which is linked to better life outcomes.
How social media has changed social dynamics and how these changes affect the developing brain.
What research is saying about teen social media use and the development of mental health conditions.
Conversation prompts to help adults better understand their adolescent’s social media habits and assess if they may be cause for concern.
How the relationship between social media use and sleep affects overall adolescent health and well-being.
Which uses of social media can be healthy and beneficial for adolescents.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------

Language Development, Learning, and Play in Early Childhood with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD

Episode 8

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 • Duration 49:52

Learning language involves much more than memorizing the ABCs. How do babies and toddlers acquire language and how can parents and caregivers foster its optimal development?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by renowned child development researcher Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, to discuss children’s language development, learning, and play in the digital age. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek emphasizes the importance of social interaction in the development of language, and discusses how digital media typically lacks this critical aspect and may even interrupt the language-learning process. She also describes the key pillars of learning gleaned from decades of research and the effectiveness of guided play in achieving learning outcomes. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek provides listeners with key insights on choosing effective educational apps, as well as maximizing learning opportunities, and critical skills children must develop for the digital future.

In this episode you will learn:

How babies and young children develop language.
Why the quality and quantity of caregiver interactions shape a child’s early language journey.
How media use – by children and parents alike - can affect learning and development.
Why play is an important aspect of successful learning - and how best to incorporate it.
How to evaluate and choose learning apps that benefit young children.
The “6 C’s” of critical learning children need to thrive in the digital age.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------

Adolescent Health, Body Image/Eating Disorders and Media Use with Jason Nagata, MD, MSc

Episode 7

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 • Duration 40:16

How does adolescents’ use of digital media , particularly of image-based social media platforms, influence and amplify their body image concerns?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Jason Nagata, a distinguished researcher and a pediatrician, to explore the complex relationship between digital media use and adolescents’ physical and mental health. Dr. Nagata sheds light on the connection between digital media, body image issues, and eating disorders– particularly among boys, who are often overlooked in discussions on this topic. He delves into how boys’ body image challenges and eating disorders often present differently from those of girls. In addition, he shares research findings linking specific mental health symptoms to use of digital media, explores other health outcomes linked to digital media use, and discusses demographic and gender-based differences in media-usage patterns and their impacts on adolescent health outcomes.

In this episode you will learn:

What the ABCD study is and why it’s providing quality data for research into adolescent screen use and health.
What mental health symptoms in adolescents are most associated with high amounts of screen use.
Gender and other demographic differences in screen uses and their health impacts in adolescents.
What aspects of screen use are most impacting body image and eating disorder symptoms in youth.
How teen boys are experiencing body image pressure from media - and differences in how their body image disorder symptoms present.
What warning signs parents and caregivers can watch for that indicate an adolescent’s attention to exercise is becoming unhealthy.
The biggest predictor of high amounts of adolescent screen time (hint: parents).

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------

Young Child Learning, Attention, and Screen Use with Heather Kirkorian, PhD

Episode 6

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 • Duration 33:56

When a young child watches TV or uses a digital tablet are they able to learn from what they see? What are the effects of media use on the development of attentional networks?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks to Dr. Heather Kirkorian about how digital media impacts learning, cognition, and attention in young children. Dr. Kirkorian describes the developmental milestones that allow for learning from digital media, explains the “video deficit effect” – the finding that young children have a hard time transferring things they learn on screens to the real world – and how interactive elements of digital devices may support or impede learning. Dr. Kirkorian also shares findings on how background television can disrupt parent-child interactions critical for early learning, as well as suggestions for parents in choosing high quality media for younger children.

In this episode you will learn:

How media use affects young children’s attention and learning.
How interactivity and engagement in digital media affects young children’s ability to learn.
What developmental milestones indicate that a child is ready to learn from digital media {and what supports they might need to enhance learning.}
Why young children are more likely to learn from real-life demonstrations than video.
How to choose high quality media content and use it to support young children’s learning.
How background TV exposure can affect young child attention.

Dr. Heather Kirkorian is the Laura M. Secord Chair in Early Childhood Development and a Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also has affiliate appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Educational Psychology at UW-Madison. Dr. Kirkorian is a developmental psychologist who studies cognitive development in infants and young children, particularly in the context of TV and digital media. She uses a combination of behavioral, observational, and psychophysiological methods to study the impact of child and parent media use on children (e.g., attention, memory, learning, play), parents (e.g., stress, burnout), and families (e.g., parent-child interactions).

Screen Deep – Details, episodes & analysis

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Screen Deep – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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