How to Delay Social Media and Smartphone Use With Wait Until 8th
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
Release Date: 10/01/2024
How to Fight Back Against the Youth Sleep Crisis
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
Host Dr. Ruston introduces Screenagers’ recently launched Screen-Free Sleep campaign, focused on helping parents keep devices out of kids’ bedrooms for sleep time. Ruston explains the campaign’s goals, the science behind it, and how you can participate in making screen-free sleep the norm in your child’s school and community. This includes resources like iSleep Pro kits and a fun flash mob dance. She also offers practical solutions to some of the common challenges parents face when creating tech-free sleep for their kids and tweens. It all wraps up with lively "Man on the...
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Acing Screen Time Conflicts with Lisa Damour (Encore)
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
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? 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...
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New Science On Sleep, Our Kids, And What To Do (Encore)
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
As back-to-school season begins, and kids face mounting stress both online and offline, this episode explores how healthy sleep can support their well-being. Hear from Dr. Judy Owens, Director of Sleep Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. Discover key brain research with Adriana Galván, a UCLA neuroscientist, and hear insights from parents and a teen. Take away practical strategies to help your child get the brain-nourishing sleep they need now and into the future. Featured Experts Resources
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How Students Are Really Using AI & ChatGPT
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
How are students really using ChatGPT and other AI tools for school work? What do they see as acceptable? And where do they draw the line? What happens when AI is used for creative projects, and at what cost? In this episode of Parenting in the Screen Age, Delaney Ruston, MD, explores the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on student learning and academic integrity. She shares interviews with college students who talk candidly about using AI for academic purposes, what they will and won’t do, and how they navigate ethical gray areas. One student recounts being accused of cheating with AI, and...
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Social Media’s Influence on Eating Disorders: Insights from Dr. G
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
What role does social media play in disordered eating and eating disorders? And how can parents spot early warning signs and have meaningful conversations about these tough topics? In this episode, host Dr. Ruston talks with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a physician specializing in eating disorders for nearly two decades. Dr. Gaudiani explains the difference between disordered eating and clinical eating disorders and how social media can fuel both. She shares concrete strategies to help parents talk with their teens, recognize early signs, and prevent problems. This episode builds on our...
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Eating Disorders and Social Media: Isabelle’s Story
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
We often hear about social media’s impact on body image, but what can we learn from someone who’s lived it firsthand, developing a serious exercise and eating disorder? Dr. Delaney Ruston sits down with Isabelle, a teen who bravely shares her journey from body dysmorphia to a severe eating disorder, struggles made worse by the constant stream of triggering content on platforms like TikTok. Isabelle opens up about how social media shaped her self-perception and how therapy, hospitalization, and strong family support helped her begin to heal. With candid insights from Isabelle and her...
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When Co-Parents Clash Over Screen Rules
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
Struggling to get on the same page with your co-parent about screen time rules? Worried that enforcing boundaries might harm your relationship with your teen? In this episode, Delaney talks with renowned family psychologist and author Dr. Laura Kastner about the tricky — but crucial — process of setting and upholding screen time rules. Together, they explore a practical roadmap built around The Four Cs: Calm, Confidence, Co-Parent Unity, and Collaboration. Packed with relatable examples and expert-backed strategies, this conversation will help you navigate resistance and hold boundaries...
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Are AirPods Ruining Our Kids’ Hearing?
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
How risky are the high volumes blasting through the earpods that poke into our kids’ ears? What about our adult ears? In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores the fascinating world of hearing health and the risks associated with exposure to loud noises, especially through headphones and earphones. Delaney is joined by Dr. Robert Jackler, MD, a researcher and neurotologist from Stanford, who discusses the mechanics of hearing loss, the dangers of excessive noise exposure, and practical steps to protect hearing. The show provides numerous productive ways for parents and...
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Boredom In, Boredom Out: How Teens Experience Social Media
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
Why is it so hard for teens and young adults to cut back on social media — even when they truly want to? What emotional triggers keep pulling them back onto apps, and what actually happens once they're there? In this episode of Parenting in the Screen Age, host Dr. Delaney Ruston explores these questions with Dr. Katie Davis, a leading expert on youth and technology. Dr. Davis is a professor at the University of Washington’s Information School, with an adjunct appointment in the College of Education. She co-directs the UW Digital Youth Lab and is the author of three books on how technology...
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Screen Time, Teens and Therapy: What Parents Need to Know
Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
In this episode of 'Parenting in the Screen Age,' host Delaney Ruston discusses the critical role of counseling and therapy for teen mental health. Joined by Laura Kastner, PhD, author of acclaimed parenting books and a teen and family therapist for over 30 years, they debunk common myths about therapy and explore effective ways parents can support their teens struggling with depression, anxiety, and tech overuse. The conversation offers insights into how to identify when professional help is needed, and emphasizes the necessity of family involvement in therapy. ...
info_outlineFounder 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
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