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Setting Screen Time Rules That Actually Work, with Jean Twenge

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Release Date: 12/29/2025

Setting Screen Time Rules That Actually Work, with Jean Twenge

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

How can parents set limits that actually stick in a high-tech world? And what rules to set? In this episode, the prominent screen time researcher, Jean Twenge, PhD discusses her new book, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World. Twenge explains the science behind how screens disrupt sleep, and shares ways to use parental controls effectively. The conversation also explores delaying smartphones and social media, enforcing meaningful consequences, and why changing community norms, not just household rules, can make all the difference. Expert Book Resources...

Recovered Gaming Addict Shares His Story And Advice (Encore)

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

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 well tested advice to youth and their parents. Expert: Episode Resources: Additional Resources: Time Code: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Meet Cam Adair: From Gamer to Advocate 01:57 Cam's Personal Struggles with Gaming 06:42 Turning...

From Grief to Advocacy: A Mother's Fight Against Snapchat

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Dr Ruston speaks with Amy Neville, mother of Alexander Neville who tragically died at age 14 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill he obtained through Snapchat. He thought he was buying an oxycontin but instead the pill was a pill laced with fentanyl. Amy shares her journey from grief to activism, discussing her efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of social media-facilitated drug deals and her advocacy for stronger accountability from tech companies. This episode offers insights into the vulnerabilities of teens in the digital world, the current drug crisis, and practical...

What 3 Adults Learned Trying to Change Their Own Phone Habits

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Many parents feel hypocritical or guilty about their own phone or tech use when their kids or teens are around. In this episode, Dr. Ruston checks in with three parents who shared those feelings and took on the One Small Change Challenge to make a change in their own tech use. Hear from them about their successes and challenges during their two-week experiment. Even for listeners who missed the previous two episodes, this installment stands alone and offers insights on how adults can model for their children the reasons and approaches behind making positive changes to their tech...

No More Phones in the Bedroom: One Mom’s Challenge

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

In our last episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston introduced the One Small Change Challenge and the DARTS model (Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, Support) as she coached two moms on creating strategies to reach their phone-related small change targets. This week, she talks with another mom, a certified parent coach who wants to stop using her phone before bed and keep it in her room overnight. You’ll hear the specific strategies Lisa commits to. In the next episode, you’ll find out how it worked out for her and for the other moms from the previous episode. Listeners are encouraged to...

Why Do I Keep Reaching for My Phone? Two Moms Try to Change

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Do you ever catch yourself reaching for your phone when you don’t really need or want to, and wonder what that shows your kids? In this episode, Screenagers creator Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with two moms who decide it’s time to make a change. They talk about the habits they want to shift and take on the One Small Change Challenge using a model called DARTS: Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, and Support. Follow along as Delaney walks Tory and Hillary through setting their own goals, and try using this model to set yours too. We’d love to hear if you do, so send a note to ....

From Sports Betting to Porn: Parental Conversations Boys Need

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

What kind of partner do you want to be someday? Do you think privacy is important in a relationship? What do you think pornography leaves out about real relationships? These are just a few of the unusual yet important questions boys are rarely asked. In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston continues her conversation with educator Christopher Pepper and journalist Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of the new book Talk To Your Boys. Together, they discuss how to help boys navigate gaming, romantic relationships, and pornography. They explore online sports betting (“the house always wins”), share ways...

Talking To Your Boys: Masculinity, Gaming, and Their Online Lives

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

How are today’s boys absorbing messages about masculinity from violent media and games? How early does this begin, and what happens when gaming chats turn cruel or hostile? Dr. Ruston talks with author-educator Christopher Pepper and journalist Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of the recently released book, Talk To Your Boys. They share practical “interrupter” tools and relatable stories that help parents support boys as they encounter conflict through gaming, navigate their online lives, and grow into confident, caring young men. Featured Experts Book , by...

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...

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...

More Episodes

Twenge explains the science behind how screens disrupt sleep, and shares ways to use parental controls effectively.

The conversation also explores delaying smartphones and social media, enforcing meaningful consequences, and why changing community norms, not just household rules, can make all the difference.

Expert

Jean Twenge, PhD

Book

10 Rules For Raising Kids In A High Tech World

Resources

www.screenfreesleep.org

Screenagers Website

Bring Screenagers to Your Community

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to Parenting in the Screen Age

00:19 Meet Jean Twenge: Expert on Generational Differences

00:52 Discussing '10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High Tech World'