I bet there is one thing (at least) about your phone that you have been meaning to do, and yet you have not taken the time to do it. Yes?
I just got another alert from the social media app, BeReal. I downloaded it with my kids a while back to learn about it. I don’t use it. Instead, I have been repeatedly irked whenever it pings me (it does that even with notifications turned off). I keep saying to myself, "Oh, yes, I have to delete that.” And then I never do.
(By the way, I have no gripes with BeReal. It is a social media app that many people enjoy and is about sharing real-life moments. Scroll to the bottom to read about the app.)
Every time I hear that ping, my cortisol shoots up, yet I don’t do anything about it.
Until now.
SO RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, I am inviting you to do one tiny thing (yep, right now) that you have wanted to do related to your phone but have not.
Maybe you want to throw all your apps in a bin, delete an app that is absorbing too much of your attention, or download an app you have been curious about, like one that helps identify plants or bird sounds.
Done?
Great.
Doesn't it feel good?
I just deleted the BeReal app, and I feel GOOD.
And the bonus: I get to mention my action to my kids — which serves as another modeling moment. Being intentional about our phones is a healthy practice (as well as having breaks from our phones).
I’d love to hear about whatever small phone change you made right now — I’ll share answers anonymously in a future post. Email me at Delaney@screenagersmovie.com.
Have a wonderful Tuesday!
*About BeReal:
It’s a social media app that markets itself as a more authentic alternative to platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. The app alerts you at a random time each day, prompting you to take a picture with both your selfie camera and your front camera simultaneously, no matter where you are and no matter what you’re doing. This creates a feed filled with silly, imperfect, and vulnerable photos, but still, it can be a time suck.
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I bet there is one thing (at least) about your phone that you have been meaning to do, and yet you have not taken the time to do it. Yes?
I just got another alert from the social media app, BeReal. I downloaded it with my kids a while back to learn about it. I don’t use it. Instead, I have been repeatedly irked whenever it pings me (it does that even with notifications turned off). I keep saying to myself, "Oh, yes, I have to delete that.” And then I never do.
(By the way, I have no gripes with BeReal. It is a social media app that many people enjoy and is about sharing real-life moments. Scroll to the bottom to read about the app.)
Every time I hear that ping, my cortisol shoots up, yet I don’t do anything about it.
Until now.
The Pew Research Center recently released findings from a study conducted in the Fall of 2023, which has important stats that can help inform our parenting and spark essential conversations with our youth. I’ve structured today’s blog to state the findings first and then write about the solutions later.
READ MORE >
I have one goal with this week’s blog: Inspire you to make one and only one New Year’s Resolution about screen time rules. Maybe that has to do with your own behavior with screen time, maybe with your kids, family, or even work. And I’ll share with you my one-screen time rule for 2024.
READ MORE >
A few weeks ago I wrote a blog and encouraged people to share with youth in their lives whatever small change they made and to share with me as well so that I could share with you! And that is what I am doing today. I received some great responses. Here are a few examples people shared with me:
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
