Do you know a teen or young adult who wishes they didn’t spend so much time on social media—who’s tried to cut back but finds it really tough? Many teens are in this exact boat. I see it all the time in my clinic, in my home, and at screenings of the four Screenagers films.
Recently, a mom asked me if there was anything out there to help her daughter reduce screen time, because her daughter wanted help. The truth is, there aren’t many structured programs for teens—but I was excited to tell her about a free, peer-led initiative I co-created with the Screenagers team, shaped by input from dozens of teens. It’s designed to help young people support each other in making healthier screen choices. It can be started as a new club or easily integrated into an existing one. Curious? Head to Boostingbravery.com.
But I still wanted to offer this mom’s daughter, and everyone interested, some tools right away to help be able to pull back. So I decided to create a podcast episode with a thoughtful researcher whose work offers valuable insights that address just that.
In today’s blog, I’m sharing insights from that episode along with one action step, in the form of a brilliant little question that we can pose to ourselves before clicking on an app.
Ever opened social media because you were feeling bored, only to feel even more bored afterwards? You’re not alone—research shows this is a common experience. In our latest Parenting in the Screen Age episode, Katie Davis, PhD, a leading expert on teens and technology, shares surprising findings from her recent study on teen Instagram use.
Dr. Davis is a professor at the University of Washington’s Information School, co-director of the UW Digital Youth Lab, and the author of numerous studies and three books exploring how technology impacts young people’s learning, development, and mental health.
One of the most striking findings from her research? Teens who scroll out of boredom often report feeling more bored afterward. Davis calls this “boredom in, boredom out.”
But it’s not just about boredom. How teens engage on social media makes a huge difference. Davis found that when teens use apps with intention — like messaging a friend, posting something meaningful, or searching for specific content — they tend to feel more positive emotions, such as confidence, pride, and gratitude. On the other hand, passive scrolling (watching Reels, browsing feeds) often leaves them feeling flat or even worse.
The episode explores how a simple shift in mindset—adding intentionality—can transform screen time. One powerful takeaway? Before opening an app, ask yourself: “What will I do afterwards?” That pause and question can make a big difference.
Want to help teens make healthier digital choices? Have them listen to the podcast episode with you. It is packed with research, practical tools, and real-life reflections—including one from a college student navigating her own Instagram habits.
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Do you know a teen or young adult who wishes they didn’t spend so much time on social media—who’s tried to cut back but finds it really tough? Many teens are in this exact boat. I see it all the time in my clinic, in my home, and at screenings of the four Screenagers films.
Recently, a mom asked me if there was anything out there to help her daughter reduce screen time, because her daughter wanted help. The truth is, there aren’t many structured programs for teens—but I was excited to tell her about a free, peer-led initiative I co-created with the Screenagers team, shaped by input from dozens of teens. It’s designed to help young people support each other in making healthier screen choices. It can be started as a new club or easily integrated into an existing one. Curious? Head to Boostingbravery.com.
But I still wanted to offer this mom’s daughter, and everyone interested, some tools right away to help be able to pull back. So I decided to create a podcast episode with a thoughtful researcher whose work offers valuable insights that address just that.
In today’s blog, I’m sharing insights from that episode along with one action step, in the form of a brilliant little question that we can pose to ourselves before clicking on an app.
If ever there was a time to talk about the topic of TikTok with our kids and students, now is it. Yes, it happened. Saturday, the TikTok app went dark in the US, a day after the ban approved by Congress was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Then, by Sunday, it returned. In today's Tech Talk Tuesday, I am providing questions you can use to discuss this with kids and teens.
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Many young people are overwhelmed by constant social media use, which can displace important activities like sleep, schoolwork, and friendships. Over 200 school districts are suing platforms like Meta for harms related to social media addiction. The blog covers what problematic social media use is from a clinical perspective and how our kids can talk with a friend (or family member) if they are worried their friend might have some level of problematic use.
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A week ago, Instagram announced changes to its rules for “Teen Accounts.” All new teen users will be defaulted into these accounts, and current teen users will transition over the next two months. Instagram’s head of Products, discussed these changes, and one comment surprised me. She mentioned that teens aged 13 to 16 will need parental permission to have a public account, hoping this would encourage dialogue between teens and parents about social media use. However, I feel this still puts too much responsibility on parents when we need broader societal solutions. I discuss this and the rest of the changes in today's blog.
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.
