The Wall Street Journal recently released a series of articles called “The Facebook Files,” written by journalists who got hold of internal documents from Instagram and its parent company Facebook. The documents reveal many ways that the companies have been manipulative and dishonest.
Let’s mobilize and ramp up our concerted efforts to put limits on tech’s reach into our homes.
I have always said, “Our tech revolution warrants a parenting revolution.” Part of the revolution requires that we step out of our comfort zone to speak up. So often, parents are worried about sharing their parenting struggles, fueled by a fear of judgment. We love our kids, and anything that puts us at risk of feeling judged can feel really risky.
I remember when I asked other parents with whom I shared a carpool for our middle schoolers to make it device-free. I worried I would look too controlling by even asking the question. In the end, though it worked out great, we had a device-free carpool, the kids had many good conversations, and we parents were so appreciative of that and that we got to interact with all the kids more. But it was hard to bring up this topic in the first place.
I encourage anyone who has thought about being a bit more vulnerable as a parent to read on. I offer concrete action steps today — steps particularly relevant with this latest information about the inner workings of our social media giants.
So often, people ask me what they can do beyond organizing screening events at their schools or communities to help effect change.
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Be a Town Hall Organizer (at Home) Invite over 2 or 3 families to talk about the Facebook Files articles. Decide if everyone should read the same article, such as The Facebook Files, Part 2: ‘We Make Body Image Issues Worse’ or if families want to be assigned one of the articles. Once all together, see if you can get the youngest members of families to start the discussion. It is an amazing opportunity to shift focus away from parent-child conflicts and instead focus on these mega businesses issues.
Be a Sharer Let friends know both rules that have worked in your home and some that have not worked. Parents are hungry to have examples and to learn from other parents. Not just the rules that are working well but also ones that didn’t go so well. Being the perfect parent rarely inspires anyone to join — we are okay if someone is the "perfect" dinner planner, think Martha Stewart.” But, being a "perfect" parent usually raises feelings of defensiveness by those who “do not feel so "perfect.”
Be a Conversation Starter We need a galaxy of conversation starters about how we make tech work for our youth and not against them? Bringing up specific questions with friends at a dinner or on the sidelines at a kid’s sports game is a good place to start. You might even consider putting the question on a corkboard at work or on your social media.
Be a Group Organizer Many parents across the country have started their groups to bring people together to decide how to work to support their kids. For example, some parents have helped start a monthly tech advisory-type group at their schools, where a few teachers, administrators and parents, meet to discuss ways to improve school and home issues about tech. I know of parents who started a book club with the theme of screen time issues and their kids. Others have started support-type groups on these topics. You could even start a group of adults with kids and have the kids lead it, informing the parents what they see as the pluses and minuses of their tech life. Talk about creating deep thinkers on these topics.
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Be a Resource Sharer Let friends, work colleagues, family, and others know about resources that have helped you with parenting more effectively around screen time. It could be a book recommendation, such as Laura Kastner's Wise Minded Parenting or The Washington Posts’ On Parenting blog. Also, on our website, we have many resources for helping parents. You are welcome to share all these with your work, friends, PTA, etc.
Be a Motivator for Schools To Speak Up One year, right before the elementary class graduation, the administration at Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC recommended in their newsletter that the parents consider not giving a smartphone as a graduation gift. They explained that they were concerned kids at that age would have a hard time navigating the complications social media can bring. You might not like the idea of your school making such a suggestion, but I think it is fine as long as schools explain their reasoning and bring up good things to think about — and the age of phone ownership is one of those issues that takes a lot of thought. If you have ideas, talk with your PTA, school principal, or other leadership about recommendations they may have for parents that they could put in the newsletter or hold an evening event to discuss.
Here are a few questions to get the conversation started this week:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
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The Wall Street Journal recently released a series of articles called “The Facebook Files,” written by journalists who got hold of internal documents from Instagram and its parent company Facebook. The documents reveal many ways that the companies have been manipulative and dishonest.
Let’s mobilize and ramp up our concerted efforts to put limits on tech’s reach into our homes.
I have always said, “Our tech revolution warrants a parenting revolution.” Part of the revolution requires that we step out of our comfort zone to speak up. So often, parents are worried about sharing their parenting struggles, fueled by a fear of judgment. We love our kids, and anything that puts us at risk of feeling judged can feel really risky.
I remember when I asked other parents with whom I shared a carpool for our middle schoolers to make it device-free. I worried I would look too controlling by even asking the question. In the end, though it worked out great, we had a device-free carpool, the kids had many good conversations, and we parents were so appreciative of that and that we got to interact with all the kids more. But it was hard to bring up this topic in the first place.
I encourage anyone who has thought about being a bit more vulnerable as a parent to read on. I offer concrete action steps today — steps particularly relevant with this latest information about the inner workings of our social media giants.
So often, people ask me what they can do beyond organizing screening events at their schools or communities to help effect change.
Be a Town Hall Organizer (at Home) Invite over 2 or 3 families to talk about the Facebook Files articles. Decide if everyone should read the same article, such as The Facebook Files, Part 2: ‘We Make Body Image Issues Worse’ or if families want to be assigned one of the articles. Once all together, see if you can get the youngest members of families to start the discussion. It is an amazing opportunity to shift focus away from parent-child conflicts and instead focus on these mega businesses issues.
Be a Sharer Let friends know both rules that have worked in your home and some that have not worked. Parents are hungry to have examples and to learn from other parents. Not just the rules that are working well but also ones that didn’t go so well. Being the perfect parent rarely inspires anyone to join — we are okay if someone is the "perfect" dinner planner, think Martha Stewart.” But, being a "perfect" parent usually raises feelings of defensiveness by those who “do not feel so "perfect.”
Be a Conversation Starter We need a galaxy of conversation starters about how we make tech work for our youth and not against them? Bringing up specific questions with friends at a dinner or on the sidelines at a kid’s sports game is a good place to start. You might even consider putting the question on a corkboard at work or on your social media.
Be a Group Organizer Many parents across the country have started their groups to bring people together to decide how to work to support their kids. For example, some parents have helped start a monthly tech advisory-type group at their schools, where a few teachers, administrators and parents, meet to discuss ways to improve school and home issues about tech. I know of parents who started a book club with the theme of screen time issues and their kids. Others have started support-type groups on these topics. You could even start a group of adults with kids and have the kids lead it, informing the parents what they see as the pluses and minuses of their tech life. Talk about creating deep thinkers on these topics.
Be a Resource Sharer Let friends, work colleagues, family, and others know about resources that have helped you with parenting more effectively around screen time. It could be a book recommendation, such as Laura Kastner's Wise Minded Parenting or The Washington Posts’ On Parenting blog. Also, on our website, we have many resources for helping parents. You are welcome to share all these with your work, friends, PTA, etc.
Be a Motivator for Schools To Speak Up One year, right before the elementary class graduation, the administration at Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC recommended in their newsletter that the parents consider not giving a smartphone as a graduation gift. They explained that they were concerned kids at that age would have a hard time navigating the complications social media can bring. You might not like the idea of your school making such a suggestion, but I think it is fine as long as schools explain their reasoning and bring up good things to think about — and the age of phone ownership is one of those issues that takes a lot of thought. If you have ideas, talk with your PTA, school principal, or other leadership about recommendations they may have for parents that they could put in the newsletter or hold an evening event to discuss.
Here are a few questions to get the conversation started this week:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
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The Wall Street Journal recently released a series of articles called “The Facebook Files,” written by journalists who got hold of internal documents from Instagram and its parent company Facebook. The documents reveal many ways that the companies have been manipulative and dishonest.
Let’s mobilize and ramp up our concerted efforts to put limits on tech’s reach into our homes.
I have always said, “Our tech revolution warrants a parenting revolution.” Part of the revolution requires that we step out of our comfort zone to speak up. So often, parents are worried about sharing their parenting struggles, fueled by a fear of judgment. We love our kids, and anything that puts us at risk of feeling judged can feel really risky.
I remember when I asked other parents with whom I shared a carpool for our middle schoolers to make it device-free. I worried I would look too controlling by even asking the question. In the end, though it worked out great, we had a device-free carpool, the kids had many good conversations, and we parents were so appreciative of that and that we got to interact with all the kids more. But it was hard to bring up this topic in the first place.
I encourage anyone who has thought about being a bit more vulnerable as a parent to read on. I offer concrete action steps today — steps particularly relevant with this latest information about the inner workings of our social media giants.
So often, people ask me what they can do beyond organizing screening events at their schools or communities to help effect change.
It feels like we’re finally hitting a tipping point. The harms from social media in young people’s lives have been building for far too long, and bold solutions can’t wait any longer. That’s why what just happened in Australia is extremely exciting. Their new nationwide move marks one of the biggest attempts yet to protect kids online. And as we released a new podcast episode yesterday featuring a mother who lost her 14-year-old son after a tragic connection made through social media, I couldn’t help but think: this is exactly the kind of real-world action families have been desperate for. In today’s blog, I share five key things to understand about what Australia is doing because it’s big, it’s controversial, and it might just spark global change.
READ MORE >
I hear from so many parents who feel conflicted about their own phone habits when it comes to modeling healthy use for their kids. They’ll say, “I tell my kids to get off their screens, but then I’m on mine all the time.” Today I introduce two moms who are taking on my One Small Change Challenge and share how you can try it too.
READ MORE >
This week’s blog explores how influencers and social media promoting so-called “Healthy” ideals — from food rules to fitness fads — can quietly lead young people toward disordered eating. Featuring insights from Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a leading expert on eating disorders, we unpack how to spot harmful messages and start honest conversations with kids about wellness, body image, and what “healthy” really means.
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.
