Parenting in a Tech World

Melissa McKay, president of the Digital Childhood Institute, made headlines when her viral post forced Google to reverse its policy of emailing kids instructions to remove parental controls at age 13. She shares the story behind that win, why Roblox is doing the same thing, and what parents need to know about protecting their kids when tech companies prioritize profit over safety.

Learn more about the Digital Childhood Institute and connect with Melissa.

Don't forget to check out Melissa's viral posts about Google and Roblox!

Selma Blair gets candid about parenting her 14-year-old son in an always-connected world. She shares how she's navigated tech and social media as both a public figure and a mom, the conversations she's had about online safety, and her advice for parents trying to find balance in a digital age.

Paul Raffile is a cybercrime expert and online safety advocate who's been on the front lines of catching sextortion scammers and exposing platform failures. He shares what parents need to know about sextortion, which apps pose the biggest risks, and the shocking reality of what social media companies allow to happen on their platforms.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn!

Resources, stories, and other things mentioned in this episode:
Paul's experience with Meta
The UK Documentary
The Yahoo Boys
Meta's "Teen Nudity Controls"
The story of Jordan Demay and sextortion
The Take it Down Act
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)

Dr. Nidhi Gupta — physician, author of Calm the Noise, and founder of the Phreedom Foundation — breaks down how tech is impacting our health and what families can do to take back control. She shares the science behind constant notifications, her 'aha' moment that led to writing the book, and the three rules every family should start with tonight.

Learn more about Dr. Gupta and the Phreedom Foundation on her website, and order your copy of Calm the Noise.

Ben Gillenwater — aka The Family IT Guy — brings 30 years of cybersecurity expertise to the parenting table. He shares how his background shaped the way he protects his own kid online, what parents can expect from his online community, and the one change that can make the biggest difference in your family's digital safety.

Connect with Ben:
On his website
Instagram
TikTok

Resources mentioned in this episode:
How to Set Up Roblox Parental Controls
Roblox App Review
The Top 5 Hidden Dangers of Roblox
Why Parents Are Banning Roblox
Ben's meditation app, Being
NCMEC and the Cyber TipLine

Stories discussed in this episode:
Jordan DeMay, sextortion
Adam Raine, ChatGPT and suicide
764 Group