Is My Child Ready for a Smartphone? With Adam Pletter, PsyD
A child’s first smartphone is a modern "rite of passage" and today's parents face a challenging decision – when is the right time? Peer pressure and fear of missing out loom heavily, yet there are significant risks to introducing a smart device before a child is ready. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with psychologist and creator of iParent101, Dr. Adam Pletter, about developmental readiness and practical steps for safely introducing a “pocket-sized computer” that allows access to the entirety of the internet. Drawing on his clinical experience and work with both parents and adolescents, Dr. Pletter describes the signs parents can look for to determine whether a child is ready for a smart device, the benefits of parental controls and family communication, and what to do if a child was given access before they were ready. In this episode, you will learn:How to spot the signs that a child may be able to handle the responsibility of smartphone ownership.Why parents and caregivers should plan ahead for adult content exposure when considering the introduction of a smartphone.How easing into personal device ownership with a less-connected “dumb” device is often helpful to prepare children for full smartphone access.Strategies to navigate conflict around child smartphone ownership and media use.How to advocate for safer smartphone design that defaults to child safety and privacy. Why parental controls and family media plans should be part of an evolving and collaborative conversation with kids around screen use.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
--------
49:09
--------
49:09
Phones in Schools? What the Research Says with Abe Flanigan, PhD
Should phones be allowed in the classroom? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Abraham Flanigan, an associate professor of educational psychology at Georgia Southern University about what phones actually do to attention, memory, and classroom climate. Drawing on his research on digital distraction, Dr. Flanigan sheds light on what teachers and students really think, what changes after phones go away, and perspectives on the utility and impacts of limiting device-use in the classroom. The discussion also addresses how some approaches are more effective than others in engaging students and maintaining rapport. In this episode, you will learn:What the latest research shows on how phones in the classroom affect focus, motivation, self-regulation, and grades.Why multitasking is cognitively impossible.How smartphone use leads to a "dopamine loop" in the brain that can interfere with motivation for other tasks.How students and educators feel about school smartphone bans.Why student smartphone access during school emergencies may actually make them less safe.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
--------
52:41
--------
52:41
Ditch the Guilt: Media, Stress, and Parent-Child Relationships with Dr. Lara Wolfers
Parents increasingly recognize how family screen time shapes child development. But that awareness can bring guilt or shame when digital devices creep into daily life. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Lara Wolfers, a leading researcher on how stress and guilt intersect with family media use, and Assistant Professor of Digital Lives and Head of the Center of Digital Lives at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Wolfers explains when guilt can be constructive versus when it can be harmful to the parent-child relationship. She offers suggestions for navigating societal pressures and daily demands, and encourages parents to practice self-compassion. In this episode, you will learn:How parents use media for coping and media use links to stress and guilt. Why social standards around limiting digital media use can cause guilt and stress—yet also help adults curb their own use around children.How parent guilt and stress around screen habits can negatively impact parent-child relationships.Why being more intentional with media use can restore control and ease guilt and stress. Why there is a disconnect between how we judge others’ media use vs. our own use.Which variables matter when deciding if screen time is “good” or “bad.”For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
--------
38:46
--------
38:46
Cyberbullying, Sexting, and Building Resilience in Youth with Elizabeth Englander, PhD
Social development for today’s youth often includes navigating online social cruelty, such as cyberbullying and non-consensual sexting. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by cyberbullying expert Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, to discuss her research on teens’ online social behaviors, including cyberbullying and sexting, and her perspective on how to help youth develop resilience with these challenges. Dr. Englander addresses the risk factors associated with these behaviors, including why children engage in them, potential mental health impacts, and who is most vulnerable. Parents will find actionable guidance on how to intervene proactively by initiating conversation, as well as what to do if you suspect your child is a victim of cyberbullying. In this episode, you will learn:How today's technology and the "mob effect" can facilitate cyberbullying and amplify unintentional online cruelty, with longstanding impacts on children.Why even “popular” or self-confident children aren’t immune to cyberbullying.How to prepare children for use of smartphones and other digital devices – and the protective effect of doing so.Why girls are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of cyberbullying and non-consensual sexting.What to do if you suspect your child if is being cyberbullied.Best practices for helpful and productive conversations with youth about cyberbullying and sexting.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
--------
52:37
--------
52:37
Early Childhood Mental Health and Screen Use with Joan Luby, MD
Many people think of mental health disorders as arising later in childhood or adolescence. However, there is increasing evidence that even young children can experience mental health problems like anxiety and depression. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by Joan Luby, a Professor of Child Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine and an expert in early childhood mental health. Dr. Luby discusses how to identify mental health problems in preschool-aged children, and the role of screens in exacerbating these issues. Drawing on her clinical experiences and research, she provides suggestions for parents on how to promote the best socio-emotional outcomes for their young children. In this episode, you will learn:How improved diagnostics tools are helping to identify psychiatric and mood disorders in children as young as three years old.What unique signs and symptoms to look for in young children that may indicate they are experiencing anxiety, depression, or other concerns. Why considering environmental factors is important when evaluating child mental health.How high amounts of screen use by young children can impact their mental health and social/emotional regulation.The five essential ingredients young children need to thrive.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
Screen Deep takes aim at decoding young brains and behavior in a digital world. Host Kris Perry dives deep with a leading expert in each episode to explore how children and adolescents are affected mentally, physically, and developmentally by digital media use, bringing research and evidence-based perspectives to the essential questions on how to help children thrive today.
USA