Kids, Social Media, and Digital Thriving with Dr. Emily Weinstein

According to Dr. Emily Weinstein, head of Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving, we are going about it wrong regarding kids and screens. We must stop demonizing technology and take a more critical and optimistic look at its benefits and harms. In this episode, you’ll explore:

Misconceptions parents and caregivers have about teens and screens
Why the teenage brain is especially vulnerable to the harmful aspects of social media
How to start conversations with your kids about values and tech
How to develop healthier tech habits
Why let your kid critique you for once!

We need both critical, thoughtful attention to the harms and benefits of technology and be optimistic that there are evidence-based strategies that can help us thrive in a digital world.

About Emily Weinstein

Dr. Emily Weinstein is co-founder and Executive Director of the Center for Digital Thriving: a new research and innovation center at Harvard University. Her book with Carrie James, Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing) received widespread coverage and helped catalyze new conversations about teens and digital agency. Dr. Weinstein teaches courses about adolescents and social media and she shares evidence-based insights for families through @TechWithoutStress.