Parenting Resources

Our Best Blogs, Pods and Videos of 2024

Delaney Ruston, MD
December 31, 2024

Reflecting on a year filled with meaningful conversations and valuable insights, we’re excited to share a roundup of our most popular Tech Talk Tuesday Blogs, Screenagers Podcasts, and YouTube bites.

This list includes the top 10 blog posts that sparked discussion, the podcast episodes that resonated most with our audience, and the five most-watched YouTube videos of the year.

From tackling the challenges of technology in parenting to understanding the adolescent brain, these resources reflect the heart of our mission: to empower families and communities with knowledge and tools for navigating the digital age. 

Let’s dive into the moments that most made an impact!

Top 10 Tech Talk Tuesday Blogs:

Super Scary Snapchat AI and Other AI Chatbot Companions

I try to write things from a calm tone, but today I am pissed and scared. I read a report from a wonderful organization called Voicebox, called Coded Companions, about what young people were experiencing when engaging with Snapchat’s built-in AI chatbot, My AI, and another character chatbot called Replika. The market for AI-based companion platforms, which allow users to build personal, interactive relationships with virtual characters, is growing rapidly, and there are currently around 40 applications available. Let me break this all down for you today — and be prepared to be sad, scared, and mad.

Click here to read this blog

Unlock Healthier Screen Habits: My One Simple Rule for 2024

I have one goal with this week’s blog: Inspire you to make one and only one New Year’s Resolution about screen time rules. Maybe that has to do with your own behavior with screen time, maybe with your kids, family, or even work. And I’ll share with you my one-screen time rule for 2024.

Click here to read this blog

Finally, Screen Time Rules That Actually Work For Your Family

Today I share my top 3 main screen time categories and offer many options of rules that can be tailored to your specific family. Let’s be real that policies for a 10-year-old will be different for a 17-year-old. Then there are factors such as kid’s maturity levels, outside activities, sibling dynamics, bandwidth of parents/guardians, and the list goes on. For this reason, having many ideas can be helpful. Let’s get started.

Click here to read this blog

Could Students Be Paid to Leave Social Media?

How much money would we need to pay students to leave social media for a month? How about if none of their peers had access to it either? Would they even pay to have social media removed from their whole peer group?! Researchers who are experts in behavioral economics recently conducted a fascinating set of experiments with college age students to explore these questions.

Click here to read this blog

Options To Communicate With Your Kids Without A Smartphone

With the holidays coming, you might be thinking about buying your kid a phone. In today's blog, I include some reviews of non-smartphones and some experiences and recommendations from other parents.

Click here to read this blog

Snapchat Uncovered - Teens Discuss Pitfalls of this Popular App

Snapchat has some pitfalls. I talked to two young adults about things to be aware of when using the app, including exposure to illicit content, the pressure of Snap Scores, and ads for platforms like OnlyFans. I also offer advice on how to help your teen manage their Snapchat usage.

Click here to read this blog

Parenting and Personality Disorders

Today, I offer teachings about personality disorders. As a parent, I strongly believe that talking with our teens about mental health is important, and one such area is the topic of personality disorders (PDs). Also, you might be co-parenting with a person who has some degree of a personality disorder, which can be very challenging.

Click here to read this blog

Unconditional Love: How to Show It Without Strings Attached

This blog explores how children often perceive parental love as conditional, linked to their achievements. It offers insights on fostering unconditional love, with reflections and practical questions to help parents ensure their children feel valued for who they are, not just for what they accomplish.

Click here to read this blog

How Media is Fueling a Risky Sexual Practice Among Teens

In today's TTT, I have an excerpt from a new Screenagers Podcast episode where author Peggy Ornstein discusses the trend among teens of choking during sexual encounters, also known as sexual strangulation. Today's youth are exposed to highly sexualized material that previous generations never encountered. From online pornography to intense sex scenes in movies and shows like “50 Shades of Grey,” “Euphoria,” and "The Idol" as well as explicit content pushed to them on social media. This exposure has repercussions.

Click here to read this blog

45% Of Girls Stop Playing Sport By Age 14 Due To Low Body Confidence - What Can We Do?

Did you know that 45% of girls stop playing sports by age 14 due to low body confidence? That is a shocking and devastating statistic. Dove's Super Bowl ad, in partnership with Nike highlighted this, presenting a critical conversation starter about the intersection of self-esteem, body image, and performance in societal contexts. This 30-second spot was shown to an audience of 123.4 million, as part of Dove’s “The Self-Esteem Project” In a world where what girls see on social media, influencers on YouTube on their favorite shows, and in advertising powerfully shape perceptions and behaviors, this was an important moment.

Click here to read this blog

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Top 5 Podcast Episodes:

How to Motivate Our Kids Without Nagging Them!

Dr. Delaney sits down with acclaimed developmental psychologist David Yeager, Ph.D., to discuss his groundbreaking book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. Together, they delve into the transformative power of adopting a mentor mindset to simplify parenting — especially when tackling tech time challenges. Parents will walk away with practical strategies to approach screen time struggles with confidence and clarity.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts // Spotify // YouTube

Jonathan Haidt Explains the Youth Mental Health Crisis

Are social media, smartphones, and the sheer amount of time that young people are on screens really the main reason for the rise in mental health problems of today’s youth? On today’s episode, we delve into this pressing issue with Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, and author of the current New York Times bestselling book, "The Anxious Generation". His insights provide a clear and compelling explanation of why this indeed is likely the case.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts // Spotify // YouTube

Screen Time Parenting With Positive Discipline

Dr. Delaney sits down with acclaimed developmental psychologist David Yeager, Ph.D., to discuss his groundbreaking book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. Together, they delve into the transformative power of adopting a mentor mindset to simplify parenting — especially when tackling tech time challenges. Parents will walk away with practical strategies to approach screen time struggles with confidence and clarity.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts // Spotify // YouTube

Acing Screen Time Conflicts with Lisa Damour

Dr. Delaney sits down with acclaimed developmental psychologist David Yeager, Ph.D., to discuss his groundbreaking book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. Together, they delve into the transformative power of adopting a mentor mindset to simplify parenting — especially when tackling tech time challenges. Parents will walk away with practical strategies to approach screen time struggles with confidence and clarity.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts // Spotify // YouTube

Snapchat Uncovered - Teens Discuss Pitfalls of this Popular App

Dr. Delaney sits down with acclaimed developmental psychologist David Yeager, Ph.D., to discuss his groundbreaking book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. Together, they delve into the transformative power of adopting a mentor mindset to simplify parenting — especially when tackling tech time challenges. Parents will walk away with practical strategies to approach screen time struggles with confidence and clarity.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts // Spotify // YouTube

Top 5 Youtube Videos:

Checking Phones During Homework: A Vicious Cycle | Larry Rosen, PhD

Connect With Your Kids By Killing The Criticisms | Lynn Lyons, LCSW

How Devices Hurt Youth Social Skills And Development | Daniel J. Siegel, MD

Jonathan Haidt Explains Social Media's Impact on Gen Z

How The Adolescent Brain Develops | Daniel J. Siegel, MD

Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

AND, this year, we came out with Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, here’s the trailer:

We're about to release an updated for 2025 edition of our original movie, Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age, and our other movies, Screenagers Under The Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age and Screenagers Next Chapter: Mental Health in the Digital Age continue to make a large impact on youth and families.

Thank you for supporting us during 2024. Sending you our gratitude and our best wishes for your 2025 to come!

Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - Learn more about our latest movie.

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the latest movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - Learn more about our latest movie.

Learn More
Parenting Resources

Our Best Blogs, Pods and Videos of 2024

Delaney Ruston, MD
December 31, 2024

Reflecting on a year filled with meaningful conversations and valuable insights, we’re excited to share a roundup of our most popular Tech Talk Tuesday Blogs, Screenagers Podcasts, and YouTube bites.

This list includes the top 10 blog posts that sparked discussion, the podcast episodes that resonated most with our audience, and the five most-watched YouTube videos of the year.

From tackling the challenges of technology in parenting to understanding the adolescent brain, these resources reflect the heart of our mission: to empower families and communities with knowledge and tools for navigating the digital age. 

Let’s dive into the moments that most made an impact!

Top 10 Tech Talk Tuesday Blogs:

Super Scary Snapchat AI and Other AI Chatbot Companions

I try to write things from a calm tone, but today I am pissed and scared. I read a report from a wonderful organization called Voicebox, called Coded Companions, about what young people were experiencing when engaging with Snapchat’s built-in AI chatbot, My AI, and another character chatbot called Replika. The market for AI-based companion platforms, which allow users to build personal, interactive relationships with virtual characters, is growing rapidly, and there are currently around 40 applications available. Let me break this all down for you today — and be prepared to be sad, scared, and mad.

Click here to read this blog

Unlock Healthier Screen Habits: My One Simple Rule for 2024

I have one goal with this week’s blog: Inspire you to make one and only one New Year’s Resolution about screen time rules. Maybe that has to do with your own behavior with screen time, maybe with your kids, family, or even work. And I’ll share with you my one-screen time rule for 2024.

Click here to read this blog

Finally, Screen Time Rules That Actually Work For Your Family

Today I share my top 3 main screen time categories and offer many options of rules that can be tailored to your specific family. Let’s be real that policies for a 10-year-old will be different for a 17-year-old. Then there are factors such as kid’s maturity levels, outside activities, sibling dynamics, bandwidth of parents/guardians, and the list goes on. For this reason, having many ideas can be helpful. Let’s get started.

Click here to read this blog

Could Students Be Paid to Leave Social Media?

How much money would we need to pay students to leave social media for a month? How about if none of their peers had access to it either? Would they even pay to have social media removed from their whole peer group?! Researchers who are experts in behavioral economics recently conducted a fascinating set of experiments with college age students to explore these questions.

Click here to read this blog

Options To Communicate With Your Kids Without A Smartphone

With the holidays coming, you might be thinking about buying your kid a phone. In today's blog, I include some reviews of non-smartphones and some experiences and recommendations from other parents.

Click here to read this blog

Snapchat Uncovered - Teens Discuss Pitfalls of this Popular App

Snapchat has some pitfalls. I talked to two young adults about things to be aware of when using the app, including exposure to illicit content, the pressure of Snap Scores, and ads for platforms like OnlyFans. I also offer advice on how to help your teen manage their Snapchat usage.

Click here to read this blog

Parenting and Personality Disorders

Today, I offer teachings about personality disorders. As a parent, I strongly believe that talking with our teens about mental health is important, and one such area is the topic of personality disorders (PDs). Also, you might be co-parenting with a person who has some degree of a personality disorder, which can be very challenging.

Click here to read this blog

Unconditional Love: How to Show It Without Strings Attached

This blog explores how children often perceive parental love as conditional, linked to their achievements. It offers insights on fostering unconditional love, with reflections and practical questions to help parents ensure their children feel valued for who they are, not just for what they accomplish.

Click here to read this blog

How Media is Fueling a Risky Sexual Practice Among Teens

In today's TTT, I have an excerpt from a new Screenagers Podcast episode where author Peggy Ornstein discusses the trend among teens of choking during sexual encounters, also known as sexual strangulation. Today's youth are exposed to highly sexualized material that previous generations never encountered. From online pornography to intense sex scenes in movies and shows like “50 Shades of Grey,” “Euphoria,” and "The Idol" as well as explicit content pushed to them on social media. This exposure has repercussions.

Click here to read this blog

45% Of Girls Stop Playing Sport By Age 14 Due To Low Body Confidence - What Can We Do?

Did you know that 45% of girls stop playing sports by age 14 due to low body confidence? That is a shocking and devastating statistic. Dove's Super Bowl ad, in partnership with Nike highlighted this, presenting a critical conversation starter about the intersection of self-esteem, body image, and performance in societal contexts. This 30-second spot was shown to an audience of 123.4 million, as part of Dove’s “The Self-Esteem Project” In a world where what girls see on social media, influencers on YouTube on their favorite shows, and in advertising powerfully shape perceptions and behaviors, this was an important moment.

Click here to read this blog

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Uniting Families to Delay Smartphones and Social Media
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Can parents really come together as communities to delay social media and smartphones? You bet! It’s happening more and more across the country. In today's blog, I share excerpts from my latest podcast episode. It features my interview with Brooke Shannon, the founder of the “Wait Until 8th movement,” which helps parents delay smartphones until the end of 8th grade or later while also encouraging delaying social media.

READ MORE >
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Teens, Junk Food, and Social Media: Helping Them Make Better Choices
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parenting in the screen age

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.  

ORDER HERE
Parenting in the Screen Age book cover