The other day I was on a plane sitting next to a YouTube employee and we discussed that we both noticed that teens and young adults are posting more often about mental health issues. The woman told me that many famous YouTubers are talking about their own mental health challenges. For instance, YouTuber Lacie Green, talked about her own depression in this courageous video. The site The Mighty is also a great resource.
This made me think about my own two teens who both have rich emotional lives—full of ups and downs (like most of us on this planet). From this conversation I realized I wanted to talk more with them about how they and their friends communicate on social media and via text about their mental health. What do they find helpful and what is not helpful?
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about how we use social media to discuss, learn or share emotional issues:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
The other day I was on a plane sitting next to a YouTube employee and we discussed that we both noticed that teens and young adults are posting more often about mental health issues. The woman told me that many famous YouTubers are talking about their own mental health challenges. For instance, YouTuber Lacie Green, talked about her own depression in this courageous video. The site The Mighty is also a great resource.
This made me think about my own two teens who both have rich emotional lives—full of ups and downs (like most of us on this planet). From this conversation I realized I wanted to talk more with them about how they and their friends communicate on social media and via text about their mental health. What do they find helpful and what is not helpful?
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about how we use social media to discuss, learn or share emotional issues:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
We have now entered an entirely new digital paradigm where artificial intelligence is capable of engaging in human-like conversations. This can range from simple interactions with ChatGPT offering writing tips, to full-fledged companion AI bots designed to mimic real conversations, and simulate deep personal relationships — even romantic partners. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to talk about AI and mental health with a young person in your life.
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Mental Health Awareness Month is a perfect time to spotlight an often-overlooked topic: the role of families in teen therapy. Today I recall my recent conversation with Dr. Laura Kastner, acclaimed author and experienced family therapist, who shares why therapists should push for family participation, even when a teen resists. I also share a personal moment from Screenagers Next Chapter, when my daughter and I did family therapy together—a powerful reminder of what’s possible.
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In my latest Podcast, How Screens Trap Teens in Depression, I speak with Jean Twenge, PhD, a highly regarded psychologist and researcher known for her critical work on the impact of screen time on today’s youth. Our conversation explored the relationship between digital technology use, specifically social media and gaming, and teen mental health trends. Today I'm sharing a snippet of my conversation with Twenge related to boys, depression, and video gaming.
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.
