The Screenagers Blog

The home of "Tech Talk Tuesdays"

Screenagers Blog Tech Talk Tuesdays

“Having calm, consistent conversations has greatly improved screen balance in my home and I have written hundreds of articles to help others through my weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter and blog.”— Delaney Ruston, MD Physician/Filmmaker"

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tech talk tuesdays
December 3, 2018
Creativity

12 Screen-less gift ideas kids will love

Coming up with unique gifts for the holidays to help promote off-screen time for kids and teens is something I have enjoyed writing about in the past and jazzed to do again today.

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tech talk tuesdays
November 20, 2018
Creativity

Screen Alternatives for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is this week, and I have some ideas about how to support more face-to-face interactions and fewer retreats into all our individual devices.

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tech talk tuesdays
November 13, 2018
Social Media

Innocent (or not) flirting on social media

Often teens will say things online such as “hey you are cute” and other compliments. Teens tell me that they would not say these things face-to-face but online it is fun. I have tips and more to guide and support them.

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tech talk tuesdays
November 6, 2018
Away For The Day

Less is more, parents want to reduce tech in schools

Schools experience pressure to have tech on their campuses from tech companies, administration, and others. Schools want to do well by their students and tech has been sold as a quick fix.

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tech talk tuesdays
October 30, 2018
Challenging Conversations

How to help kids with scary and tragic news?

I encourage parents to share their feelings with their children. It is not about burdening them with one’s anxiety or sadness or other emotions. It is about naming feelings and discussing them. This approach has been shown to be highly effective in helping youth develop greater emotional intelligence.

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tech talk tuesdays
October 23, 2018
Social Media

How Teens Track Each Other on Snap Map

Last year Snapchat introduced Snap Map, a cartoon-looking map with Bitmojis of users positioned at their real-life locations. Did you know that It goes one step further than just showing where the kid is, it also can virtually show what they are actually doing?

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tech talk tuesdays
October 16, 2018
Screen Time Rules

Tell Them You Love Screen Time!

Spending more time talking with youth about all the cool things on screens paradoxically makes them more receptive to talking about ways to limit screen time.

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tech talk tuesdays
October 8, 2018
Away For The Day

Hold that Text

I am a big believer in working hard to teach my daughter and son, and myself, to continually be better planners. The less we rely on the phone as the escape route for changing plans, the more we work together to get our plans organized outside of school time. So I have really started to “HOLD THAT TEXT.”

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tech talk tuesdays
October 2, 2018
Creativity

Help kids become creators instead of consumers

Thinking about the apps that people develop for social good is a great topic to discuss with our kids and students. The more we can help them think of tech as a tool, (rather than just an entertainment and social center) the better.

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tech talk tuesdays
September 25, 2018
Screen Time Reduction Skills

Finally, Apple Releases Screen Time Controls

Finally, Apple's "Screen Time" controls are here!! Read about how to use them how they can help manage kids' time on screens.

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tech talk tuesdays
September 18, 2018
Screen Time Rules

Siblings and Screen Time

I often see siblings in parallel worlds for hours at a time, each in their personal screen silos. “The only time my sister talks to me is when she bangs on the bathroom door telling me to get out.”

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tech talk tuesdays
September 11, 2018
Social Media

Surprising data about how teens feel about social media

“Does social media make you feel more or less depressed?” These answers and more a revealed in this comprehensive survey about teens’ emotional lives in this digital age.

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tech talk tuesdays
September 4, 2018
Challenging Conversations

When Kids Swear Online...

It turns out swearing is on the rise and through all the media and social media youth are exposed to these days, they are seeing swear words like never before. That’s where our work as loving adults is required. Tips to opening a conversation.

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tech talk tuesdays
August 28, 2018
Screen Time Reduction Skills

Tips from Teens on Reducing Screen Time

New survey reports that 9/10 teens think they spend too much time online. See what teens are doing to curb their constant screen-time urges.

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tech talk tuesdays
August 21, 2018
Away For The Day

Cell phones are getting out of schools, thanks to you

Changemakers are working to create learning environments free from cell phone distractions. Read more about the momentum.

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tech talk tuesdays
August 14, 2018
Social Media

College and Other Transitions, Social Media Help or Hurt?

Youth are facing these transitions with new forms of communication and self-presentation—yep, you got it...social media platforms. Today we explore the upsides and downsides in the age of constant contact.

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tech talk tuesdays
August 7, 2018
Screen Time Rules

Failing at Screen Rules? Read This

Are you failing with screen rules? You are not alone. I have several suggestions to help you get back on track.

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