Screen Sense: Parenting in a Digital World

We’re taking a break for the Summer, and we thought it would be fun to finish off with a round of questions from listeners. In this last episode (for now), we cover questions around VR, how parents approach conversations about online safety, why we’re seeing a backlash against ed tech, and why framing screens as evil doesn’t actually help fix anything. Thanks for listening in - we really hope you’...

When it comes to screens, everyone seems to have an opinion - but how much of what we hear is actually true? In this episode, Pete and Andy take on some of the most common myths and misconceptions around screen time and its impacts. Do screens really ruin our attention? Do goldfish really have an 8-second attention span? Does more screen time mean less time outdoors? And when it comes to ed tech,...

This week, Andy and Pete explore how families can build more intentional, flexible routines involving technology. This isn’t about blindly thinking that ‘tech is great’; it’s about acknowledging that things like video games and screen time are a large part of our everyday lives, so we need to pay attention to what works and what doesn’t. We talk about experimenting with video games, reflecting on...

It’s one of the biggest questions in digital parenting: Do digital technologies cause mental health problems in children and teenagers? The answer is complicated, and the desire to find a simple, cause-and-effect answer (“screens cause anxiety” or “social media makes kids depressed”) doesn’t line up with what the evidence actually shows. In this episode, Pete and Andy dig into some of the reasons...

We often have a very real sense that digital technology can do damage to our wellbeing, and sometimes in ways that feel seriously worrying. But when we try to actually talk about it, we often fall back on vague phrases: tech is “bad for mental health” or tech is “addictive”. Does this sort of messaging actually help parents and families make better decisions? Or do they just make us feel stuck bet...

This week, we’re talking about a seemingly common sense idea: that kids are “digital natives.” The assumption goes something like this: they grew up with technology, so they must just get it. They're fluent, comfortable, and because it feels like they’re a step ahead of us, we worry about constantly playing catchup. But when you look more closely, that apparent fluency can be misleading. Knowing h...

In this episode, Pete and Andy explore how to talk about technology in a way that builds trust, not tension. From constant screen time requests to parental missteps, tech can be a constant flashpoint in family life — but it’s also a powerful opportunity for connection. We share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in our own homes, and talk about practical strategies for making these conversations calm...

In this first episode, Andy and Pete introduce themselves and the podcast, and talk honestly about why parenting in a digital world can often feel so confusing and difficult to navigate. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit screensensepodcast.substack.com