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  • Host Dr. Delaney interviews Natalie Foos, director of VoiceBox and lead author of the eye-opening report, “Coded Companions: Young People’s Relationships with AI Chat Bots."

    The discussion centers on the risks posed by AI chatbots in young people's lives, using examples like Snapchat’s My AI and the AI companion app Replika. The report provides concrete examples of deeply troubling things the AIs said to users during testing, conducted with young adults aged 18 to 24.

    They discuss concerning features, such as how My AI uses location tracking to target young users with ads and emphasize the importance of educating both youth and adults about the potential dangers of AI companions, particularly regarding data privacy, emotional impact, and ethical implications.

    Resources

    Coded Companions: Young People’s Relationships With AI Chat Bots

    Natalie Foos, Director of VoiceBox

    VoiceBox

    VoiceBox’s Ambassador Program

    Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?, New York Times, Oct 24, 2024



    Time Codes:

    00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

    00:11 Exploring Companion Chatbots

    00:28 Interview with Natalie Foos: VoiceBox and Youth Voices

    00:57 Coded Companions Report: AI Chatbots and Youth

    01:26 Snapchat's MyAI: Features and Concerns

    05:43 Replika: Customizable AI Companions

    12:40 Ethical Concerns and Data Privacy

    16:42 Emotional Impact of AI Relationships

    25:38 Potential Harms and Risks

    28:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  • In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, Dr. Delaney explores the alarming rise of sleep deprivation among teens starting in 2012, coinciding with the rise of screen time. Featuring clips from Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition and insights from experts Lauren Hale, PhD, and Judith Owens, MD, the episode delves into new brain science around kids and sleep deprivation and health risks linked to melatonin. Listeners are provided practical advice on how to promote healthy sleep habits, including preventing dependency to digital devices and melatonin.


    Time Codes:

    00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

    00:29 The Sleep Deprivation Epidemic

    02:08 Scientific Insights on Sleep and Brain Health

    03:47 Impact of Devices on Sleep

    06:23 The Melatonin Debate

    08:33 Melatonin Usage and Risks

    12:49 Melatonin and Puberty

    14:00 Concerns About Long-Term Melatonin Use in Children

    14:43 Marketing Melatonin as a Natural Sleep Aid

    15:36 The Dangers of Conditioning Kids to Need Sleep Aids

    18:03 Parental Strategies for Managing Device Use

    19:28 Real-Life Examples of Device Management

    21:19 Encouraging Better Sleep Habits in Teens

    23:14 Final Thoughts on Melatonin and Sleep Dependency

    25:11 Conclusion and Podcast Information



    Resources:

    Lauren Hale, Ph.D.

    Bio: https://publichealth.stonybrookmedicine.edu/faculty/LaurenHale

    Study #1

    “Researchers followed nine and ten year olds, and at baseline, they collected data from the kids, from the parents, and analyzed brain skins. Then they followed up with them two years later. The kids, who were insufficient sleepers Compared to the kids who were sufficient sleepers, had changes in their brain development, especially in areas like the basal ganglia and the temporal lobe.

    And this corresponded with worse mental health outcomes, worse behavioral outcomes, and measurements of intelligence were lower. This is concerning that insufficient sleep among kids may have lasting consequences. Um, brain development, and possibly into adulthood.”

    Yang, F. N., Xie, W., & Wang, Z. Effects of sleep duration on neurocognitive development in early adolescents in the USA: a propensity score matched, longitudinal, observational study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 6(10), 2022.

    Study #2

    “My team and I analyzed numerous studies in which we included youth age 6 to 17.

    And we showed that just having a mobile device, which includes a phone, a tablet, In the bedroom, even if they didn't use it, was associated with almost a two fold risk of insufficient sleep duration.”

    Carter, B., et al. Association Between Portable Screen-Based Media Device Access or Use and Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 170(12), 1202–1208, 2016.



    Judy Owen, M.D.

    Bio: https://www.childrenshospital.org/directory/judith-owens

    Study #1

    "Recent study... over 500 percent increase in accidental ingestions of melatonin... poison control center reports of a child accidentally taking melatonin."

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Pediatric Melatonin Ingestions — United States, 2012–2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(22), 725–729.

    Study #2

    "...study that was published out of Canada a few years ago that looked at a wide range of preparations of melatonin that were labeled as being five milligrams. And they... analyzed, with a specific chemical test, how much melatonin these preparations actually contained. It ranged from zero milligrams to 20 milligrams. And in addition to that, about a quarter of the samples they tested had serotonin... Serotonin is what we call a precursor of melatonin. So serotonin is metabolized into melatonin."

    Erland, L. A. E., & Saxena, P. K. (2017). Melatonin Natural Health Products and Supplements: Presence of Serotonin and Significant Variability of Melatonin Content. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(02), 275–281.

    Study #3

    "We know that melatonin... has an effect on reproductive hormones... There may be some impact on pubertal development of melatonin. Melatonin in humans could potentially have two different effects. It could delay the onset or the beginning of puberty development because it has these suppressing effects on reproductive hormones, or alternatively, if you stop melatonin use in a prepubertal child... you could actually trigger them into early puberty... We have data in animal models that suggests that melatonin has these effects. We don't have that evidence yet in humans... One study looked very short term on the effects of melatonin in children with autism and measured their reproductive hormones as well as some other chemicals in the body and brain and did not find any effect in the short term, but again, the long term meaning of melatonin... years worth of use of melatonin."

    Boafo, A., Greenham, S., Alenezi, S., Robillard, R., Pajer, K., Tavakoli, P., & De Koninck, J. (2019). Could long-term administration of melatonin to prepubertal children affect timing of puberty? A clinician’s perspective. Nature and Science of Sleep, Volume 11, 1–10.

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  • In this episode, host Dr. Delaney discusses problematic social media use with therapist and media addiction expert Tracy Markle. Tracy is the founder and co-director of the Digital Media Treatment and Education Center in Boulder, Colorado.

    Tracy explains the critical effects social media can have on teen mental health, particularly in girls and shares the therapeutic approaches she used in working with one teen girl in overcoming problematic social media.

    Markle employs a family system approach and shares insights on how she included the mom in the treatment approach.

    Resources:

    Tracy Markle, MA, LPC founder of Digital Media

    Time Code:

    00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

    01:41 The Impact of Social Media on Teens

    02:38 Case Study: A High Schooler's Struggle

    03:53 Therapeutic Approaches and Family Systems

    05:56 Challenges and Consequences of Social Media Overuse

    14:34 Motivational Interviewing and Setting Boundaries

    29:25 Skill Building and Final Thoughts

  • Founder of the "Wait Until 8th" movement, Brooke Shannon, joins Dr. Delaney Ruston for a conversation. Brooke shares insights on the Wait Until 8th pledge, its community-based approach, and strategies for parents to manage digital exposure responsibly.

    The conversation also covers personal experiences, handling pushbacks, and practical steps for parents who have already given their kids smartphones and/or social media but decide they want to rein in their use.

    Time Code:

    00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

    00:31 Introducing Brooke Shannon and Wait Until 8th

    02:47 How the Wait Until 8th Pledge Works

    04:20 Partnership with Screenagers and Community Impact

    07:46 Brooke's Personal Story and Motivation

    13:57 Challenges and Pushbacks

    19:25 Practical Tips for Parents

    20:38 Parental Controls and Ongoing Conversations

    27:43 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes

    Resources:

    Wait Until 8th

    Brooke Shannon

    Smartphone alternatives

    Social media family-conversation guide

  • In recent days, Instagram has launched a range of new features designed to protect teens who are using the platform. Today we revisit this episode of the Screenagers podcast where Dr. Ruston spoke with three teen girls from middle school, high school, and college about their experiences, both good and bad, with Instagram.

    They discuss why they joined the platform, how they use it, and the types of content they see, including ads and influencer posts. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of social media, including issues of comparison, curated posts, and the prevalence of ads. In addition, they touch on issues of subliminal messaging and the risks and benefits of posting about one’s true emotional state. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

    Time Code

    00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

    01:20 Meet the Teen Guests

    02:31 First Impressions of Instagram

    04:54 The Allure and Pitfalls of Instagram

    09:16 Ads and Influencers: A Deep Dive

    13:10 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

    22:35 Likes, Comments, and Posting Etiquette

    27:18 Final Thoughts and Farewell

  • In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, physician/filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston gives some parenting highlights from her new movie Screenagers: Elementary School Edition. Key topics include handling meltdowns during screen time transitions, promoting open communication around social media, and mitigating the negative impacts of violent media. Practical parenting strategies and the importance of active mediation are emphasized, alongside insights from child psychologist Lizz Dexter-Mazza, PsyD, and media researcher and psychologist Doug Gentile, PhD.

    00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote

    00:49 Meet Delaney Rustin and Screenagers

    00:57 Overview of Screenagers Elementary School Edition

    01:49 Parenting Solutions for Screen Time Meltdowns

    02:08 Understanding and Managing Meltdowns

    03:37 The Importance of Consistency

    04:33 Seeking Help for Persistent Issues

    04:52 Safety First: Encouraging Open Communication

    07:31 Active Mediation vs. Co-Viewing

    10:48 Motivational Interviewing with Teens

    11:43 Conclusion and Additional Resources

  • There was JUUL. Now there is ZYN. Big Tobacco is continuing to make its business model addiction, and its customer base teens and young adults.

    In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Dr. Robert Jackler, an expert on how Big Tobacco targets teens with slick and deceptive advertising and misleading products.

    Dr. Jackler, a professor at Stanford, talks about ZYN, the small flavored nicotine pouches that are going viral on social media. Created as a so-called safer means of harm reduction for vapes and cigarettes, ZYN packs a powerful punch of nicotine, making them just as harmful.

    Dr. Jackler, who conducted research on pouch nicotine for the World Health Organization, shares how ZYN is being deceptively marketed to teens, how they lead to nicotine addiction, and what parents and teens can do to help those who are hooked.

    This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

    Featured Expert

    Dr. Robert Jackler

    Research References

    Stanford Research into The Impact of Tobacco Advertisin

    Additional Links

    Quit The Hit

    Hope Lab

    UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education

    Truth Initiative: This Is Quitting

    Time Code

    00:00 The Rise of Nicotine Addiction

    00:28 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

    00:45 Expert Insights with Dr. Robert Jackler

    01:10 The Dangers of Nicotine Pouches

    03:07 Tobacco Industry Tactics

    06:16 Marketing Strategies Targeting Teens

    09:14 Flavors and Their Appeal

    14:16 Quitting Nicotine: Strategies and Support

    17:42 Conclusion and Resources

  • In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast Dr. Delaney Ruston is joined by her film and Screenagers partner, Lisa Tabb, to discuss their 'Away for the Day' campaign, which aims to remove smartphones and smartwatches from students during school hours to improve their academic and social well-being.

    They explore the campaign's benefits, the rapid rise of this challenge in elementary schools, and myths surrounding phone policies. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the current NY Times bestselling book The Anxious Generation, also joins Delaney to discuss the negative impact of digital distractions on education.

    The episode highlights the global movement towards phone-free schools and urges listeners to support the initiative by visiting awayfortheday.org. The episode also includes an exciting announcement about the upcoming new Screenagers film, which will be released in September called Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition.

    Show Notes

    Featured Expert

    Jonathan Haidt

    Research References

    Away For The Day

    Additional links

    Movies: Screenagers Movies

    Time code

    00:00 Introduction and Exciting Announcement

    01:01 Special Episode: Away for the Day Campaign

    02:20 Benefits of Phones Away for the Day

    03:52 Global Adoption of Away for the Day Policies

    11:38 Challenges and Pushbacks

    17:51 Student Perspectives and School Experiences

    20:43 Interview with Jonathan Haidt

    29:29 Conclusion and Call to Action

  • We're revisiting this poignant episode that highlights how important it is for parents to regularly check-in with their kids about their online activity and behaviors. Dr. Delaney Ruston interviews journalist Dashka Slater about her book, Accountable, where she writes about the true story of a social media account run by a small group of teens who posted racist memes. The account spread quickly and got edgier as it went. The book follows the account’s profound effect on the teens, friends, and high school.

    Slater dives into issues like what compels teens to do things they know are out of bounds, such as acts of racism, the difference between guilt and shame, and transformative justice. Slater discusses methods of communicating with children about preventing doing such acts, and Dr. Ruston provides strategies for them to use when they encounter friends who do, and shares advice for parents and teens on dealing with the repercussions of online racism and the complexities of forgiveness and empathy.

    Here is a link to Dashka Slater’s website, where you can find a link to her book and much more.

    Here is Slater’s Substack, where she has lesson plans, too.

    00:04 Introduction and Overview

    01:04 The Epidemic of Online Racism

    01:43 Unveiling the Story of 'Accountable'

    02:42 The Impact of Racist Online Activities

    03:01 The Discovery and Consequences of the Racist Account

    08:34 The Role of Video Games in Promoting Offensive Language

    10:10 The Creation and Spread of the Racist Account

    11:35 The Bystander Effect and Group Dynamics

    18:52 The Impact on the Victims

    21:38 Understanding Different Types of Justice

    24:56 The Role of Restorative Justice in Schools

    44:43 The Power of Forgiveness and Healing

    47:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  • In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, Dr Ruston talks with three teen girls from middle school, high school, and college about their experiences, both good and bad, with Instagram. They discuss why they joined the platform, how they use it, and the types of content they see, including ads and influencer posts. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of social media, including issues of comparison, curated posts, and the prevalence of ads. In addition, they touch on issues of subliminal messaging and the risks and benefits of posting about one’s true emotional state. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

    Time Code

    00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

    01:20 Meet the Teen Guests

    02:31 First Impressions of Instagram

    04:54 The Allure and Pitfalls of Instagram

    09:16 Ads and Influencers: A Deep Dive

    13:10 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

    22:35 Likes, Comments, and Posting Etiquette

    27:18 Final Thoughts and Farewell

  • How do we get our kids to make healthier choices when it comes to resisting junk food, smoking, or social media? In today’s podcast episode, Dr. Ruston talks with David Yeager, a leading researcher in the science of youth behavior change, motivation, and the power of mindsets, which are essentially our beliefs.

    Yeager studies show what happens when youth — who don’t like to be manipulated — are taught about companies’ manipulative tactics.

    This episode also features segments from our movie, Screenagers Under the Influence, which address the impacts of deceptive marketing by e-cigarette companies like Juul. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

    Featured Expert

    David Yeager, PhD

    Research References

    Harnessing adolescent values to reduce unhealthy Snacking (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America)

    Values-Alignment Messaging Boosts Adolescents' Motivation to Control Social Media Use (Child Development)

    Additional links

    Book: "10 to 25, The Science of Motivating Young People," by David S. Yaeger

    ‍Stanford Research into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising

    Robert Jackler, MD

    Movie: Screenagers Under The Influence

    The Influence of the National truth® Campaign on Smoking Initiation

    Time code

    00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast

    00:36 The Art and Science of Communicating with Teens

    01:22 Interview with Researcher David Yeager

    02:26 Screenagers Under the Influence: Vaping and Juul

    06:44 The Junk Food Industry's Manipulative Tactics

    19:04 Impact of Anti-Smoking Campaigns

    21:56 Conclusion and Call to Action

  • How can the big and little “t” traumas parents have experienced in their lives negatively impact their parenting around screen time? In this episode, Dr Ruston engages in a profound conversation with therapist Dr. David Johnson, who was the CEO of one of Seattle’s leading mental health providers, Navos, and has 48 years of experience in individual and family therapy. Dr. Johnson provides a unique perspective on common ways past traumas show up in parent-child struggles, whether over video gaming, social media, or other areas. Dr. Ruston courageously opens up about how some of her past traumas impacted her parenting. Throughout the episode, Delaney and David offer listeners many strategies to help prevent their past adversities from sabotaging their current parenting efforts. This episode is intended for adult audiences.

    Featured Expert

    David Johnson Ed.D LMHC

    Show Notes:

    00:00 Introduction: The Impact of Parental Trauma on Parenting

    01:16 Meet Dr. David Johnson: Insights on Trauma and Parenting

    02:10 Understanding Trauma: Definitions and Effects

    04:57 Trauma Responses and Their Impact on Behavior

    08:15 Screen Time Conflicts: Analyzing Parental Reactions

    10:41 The Power of Insight and Intention in Overcoming Trauma

    27:58 Family Dynamics and Counseling: Strategies for Healing

    30:32 Conclusion and Invitation to Engage

  • Is 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. Beyond just correlational studies, what do actual experiments show us about the link between teen mental health and screen time? Why is the time of puberty particularly concerning when it comes to handing over smartphones and social media? Why does social media seem to impact girls more negatively than boys? These are just some of the questions that today’s episode addresses. In addition, Haidt offers two solutions for improving teen mental health. This episode is not just for adults but also for teens who are directly affected by these issues. Of note, suicidal ideation is mentioned briefly in the episode.

    Featured Expert

    Jonathan Haidt, PhD

    Research References

    Links to research discussed in the episode

    Additional Links

    The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

    Time Code

    00:00 Introduction to The Screenagers Podcast 00:23 Meet Jonathan Haidt, Author and Social Psychologist 01:29 The Anxious Generation: Key Insights 02:06 Impact of Social Media on Mental Health 03:52 Gender Differences in Mental Health Trends 05:57 Correlational and Experimental Studies on Screen Time 09:04 The Natural Experiment of Facebook's Rollout 12:31 The Hidden Dangers of Social Media 16:59 Aggression and Social Cruelty Online 19:25 Proposed Solutions and Parental Involvement 21:21 Conclusion and Resources
  • In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with author Peggy Orenstein about a media-fueled risky sexual practice that is happening among some teens today — choking, also called sexual strangulation. Orenstein, who has spent many years researching sexuality among youth for her books “Girls and Sex” and “Boys and Sex,” investigated the topic of sexual choking for a New York Times article that was published last month. Today, Orenstein shares some of her findings from that investigation, including the influence of pornography and other media on this new trend. What are the psychological and physical risks of this practice? And what are ways to have productive conversations with young people on this and related topics? This episode also includes a 19-year-old discussing her concerns about sexual choking. This episode is intended for adult audiences.

    Featured Expert

    Peggy Orenstein

    Research References

    The Troubling Trend in Teen Sex -New York Times Article by Peggy Orenstein

    What is rough sex, who does it, and who likes it? Findings from a probability sample of US undergraduate students (Archives of Sexual Behavior)

    Additional Links

    Yes Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know about Today’s Teens and Sex, by Debby Herbenick

    Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between, by Shafia Zaloum

    Want Me by Tracy, by Clark Flory

    Girls and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein

    Boys and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein

    Time Code

    00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

    00:17 The Shocking Reality of Choking in Sexual Encounters Among Youth

    01:18 Mainstream Media's Role in Normalizing BDSM and Choking

    02:02 Insightful Conversation with Peggy Ornstein on Sexual Strangulation

    05:42 The Alarming Data on Choking Among College Students

    07:42 The Influence of Media and Social Media on Sexual Behavior

    13:24 Addressing the Risks and How to Talk About Them

    20:56 Empowering Youth to Speak Out and Advocate for Safety

    24:12 Concluding Thoughts and Resources for Challenging Conversations

  • In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Casey O’Roarty, Med., who is a well-recognized expert in Positive Discipline, particularly when it comes to tweens and teens. She is the author of Joyful Courage and the host of the Joyful Courage podcast and has spent over 15 years working with families. In this episode, Casey provides real-life anecdotes about when kids sneak screen time when they have meltdowns and other behaviors, and she explores fostering curiosity, addressing meltdowns, and finding the delicate balance between having firmness while fostering a strong parent-child relationship. In addition, another guest, a mother of three kids, shares her experience with ditching her old parenting ways to adopt the Positive Discipline approach.

    Show Notes

    Casey O’Roarty’s website

  • Sometimes, gaming is not all fun and games. Foul words and degrading comments are all too common when kids and teens play video games together. From first-person shooter games like Call of Duty to building games like Minecraft and Roblox, competitive banter can be ugly. In this episode, Dr Ruston talks with Dr. Kishonna Gray, assistant professor of digital studies at the University of Kentucky, who researches various human dynamics that occur during video gaming. Dr. Gray works with parents and youth on how to manage the hard parts of gaming culture and shares many insights and solutions on today’s show. A teen gamer adds thoughts as well. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

    EPISODE NOTES Featured Expert

    Kishona Gray

  • We're bringing back this episode today to help with the common arguments in the home about screen time and what to do. What is a parenting strategy that can promote healthy screen use, and other positive behaviors, while at the same time decrease fighting? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with one of her favorite parenting experts, Dr. Tammy Fisher Huson, about a strategy that has made a real difference in Dr. Ruston's own home.

  • Parenting kids has always had challenges, but now, in the tech revolution, conflicts are at a new level. The good news is that research shows that conflicts done well have all sorts of benefits for youth. But how do we ensure healthier conflicts? On today’s episode, Dr. Ruston talks with Lisa Damour, Ph.D. psychologist and author of three New York Times best-selling books about adolescents, including “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” The episode explores teen psychology, common screen time arguments, and several approaches to having healthier conflicts. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

    Featured Expert Lisa Damour Research References The role of music in adolescents' mood regulation (Sage Journal) Extreme Metal Music and Anger Processing (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience) The appeal of sad music: A brief overview of current directions in research on motivations for listening to sad music (The Arts in Psychotherapy) Additional Links

    Lisa Damour’s website

    The Ask Lisa Podcast

    Books by Lisa Damour:

    Untangled

    Under Pressure

    The Emotional Lives Of Teenagers

  • Concerns over Snapchat use by its many young users seem to be discussed much less than concerns over TikTok and Instagram. Yet, issues with Snapchat are plenty — be it social conflicts or the sexually explicit material that can be seen on the app. In today's episode, Dr. Ruston discusses these topics and more with a high school boy and a young woman in college. The guests discuss problems created by the App's Snapscore feature, which is a ranking given to users based on how many snaps they send or receive. In addition, they talk about social conflicts that can happen on the app, issues around sexual content, and suggestions to parents regarding when to allow the app and how to talk about it with kids.

    Additional Links

    The birth of Snapchat

    How Snapchat defines Snapscore

    Snapchat’s Discover page and connection to Cosmo

    About OnlyFans

  • In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston dives into the pressing issue of social media addiction through the story of one young person, Lars, and insights from the chief of addiction medicine at Stanford, Ana Lembke, MD, and longtime media researcher Douglas Gentile, PhD. Through Lar’s struggle with social media addiction, listeners gain an intimate look at the impact of social media on mental health and identity. The episode sheds light on the various ways compulsive social media use can impact a young person and delves into the science behind digital addiction. Ultimately, Dr. Ruston and her guests offer valuable tips on how to know when social media use is in the zone of a clinical addiction and, most importantly, how to help teens who are in that zone, or wobbling there, to break free.

    Featured Experts

    Anna Lembke, MD

    Douglas Gentile, Ph.D.

    Additional Links

    Anna Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation

    Lars May and Half The Story

    Time code of the episode 00:00 Introduction to Social Media Addiction 00:37 The Lawsuits Against Social Media Giants 01:47 Interview with Experts on Social Media Addiction 02:15 The Power of Social Media and Its Impact 04:19 The Journey of a Social Media Influencer 09:43 The Struggle with Mental Illness and Technology 11:11 The Science Behind Social Media Addiction 13:40 Understanding Addiction on a Spectrum 19:27 The Impact of Overabundance on Mental Health 20:19 Recovering from Social Media Addiction 24:54 Helping Others Overcome Social Media Addiction 25:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts