Parents Uncharted: From The Creator of Mom Uncharted

A portion of this episode is sponsored by Proton Mail and their Born Private Campaign, which allows parents to reserve a private email address for their child before they’re even online- offering a way to give children a more protected digital starting point, before tracking and profiling begin.

Your kids deserve privacy before the internet decides otherwise. Give them a clean digital start by reserving a Proton Mail email for just $1 at ⁠proton.me/momuncharted ⁠and share this with a friend who needs to hear it. 

Every child is Born Private, and it should stay that way.

How do you tell family and friends not to post your child online without damaging relationships?

In this episode of Parents Uncharted, host Sarah Adams breaks down exactly how to have one of the most uncomfortable- but increasingly necessary - conversations in modern parenting: setting a “no posting” boundary for your kids.

Whether you’re a new parent, expecting, or rethinking how much you share online in 2026, this episode will help you navigate the reality that your child’s digital footprint starts early- and often without their consent.

Sarah gives helpful tips on how to approach family members (especially grandparents), and the exact language you can use to set clear, respectful boundaries.

Because this isn’t just about social media anymore- it’s about privacy, data, AI, and your child’s digital identity.

Resources

Learn more about sharenting and get resources at: https://kidsarenotcontent.com

Listen to last week’s episode with Andy from The Secure Dad for a deeper dive into children’s online privacy

Learn more about privacy-first tools like Proton and their “Born Private” campaign: proton.me/momuncharted

Connect with Sarah Adams:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted⁠

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction: The Growing Concern of Sharing Kids Online

(00:05) Why Parents Are Reconsidering Sharing Children's Images

(01:45) Common Challenges in Family Conversations About Privacy

(02:46) Generational Gaps and Differing Perspectives on Sharing

(04:28) The Power of 'I' Statements in Boundary Setting

(05:56) Research and Data on Children's Digital Footprint Risks

(07:31) Tools and Strategies for Respectful Boundaries

(09:17) The Proton Born Private Campaign: A Privacy-First Solution

(10:55) The Importance of Proactive Conversations for New Parents

(13:03) The Long-Term Impact of Digital Identity and Privacy

(14:46) How to Handle Non-Respectful Sharing After Boundaries Are Set

(16:25) Resources and Scripts for Navigating Family Discussions

(18:10) Changing Norms and Moving Toward Privacy-Conscious Parenting
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Proton Mail and their Born Private Campaign, which allows parents to reserve a private email address for their child before they’re even online- offering a way to give children a more protected digital starting point, before tracking and profiling begin.

Your kids deserve privacy before the internet decides otherwise. Give them a clean digital start by reserving a Proton Mail email for just $1 at proton.me/momuncharted and share this with a friend who needs to hear it. 

Every child is Born Private, and it should stay that way.

What does it actually mean to keep our children safe in a digital world- and are we doing enough to protect their right to privacy?

In this episode of Parents Uncharted, Sarah sits down with Andy Murphy, also known as The Secure Dad, to break down the realities of raising kids in an increasingly connected world. Together, they explore how children are building digital identities earlier than ever before- often without their knowledge or consent- and why that matters more than many parents realize.

From online footprints and data collection to the hidden risks within Big Tech ecosystems, this conversation unpacks how children’s information is tracked, stored, and potentially used over time. Andy helps decode the terms parents hear every day- including VPNs, digital IDs, and data brokers- and explains what they actually mean for families trying to protect their children online.

At the heart of this discussion is a bigger question: do children have a right to privacy from the very beginning - and what does it look like to honor that in a digital-first world?

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pace of technology or unsure how to safeguard your child’s digital life, this episode offers both clarity and practical steps to help you take back control.

More About Andy Murphy:

Andy Murphy is the founder of The Secure Dad, a platform dedicated to helping parents protect their families in an increasingly complex world. Since 2016, he has equipped thousands of families with practical, real-world strategies for home, digital, and everyday safety. Andy Murphy is also the host of The Secure Family Podcast and author of Home Security: The Secure Dad’s Guide, where he breaks down security into simple, actionable steps parents can confidently implement.

Website

Instagram

Podcast 

Connect with Sarah Adams:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted

Chapters

(00:00) Navigating the Digital Landscape for Parents

(05:11) Understanding Digital Identity and Footprints

(10:37) The Importance of Digital Privacy and Security

(14:33) The Role of Big Tech in Children's Data

(18:22) Parental Control and Guidance in the Digital Age

(24:10) Key Digital Terms Every Parent Should Know

(29:31) Understanding VPNs: A Double-Edged Sword

(32:18) Teens and VPNs: Circumventing Restrictions

(33:51) Digital IDs and Facial Recognition: A Security Concern

(39:15) The Data Broker Industry: What Parents Need to Know

(43:16) The Importance of Privacy: Why It Matters

(45:36) Protecting Children's Privacy: A Parental Responsibility
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What are therapists seeing behind closed doors when it comes to boys, screens, and the internet?

In this episode of Parents Uncharted, Sarah sits down with licensed therapist, parenting coach, and founder of Project LookUp, Tessa Stuckey, to talk about the growing impact of digital culture on young people’s mental health.

Drawing from years of working directly with teens and families, Tessa shares what she began noticing in her therapy practice long before the conversation went mainstream: rising anxiety, depression, and emotional struggles often connected to excessive screen use and the pressures of life online.

Together, Sarah and Tessa explore the real influence of social media, AI, and digital culture on child development- including the growing concerns around boys, online pornography, and how algorithm-driven platforms are shaping behavior, expectations, and identity.

They also discuss how parents can begin setting healthier digital boundaries at home, have honest conversations about difficult online topics, and help their children build resilience, confidence, and real-world social skills in a screen-saturated world.

Your kids deserve privacy before the internet decides otherwise. Give them a clean digital start by reserving a Proton Mail email for them by going to proton.me/momuncharted and share this with a friend who needs to hear it. Every child is Born Private, and it should stay that way.

Resources:

https://www.tessastuckey.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/projectlkup/

https://www.projectlkup.org/ 

Connect with Sarah Adams:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do phones and constant digital distractions affect our relationships with our kids?

In this episode of Parents Uncharted, Sarah Adams sits down with Dr. Carrie Mackensen to explore technoference- the interruptions in parent-child interactions caused by smartphones, notifications, and screen use. While these moments can seem small, research shows they may influence children’s emotional development, attachment, and sense of connection with caregivers.

Dr. Carrie explains the science behind attention and bonding, including insights from the Still Face Experiment, a well-known study showing how quickly children respond when a caregiver becomes emotionally unavailable. The findings offer a powerful lens for understanding how everyday device distractions can impact developing relationships.

We also talk about the pressure many parents feel around screen time and parenting, why guilt isn’t helpful, and practical ways families can create healthier technology habits at home. Finally, we discuss the growing presence of AI in children’s lives and why ongoing conversations about technology between parents and kids are more important than ever.

In this episode, we discuss:

What technoference is and how phones interrupt parent-child interaction

The impact of screen time and digital distraction on child development

What the Still Face Experiment reveals about attachment and presence

How parents can reduce device interruptions without shame or guilt

Why intentional technology habits matter as AI and digital tools become part of childhood

If you’re navigating parenting in the digital age, this episode offers research-backed insight and practical strategies to help you stay connected with your kids in a screen-saturated world.

More About Dr. Carrie Mackensen:

Dr. Carrie Mackensen is a clinical psychologist, parent coach, and founder of Successful Parent. With over 25 years of experience, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Clinical Director of addiction and behavioral treatment programs, she specializes in depth psychology, attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology, the science of how relationships shape the developing brain. She serves on ScreenStrong's Medical Advisory Board and is author of the forthcoming Digitally Dysregulated: How Screens Hijack Kids' Brains and What Parents Can Do About It (2026). Most importantly, she's a mom to two boys so she gets it!

Resources:

Successful Parent Website: https://successfulparent.com

Newsletter Signup: https://successfulparent.com/newsletter

Instagram Profile: https://instagram.com/successful_parent

Upcoming Digitally Dysregulated Book: https://successfulparent.com/digitally-dysregulated

Connect with Sarah Adams:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted

(00:00) Introduction to Technoference

(05:21) Navigating Screen Time as Parents

(10:48) Understanding Technoference

(15:51) The Still Face Experiment and Its Implications

(25:33) The Long-Term Effects of Screen Time on Development

(29:17) Understanding Digital Parenting and Attachment

(31:58) Overcoming Parent Guilt in a Digital Age

(37:08) Practical Steps for Reducing Screen Time

(41:52) Navigating AI and Technology with Kids

(52:39) The Importance of Open Communication with Children
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Sarah returns to one of the core pillars of Mom Uncharted, sharenting - the practice of sharing children’s lives online.

In 2026, the risks look very different than they did even five years ago. With AI image manipulation, facial recognition, data harvesting, and permanent digital footprints, posting your child online isn’t just about connection - it’s about long-term consequences.

Sarah breaks down the three core concerns:

Privacy- Children deserve a childhood that isn’t permanently searchable.

Informed Consent- Kids cannot meaningfully consent to a lifelong digital record.

Digital Safety- From exploitation to identity theft, once content is public, control is lost.

This episode isn’t about shame. It’s about awareness and the reminder that it’s never too late to change course.

Connect with Sarah Adams:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted

(0:00) What Is Sharenting?

(3:20) Why Posting Kids Felt “Normal”

(5:00) How Many Parents Share Their Kids?

(7:18) The 3 Pillars: Privacy, Consent, Safety

(10:00) It’s Not Too Late to Change

(11:04) The Internet Is Forever  

(13:37) Let Kids Own Their Digital Story

(15:00) Exploitation, AI & The Dark Side of Virality

(17:00) Kids, Cameras & Mental Health

(18:30) Identity Theft & Your Child’s Data 

(20:00) Questions Before You Post Your Kid

(22:00) Rethinking What We Share About Kids
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