Cyberbullying, Sexting, and Building Resilience in Youth with Elizabeth Englander, PhD
Social development for today’s youth often includes navigating online social cruelty, such as cyberbullying and non-consensual sexting. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by cyberbullying expert Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, to discuss her research on teens’ online social behaviors, including cyberbullying and sexting, and her perspective on how to help youth develop resilience with these challenges. Dr. Englander addresses the risk factors associated with these behaviors, including why children engage in them, potential mental health impacts, and who is most vulnerable. Parents will find actionable guidance on how to intervene proactively by initiating conversation, as well as what to do if you suspect your child is a victim of cyberbullying. In this episode, you will learn:How today's technology and the "mob effect" can facilitate cyberbullying and amplify unintentional online cruelty, with longstanding impacts on children.Why even “popular” or self-confident children aren’t immune to cyberbullying.How to prepare children for use of smartphones and other digital devices – and the protective effect of doing so.Why girls are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of cyberbullying and non-consensual sexting.What to do if you suspect your child if is being cyberbullied.Best practices for helpful and productive conversations with youth about cyberbullying and sexting.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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52:37
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52:37
Early Childhood Mental Health and Screen Use with Joan Luby, MD
Many people think of mental health disorders as arising later in childhood or adolescence. However, there is increasing evidence that even young children can experience mental health problems like anxiety and depression. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by Joan Luby, a Professor of Child Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine and an expert in early childhood mental health. Dr. Luby discusses how to identify mental health problems in preschool-aged children, and the role of screens in exacerbating these issues. Drawing on her clinical experiences and research, she provides suggestions for parents on how to promote the best socio-emotional outcomes for their young children. In this episode, you will learn:How improved diagnostics tools are helping to identify psychiatric and mood disorders in children as young as three years old.What unique signs and symptoms to look for in young children that may indicate they are experiencing anxiety, depression, or other concerns. Why considering environmental factors is important when evaluating child mental health.How high amounts of screen use by young children can impact their mental health and social/emotional regulation.The five essential ingredients young children need to thrive.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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40:52
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40:52
Children's Rights in Digital Safety and Design with Sonia Livingstone
From parent and school restrictions on smartphone use to the design of the latest AI tools, what does it mean to center children’s own perspectives and rights in ensuring safety in their online worlds? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry sits down with Sonia Livingstone, Professor at the London School of Economics and leader of the Digital Futures for Children centre and the Five Rights Foundation, to explore the intersection of children’s rights, parental mediation, and public policy in the digital world. Drawing on her research and policy work, Dr. Livingstone describes how parents can best help mitigate online risks, and how policies should help protect children from harmful online content and mechanisms while reinforcing their rights to privacy and autonomy. Dr. Livingstone emphasizes the importance of talking to children to learn how they feel about various technologies and incorporating their insightful perspectives into both household rules and macro-level policy.In this episode, you will learn:What children themselves say about the kinds of support they need from parents and communities. Research results on the most effective parenting strategies for keeping children safe onlineHow income, access, and background shape online safety risks. How the new AI Design Code could help developers prioritize children’s safety in in design.Why addressing harmful algorithms through regulation of online platforms is key to increasing child online safety.What the latest research says about the effectiveness of school phone bans and their impact on learning and child well-being. For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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49:52
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49:52
Reading and Writing Skills in the Age of AI with Naomi Baron, PhD
How are screen-based reading and writing, along with the growing use of generative AI by youth, shaping children’s development of foundational literacy skills? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry explores these nuanced questions with Dr. Naomi Baron, Professor Emerita of Linguistics at American University and a leading expert on reading and writing with technology. Dr. Baron outlines how reading and writing look differently on screens versus print, and what students think about the benefits and drawbacks of using each. She then dives into the research on generative AI and how tools like ChatGPT may be altering the reading, writing, and critical thinking process of young learners. In this episode, you will learn:How the development of reading and writing skills interact with cognitive and social skills and identity development.What research says about comprehension from reading print versus digital formats – and how that differs from our personal perceptions.Why engaging e-books may distract children from becoming strong, focused readers. What recent studies show about differences in brain activity when writing by hand, typing, or using AI like ChatGPT for writing – and why it matters for learning.Positive ways to use AI with children to spark creativity and boost critical thinking.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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55:22
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55:22
Social Media, Anxiety, and Emotion Regulation in Teens with Sarah Myruski, PhD
The relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health issues like anxiety is complex, and researchers continue to probe the mechanisms and causalities that may be involved in this relationship. In this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Sarah Myruski, Assistant Research Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University about recent neuroimaging findings that indicate an important role for emotion regulation skills in the association between anxiety and social media use. Dr. Myruski delves into her work on adolescents and social media use, exploring how brain imaging tools are helping to define how preferences for communicating emotions online and coping strategies relate to differences in emotion regulation and risk for anxiety. Dr. Myruski also provides important insights for parents about how their support can play a powerful role in helping their child’s emotion regulation skills.In this episode, you will learn:How brain science helps us understand emotion regulation and anxiety.How adolescent preferences for digital communication may relate to anxiety and which youth are most vulnerable. Why age may affect the way youth use digital media to cope with stress.How anxiety may work to make neutral or ambiguous stimuli seem threatening.What type of parenting behavior best supports development of healthy emotional regulation.For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)-------------- Follow Children and Screens on: Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentInstagram: @childrenandscreensLinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentX: @childrenscreensBluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social---------------Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
Screen Deep takes aim at decoding young brains and behavior in a digital world. Host Kris Perry dives deep with a leading expert in each episode to explore how children and adolescents are affected mentally, physically, and developmentally by digital media use, bringing research and evidence-based perspectives to the essential questions on how to help children thrive today.
Canada - english