Episode Details

Todd and Cathy converse with Dr. Devorah Heitner, the author of “Screenwise” and her NEW book “Growing Up in Public.” They discuss the downsides and benefits of tracking your kids, whether it’s a good idea to read your kids’ texts, how to address the topic of sexting, and whether colleges are scrutinizing your kids’ posts. Her book is now available as of September 12th, and it’s a must-read! For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

Time Stamps

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:50) Discussion about upcoming event, Zen Parenting 2024
(00:04:50) Cathy discussed Devorah’s book: “Growing Up in Public”
(00:06:00) A discussion of surveillance devices and how parents and schools track children
(00:09:35) Todd and Devorah have a brief conversation about nuance
(00:18:55) Discuss the pros and cons of monitoring texts and online interactions with friends.
(00:22:18) Dr. Devorah highlights the need to understand adolescent language experimentation and differentiate between typical behavior and more problematic language
(00:26:15) Do our kids use the phone to call people that often?
(00:31:20) Let’s take responsibility!
(00:34:12) It’s important for kids to understand that life is a performance
(00:35:01) Our partner of the week What if World Podcast– a storytelling podcast for kids
(00:36:42) Growing up in the public eye
(00:38:40) Discussion about body image
(00:42:10) Discussion about posting children on social media and respecting their privacy.
(00:47:45) Kids are coming out on social media
(00:51:42) Privacy and consent are crucial when it comes to sharing explicit images or sexting, especially among teenagers
(00:56:30) The double standard of sexting and sexual harassment
(01:00:00) The importance of building strong self-esteem in kids to empower them to say no and not succumb to peer pressure is highlighted
(01:01:50) Sex education is discussed, emphasizing the need for early conversations about body image, consent, and healthy relationships, rather than waiting until later in adolescence
(01:07:00) A nuanced approach to addressing harmful behavior online is advocated, focusing on educating and supporting the entire community rather than scapegoating individuals

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