Category Archives: Screens

What Parents (& Boys) Need to Know About AI



Powered by RedCircle AI — artificial intelligence — is already a big part of our everyday lives. We rely on it to help us get from one place to another. (GPS directions, anyone?) We use it to polish our prose. (Spell check and Grammarly, for instance.) Customer service chatbots and product recommendations based on previous … Continue reading What Parents (& Boys) Need to Know About AI


Emily Edlynn on a Healthier Approach to Tech



Powered by RedCircle Child psychologist Emily Edlynn says a healthier approach to tech is good for the whole family.  As she wrote in her Substack newsletter, the currently popular shame-blame-restrict approach to social media, screens, and gaming isn’t working particularly well. Emily sas: Parents’ hyper-focus on screen time, gaming, or phones can have more negative … Continue reading Emily Edlynn on a Healthier Approach to Tech


YouTube, Misogyny, & Racism



Powered by RedCircle YouTube isn’t all entertainment and education. Misogyny, racism, and porn lurk there too. It can be really difficult to keep up with what our boys are watching online, though. Creators come & go, interests change, one click can lead to, well, anywhere. Boys love YouTube YouTube is ubiquitous these days. Gaming and … Continue reading YouTube, Misogyny, & Racism


Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Public



Powered by RedCircle Our boys are growing up in public. Between social media, online monitoring, and geo-tracking, our kids’ lives are public in a way ours never were when we were young. Helping kids manage this digital landscape can be a challenge for parents and adults who often worry and frequently ignore the upsides of … Continue reading Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Public


Why Are Video Games So Important to Boys?



Why are video games so important to boys? That’s the question a listener sent in response to our recent call for questions. The listener who asked that question just happens to be Jen’s brother — and another one of their brothers happens to be a video game designer, so we got them all together to … Continue reading Why Are Video Games So Important to Boys?


ON BOYS Most Popular Episode of 2021



ON BOYS listeners really want to know how to keep boys safe online. Which makes sense, given that the internet is a portal to all kinds of free and easily accessible porn — as well as conspiracy theories, disinformation, and peer pressure. In January 2021, we asked our friend Amy Lang to help us address … Continue reading ON BOYS Most Popular Episode of 2021


Social Media Safety



Social media has been a lifeline during the pandemic. It can also destroy lives. In 2016, Ed Peisner’s then-16-year-old son was viciously attacked in a social-media motivated assault — which was filmed and uploaded to social media before his father even arrived on the scene. “It was just a typical Friday,” Peisner says. “He was walking … Continue reading Social Media Safety


Managing Screen Time During the Pandemic



How are you managing screen time during the pandemic?  According to at least one survey, kids’ time online has more than doubled since the pandemic began, and many kids now spend more than 6 hours per day online, in front of screens. And no wonder — screens are now our portal to school, work, socialization … Continue reading Managing Screen Time During the Pandemic


Which Apps are APPropriate? (w Jo Langford)



How much do you know about the apps KIK, WeChat and My LOL? If you’re like most parents, the answer is “not much” (if anything!). You know that cell phones and social media are an important part of tween and teen culture — in fact, digital communication is the primary source of social connection for … Continue reading Which Apps are APPropriate? (w Jo Langford)


Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World with Jordan Shapiro



Janet & Jen had very different reactions to The New Childhood: Raising Children to Thrive in a Connected World, by author and educator Jordan Shapiro. Jen loved it. Janet has some, uh, questions. And concerns. So, we decided to talk to the author. Jordan was happy to talk with us. He’s an assistant professor at … Continue reading Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World with Jordan Shapiro