Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

How are students really using ChatGPT and other AI tools for school work? What do they see as acceptable? And where do they draw the line? What happens when AI is used for creative projects, and at what cost?
In this episode of Parenting in the Screen Age, Delaney Ruston, MD, explores the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on student learning and academic integrity. She shares interviews with college students who talk candidly about using AI for academic purposes, what they will and won't do, and how they navigate ethical gray areas. One student recounts being accused of cheating with AI, and we learn how she got through the experience.
The episode encourages parents, educators, and students to have ongoing conversations about the responsible use of AI technologies in and beyond the classroom.
 
Additional Resources
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community‍
 
‍‍‍Time Code
00:00 Introduction
00:47 The Rise of AI in Education
01:46 Student Interviews: Creative Uses of AI
06:47 Student Interviews: Academic Uses of AI
14:53 Student Interviews: Ethical Concerns and Personal Choices
17:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In many schools today, students hesitate to give class presentations. Not because of stage fright, but because they're afraid of being secretly recorded and mocked on social media.
Principals across the country are spending their time managing the aftermath of incidents sparked by viral trends like "Ship or Dip" posts. Physical altercations between students are often filmed by bystanders and shared online, amplifying the harm.
In this episode, Dr. Ruston visits a middle school in Washington State and sits down with Principal Zach to explore what happened when phones were allowed on campus and how things changed dramatically once new policies were put in place.
Zach shares the powerful transformation his school has experienced, and how restorative practices are helping students learn healthier ways to resolve conflict.
This episode is intended for both adult and teen audiences.
 
Featured Expert
Zach - Middle School Principal
 
Additional Links
Awayfortheday.org
Anti-Bullying Campaigns
Cyberbullying: How does your child define it?
Truths And Myths About Cyberbullying
 
Time Code
00:00 Introduction and Personal Story
00:27 The Impact of Smartphones in Schools
01:11 Real-Life Examples of Digital Cruelty
03:44 School Policies to Combat Phone-Related Issues
04:02 Principal Zach's Experience and Insights
07:10 The Culture Shift and Restorative Practices
13:02 Student Rights and Reporting System
16:07 Understanding Multiple Perspectives
16:52 Building Empathy and Conflict Resolution
19:15 Restorative Circles and Safe Spaces
21:10 The Role of Social Media in Conflict
23:26 Addressing Inappropriate Behavior
24:02 Conclusion and Resources

Originally published Jan 2024
In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores the complex issue of weed use among teenagers in today's digital world. The discussion delves into how cannabis is portrayed and often glamorized on social media and the potential risks this poses to young people, including addiction and mental health concerns. 
The episode also sheds light on the cannabis industry's lack of stringent regulation and the dangers of high THC products. Importantly, Dr. Ruston offers practical strategies for parents to engage in effective and meaningful conversations with their teens about cannabis use.
 
Research References:
Potency levels of regulated cannabis products in Michigan 2021–2022  (Journal of Forensic Sciences) 
Recent rapid decrease in adolescents' perception that marijuana is harmful, but no concurrent increase in use  (Drug and Alcohol Dependence)
Acute Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescent Marijuana Users (JAMA Pediatrics)
 
Featured Experts:
Sharon Levy, MD
Pam Ling, MD
 
Additional Links:
Recovery support in general 
Marajuana anonymous
 
Timecode:
00:04 Introduction to the Podcast
00:38 Teenagers' Perspective on Cannabis and Social Media
01:53 The Intersection of Cannabis Use and Screen Time
02:28 Medical Misconceptions about Cannabis
03:59 Personal Stories of Cannabis Use and Mental Health
04:19 The Risks of Cannabis Use for Mental Health
05:47 The Reality of Cannabis Addiction
09:26 The Impact of High THC Concentration in Cannabis
11:28 The Role of Vaping in Cannabis Use
12:33 The Need for Regulation in the Cannabis Industry
16:11 Strategies for Talking to Teens about Cannabis
18:52 Seeking Help for Cannabis Addiction
21:19 Personal Strategies for Decreasing Cannabis Use
22:27 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Why do some kids and teens get overly frustrated and bored when it's time to turn off their video games? How to know when game playing has become excessive? What are tips that all families should know for ensuring healthy video game play?
In today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores these issues along with a new model of brain biology to help explain irritability and boredom associated with video gaming. We hear from teens along with psychiatrist Dr. Clifford Sussman who specializes in helping young people regain tech balance.
We also hear from Andrew Fulton who was in the film, Screenagers, when he was getting treatment at an internet rehab center, and is now working at the same center helping others recover from video game overuse.
 
Additional Links
Andrew in this episode works at the internet recovery center called reStart
To learn more about Dr. Clifford Sussman, go to his website.
Dr. Sussman et al.,  Internet and Video Game Addictions: Diagnosis, Epidemiology and Neurobiology.
 
Here are links to some Tech Talk Tuesday articles about video games:
Digital Binging, Is it a Problem?
Why 3 Hours is Too Much
Fake Identities and Real Concerns
Watch What Happens When Kids Have No Screen Time Rules
‍
Additional Resources
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community

In today's episode, Dr. Ruston interviews tech journalist Manoush Zomorodi about her book Body Electric and a movement to normalize periodic movement breaks from screens.
Zomorodi talks about research that shows five minutes of gentle movement every 30 minutes can significantly improve glucose, blood pressure, focus, mood, and energy, and explains a large self-reported project with 20,000 participants testing breaks every 30 minutes, hour, or two hours.
They discuss why standing desks aren't enough, how movement supports circulation and cognition, practical habit strategies, and parenting approaches to help motivate kids to move, such as framing movement as something kids "get to" do.
 
Expert:
Manoush Zomorodi
 
Book:
Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being, by Manoush Zomorodi
 
Research References:
Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting to Improve Cardiometabolic Risk: Dose-Response Analysis of a Randomized Crossover Trial, Keith Diaz, PhD et al.
 
Resources:
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community
 
Time Code: 
00:00 Show Updates
00:28 Meet Manoush
02:40 Why Screens Exhaust Us
04:13 Five Minute Fix
06:49 Testing Movement Breaks
08:24 Citizen Science Approach
11:56 Lab Results Surprise
15:28 Standing Desk Myth
18:04 Making Breaks Stick
20:46 Listening to Your Body
21:30 Movement Mindset Shift
22:22 Screenagers Films Break
23:13 Parenting Without Shame
24:42 The Pandemic Questionnaire
26:35 Did You Get to Move
27:24 Airport Workouts Legacy
28:08 Tracking Steps Without Pressure
30:21 Be the Weirdo at Work
32:17 Movement Experiments With Kids
33:04 Part Two Tease and Resources
33:50 Where to Find Manoush
34:44 Podcast Wrap and Credits