The M4LAcademy Podcast

Rhetoric for the Republic: EdTech has FAILED Students || M4L Academy

Is the digital revolution in classrooms delivering on its promises—or putting our children at risk? Hear experts and advocates tackle tough questions about data, attention, and the future of learning. Join the conversation and demand better for our kids!

Rhetoric for the Republic: Should minors be allowed on social media?

If you believe parents—not the government or "Big Tech"—should decide what’s best for children, you don't want to miss M4L Academy’s Rhetoric for the Republic, where we tackled the urgent question: Should minors be allowed on social media? The stakes couldn’t be higher: our kids’ mental health, safety, and future are on the line. There's no question that the dangers are real, but what is the best way to handle it? Let's talk about it.Tune in to hear our speakers Laura Derrendinger and Julie Smith discuss:Youth Mental Health Crisis: Since 2012, emergency room visits for suicide and self-harm among minors have soared. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for children over 10—a trend closely linked to social media and smartphone use.Layered Solutions Work: Experts agree—no single fix will protect our kids. We need age minimums, warning labels, phone-free schools, and robust media literacy education. Parents and communities must lead the way, not just rely on government or tech companies.Parental Empowerment: The most powerful defense against digital harm is YOU. When parents set boundaries, model healthy habits, and advocate for safer policies, children thrive. Education and community support are essential tools in your arsenal.Don’t wait for someone else to protect your family. Advocate for age restrictions and phone-free spaces in your schools. Educate yourself and your children about the risks and realities of social media. Join forces with other parents and local leaders to demand common-sense protections for minors online. Together, we can reclaim our rights and safeguard the next generation.#ParentalRights [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/parentalrights] #ProtectKids [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/protectkids] #ScreenStrong [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/screenstrong] #DigitalSafety [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/digitalsafety] #M4LAcademy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/m4lacademy] #Moms4Liberty [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/moms4liberty]*********************************************************************** Learn more about Laura Derrendinger and her work with Screen Strong: https://screenstrong.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGVZMVJfdkpkbHBPNU5WTjI4cGkxM3U2dXZwUXxBQ3Jtc0tsaUxUQXdXOXlHeWpvZEdSajQ5NjZuVVNrRFcwbkZVMWlfbmhxNkdvZmx0U3YxcFpqc1hoT1E4NlZQdXotS0w3OFNwc2w1MWxkbU5JZDkxdW1Pbk1BVWxfX0ZNZnZXR19XZHkwWGh5dFdoRDFQQ0J2OA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fscreenstrong.org%2F&v=EsPGmCZm1SM] Learn more about Julie Smith: https://heyjuliesmith.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTluZ1FKYXNpNkhFQWNyRVFZbUJ5aFJRME5td3xBQ3Jtc0ttNVlvV1VQQlVZeEhVdDQyMEliVnd1ZjQ1UGh0Rl9aTEpmOFhKamg4UDVLbkNialNTVnVOU1F2VkFZQzlackYzeGtTUkFvLWVBRUFnV2hzeTRsVFBiMFBfWG16Yk9CbVd6bWwzSExicTRsRWZ6RE14aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fheyjuliesmith.com%2F&v=EsPGmCZm1SM] Follow M4L Academy for more content! Watch the related conversation with Screen Schooled authors here:    • Screen Schooled | M4L Academy Book Club   [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMLQ1NUAwMs] Find more resources at M4L Academy: https://m4lacademy.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3VHaXJSbF9RQ0NiUzFGSXU1Y090X3p2M3pnUXxBQ3Jtc0tudGlCdGJHbzJiZGgwM0c3N2dqeVBKcFpRU0hYaVVoWjhacDl3SUtnMGhrRm9meWVsR3JtaFZXUWprRGtxbGJpVnhpVnlQVGZUSUpva2VPNTVpUHM3cU5CdzEwdzFZTy1qR3VqZFdoU1NwNkJZenE4dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fm4lacademy.org%2F&v=EsPGmCZm1SM] Subscribe M4L Academy’s YouTube channel:    / @m4lacademy   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4yOOilj3FNsaIJsGtXEGKA] Follow Moms for Liberty for updates on parental rights wins! Follow M4L on YouTube:    / @moms4liberty   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2H19eKURyI364Q3Rv-o_5g] Follow M4L on Facebook:   / moms4liberty   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHI0eDJxRzlFVzNaSzV4YWcwZ0xUOTJHMFpOUXxBQ3Jtc0tubVpsQ0J1WDMzaU55dm10SUVsWGpEUXlMeUxCXzNhXzZkajJ3YVBmcTVSUjdaSVpTU245NGFTTHo1ejlVQnR1R1d5ZnhsWjlCbjlmVWxPb3dvMXRfLW1CMUx0cHIwV09RQXpHUEFIbkFJcTRwbllyWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMoms4Liberty%2F&v=EsPGmCZm1SM] Follow M4L on Instagram:   / moms4liberty   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmVSdzB6eGllTVFUcnExOXZTWE5zZExGYnJqZ3xBQ3Jtc0trWlg0cUh4TE5SM2paeFh3LUdfdDA4YUdtNUprdWVZTHFieEd6WkswQ2ppcmtHLWotT3czTGhOLWsyZHNoNk1wUEZxNy1EXzE5Q0xSY2ozbXpDVkIxMktNeEpJRFNXb01NN0pfTHpRVl9mYWlBNmcwTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmoms4liberty%2F&v=EsPGmCZm1SM] Follow M4L on X: https://x.com/moms4liberty [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGozZVBDUUhVbk9oRGw3Zi1jTmVIY1p4MDJ6QXxBQ3Jtc0ttMzhDMzRGNlU1T05KNG9WcmJ4VWtfZUxOMkFFOEdZUTYtUVFCZVFEbVM5bHpZNTluRkFld2ZFb2lkZ3BWZFQtS0xuR0FycGIwNllyVXdEWWs4b0NkN3YtcWtFSEg0RTIzSVpYNlMtY2JwZUVPOWRMTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fmoms4liberty&v=EsPGmCZm1SM]