Social Media Effects on Teen Mental Health — What a Family Therapist Wants Every Parent to Know

Inside a District That Went All In on Digital Wellness (Live at the Kansas State Board of Education)

A rural Kansas district shares what changed in classrooms and homes after going K–12 with The Screen Guardians. What happens when an entire school district stops talking about screen time and actually does something about it? In this episode, we hand the mic to the people who went first. Recorded live on May 13, 2026 before the Kansas Department of Education State Board, you'll hear Superintendent Paul Larkin, Elementary Principal Liz Plunkett, and parent Taryn Parks from USD 494 in Syracuse, Kansas share exactly what happened when their community brought The Screen Guardians program into every grade, K–12. This isn't theory. It's a real district, a real rollout, and real results — told by the educators and parents who lived it. In this episode: * Why a one-time assembly doesn't work — and what to do instead * How Syracuse prepared teachers before teaching a single student * Winning parent trust through radical transparency * The surprising way kids became the messengers at home * Teaching brain science so kids understand dopamine, digital footprints, and the echo chamber * Pairing education with fewer devices — textbooks, handwriting, and tech-free early grades * Why collective action beats going it alone Whether you're a parent, teacher, principal, or board member, this conversation is proof that one community can lead the way. 📌 Bringing this to your school? Learn about the K–12 program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/] 📌 For parents: explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/] 📌 New here? Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/] Because education is the greatest form of protection.

Edtech in Schools: The Honest Truth Parents Deserve

If you've watched your kid trudge out of school carrying a Chromebook and felt a quiet knot in your stomach — you're not imagining it. Edtech in schools rolled out faster than the brain science behind it, and now the data is catching up. In this episode, Katie Longhauser walks through how we got here, what's actually happening in kids' developing brains, and the clear next steps families and schools can take without fear, shame, or burning the whole system down. In this episode: * How edtech started with good intentions — and where the brain science was missing * What no one told teachers about dopamine, attention, and a developing prefrontal cortex * The decade-long pattern in reading, math, and behavior data * Who funded the early "screens are fine" studies — and why that matters * 6 questions every parent should ask their school in writing * How to build a Recovery Plan with your child before they need one * What schools can do now, starting with their mission statement Read the full article + FAQs: https://thescreenguardians.com/edtech-in-schools/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/edtech-in-schools/] Free Parent Course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/] Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/] K–12 Program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/] Join the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ [https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/] This conversation originally aired on the Get Curious Podcast, Ep. 10.

Who's Teaching the Teachers? Screens, Phone Bans & Keeping Kids Safe — with Dr. Elizabeth Walter

We talk a lot about what screens are doing to kids in the classroom. But here's a question we don't ask enough: who is teaching the teachers? In this episode, host Katie sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Walter — an assistant professor at Rockhurst University who prepares the next generation of educators, a former English teacher, a mom of two elementary-age kids, and the academic vice president of her children's PTA. She lives this conversation from every angle: the lecture hall, the classroom, the dinner table, and the school board meeting. Together they unpack what teacher prep does (and doesn't) cover when it comes to technology, why "digital natives" can make a TikTok but can't double-space a document, why bell-to-bell cell phone bans may be one of the best things to happen to teachers in years, and the single most powerful thing a worried parent can do. Grounded in research, not fear. No shame, no panic — just clear eyes, real hope, and a deep belief that we can do better, because our kids are worth it.

How to Protect Kids Online: Are We Showing Up Too Late? (Prevention vs. Response)

Why prevention has to come before the message ever hits your kid's phone. What if prevention became the first layer of protection — not the second? In this solo episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, founder Katie Longhauser walks through why we're so good at responding to harm but not as intentional about preventing it, and what that means for parents trying to figure out how to protect kids online in 2026. From a Sunday-morning church donation to the World Cup coming to Kansas City, Katie unpacks how the starting line of harm has moved — and why online safety education has to begin before the first message ever lands. In this episode: * Why prevention feels invisible (and response feels urgent) * How the grooming process actually starts online — and why it doesn't feel dangerous at first * The cultural model we've built (harm → response → recovery) and how to expand it * What real prevention looks like at the family, school, and community level * Three small shifts you can make this week to protect your kids online * How a Recovery Plan changes everything when a digital mistake happens Mentioned in this episode: * The Parent Portal — thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal [https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/] * Free Parent Course — thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide [https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/] * The Screen Guardians K–12 Program — thescreenguardians.com/k-12 [https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/] * Companion blog post: How to Protect Kids Online: Why Prevention Has to Come First [https://thescreenguardians.com/how-to-protect-kids-online-prevention/] If this episode resonated, share it with another parent, educator, or community leader. When we educate early, communicate often, and lead with intention, we don't just respond to problems — we prevent them. Not anti-technology. Pro-child. Subscribe to the newsletter at thescreenguardians.com/subscribe [https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/].

Raising Healthy Kids in a Digital Age: 3 Proven Strategies with Dr. Shreya Hessler

You already know the screens are an issue. You feel it in the eye rolls. You feel it in the bedtime battles. You feel it in your own thumb as you scroll one more time before sleep. Raising healthy kids in a digital age isn't about removing devices — it's about raising kids who actually know how to use them. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Shreya Hessler returns to The Screen Guardians podcast with practical, neuroscience-backed strategies you can start tonight — without yelling, shaming, or starting World War III at the dinner table. You're not alone in this. Let's walk it together.