Sometimes, gaming is not all fun and games. Foul words and degrading comments are all too common when kids and teens play video games together. From first-person shooter games like Call of Duty to building games like Minecraft and Roblox, competitive banter can be ugly. In this episode, Dr Ruston talks with Dr. Kishonna Gray, assistant professor of digital studies at the University of Kentucky, who researches various human dynamics that occur during video gaming. Dr. Gray works with parents and youth on how to manage the hard parts of gaming culture and shares many insights and solutions on today’s show. A teen gamer adds thoughts as well. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Kishona Gray

We're bringing back this episode today to help with the common arguments in the home about screen time and what to do. What is a parenting strategy that can promote healthy screen use, and other positive behaviors, while at the same time decrease fighting? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with one of her favorite parenting experts, Dr. Tammy Fisher Huson, about a strategy that has made a real difference in Dr. Ruston's own home. 

Parenting kids has always had challenges, but now, in the tech revolution, conflicts are at a new level. The good news is that research shows that conflicts done well have all sorts of benefits for youth. But how do we ensure healthier conflicts? On today’s episode, Dr. Ruston talks with Lisa Damour, Ph.D. psychologist and author of three New York Times best-selling books about adolescents, including “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” The episode explores teen psychology, common screen time arguments, and several approaches to having healthier conflicts. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Lisa Damour’s website 

The Ask Lisa Podcast

Books by Lisa Damour:

Untangled

Under Pressure 

The Emotional Lives Of Teenagers

Concerns over Snapchat use by its many young users seem to be discussed much less than concerns over TikTok and Instagram. Yet, issues with Snapchat are plenty — be it social conflicts or the sexually explicit material that can be seen on the app. In today's episode, Dr. Ruston discusses these topics and more with a high school boy and a young woman in college. The guests discuss problems created by the App's Snapscore feature, which is a ranking given to users based on how many snaps they send or receive. In addition, they talk about social conflicts that can happen on the app, issues around sexual content, and suggestions to parents regarding when to allow the app and how to talk about it with kids.  

The birth of Snapchat

How Snapchat defines Snapscore

Snapchat’s Discover page and connection to Cosmo

About OnlyFans

In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston dives into the pressing issue of social media addiction through the story of one young person, Lars, and insights from the chief of addiction medicine at Stanford, Ana Lembke, MD, and longtime media researcher Douglas Gentile, PhD. Through Lar’s struggle with social media addiction, listeners gain an intimate look at the impact of social media on mental health and identity. The episode sheds light on the various ways compulsive social media use can impact a young person and delves into the science behind digital addiction. Ultimately, Dr. Ruston and her guests offer valuable tips on how to know when social media use is in the zone of a clinical addiction and, most importantly, how to help teens who are in that zone, or wobbling there, to break free. 

Anna Lembke, MD

Douglas Gentile, Ph.D.

Anna Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation

Lars May and Half The Story

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks to author and psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff, Ph.D.,  about the power of self-compassion. They discuss the prevalent issue of self-criticism among parents, particularly regarding screen time, and how adopting self-compassion can help navigate such challenges. Dr. Neff and Dr. Ruston share personal parenting experiences along the way.  The episode provides practical advice to help listeners, parents, and teens initiate their own self-compassion practice.

Kristin Neff, PhD

Self-compassion and Psychological Resilience Among Adolescents and Young Adults (Self and Identity) 

Development and Validation of the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (Journal of Personality Assessment) 

The Development and Assessment of a Scale to Measure Self Assessment  (Self and Identity)

Dr. Kristin Neff’s Website 

Two Books by Dr Neff:

Self Compassion: The Proven Power Of Being Kind To Yourself

Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive

In this episode, Dr. Ruston tackles some of the thorniest screen time parenting issues with social worker Charlie Appelstein. Appelstein is the author of the popular book No Such Thing As A Bad Child. Using the framework of strength-based parenting, they explore strategies to help when youth break screen time rules and lie. They talk about creating fair consequences and what to do when teens are overly dismissive and mean to their parents.  With over 40 years of working with youth and parents, Appelstein has a wealth of effective interventions at his fingertips.

Charlie Appelstein, MSW

00:04 Introduction 

01:15 Understanding Strength-Based Parenting

02:14 Applying Strength-Based Parenting in Real-Life Scenarios

02:38 Addressing the Issue of Chores and Screen Time

05:10 The Power of Positive Reinforcement

06:12 Dealing with Adolescent Anger and Separation

09:03 Setting Boundaries and Consequences

21:21 Understanding and Addressing Lying

25:57 Conclusion: The Power of Reframing and Strength-Based Parenting

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Ruston focuses on the science behind teen risky decision-making, both online and offline. Dr. Ruston speaks with researchers who shed light on the latest brain science, helping us better understand the biology behind adolescents' decision-making processes. With insights from experts such as psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, parents will glean practical advice on guiding their children toward wiser decisions and setting fair consequences for rule-breaking.

EPISODE NOTES

‍Research References

Adolescents’ Cognitive Capacity Reaches Adult Levels Prior to Their Psychosocial Maturity: Evidence for a “Maturity Gap” in a Multinational, Cross-Sectional Sample (Law and Human Behavior)

Biological substrates of emotional reactivity and regulation in adolescence during an emotional go-nogo task (Biological Psychiatry)

Adriana Galvan, PhD

Laurence Steinberg, PhD

Lisa Damour, PhD

Anna Lambke, MD

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

Time code of the episode

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

On today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston dives into the world of teens, vaping, and the cunning tactics e-cigarette companies use on social media. We'll uncover the health hazards of vaping, examine how influencers glamorize it, and we will expose deceptive marketing strategies. Joining me are Dr. Pam Ling and Rob Jackler, featured in my latest film,  Screenagers Under The Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age. They shed light on vaping's dangers and the industry's slick ploys to lure in young people. I also discuss how to empower our youth to see through these manipulations and protect themselves from the vaping industry's grasp.

Research References

Young adult responses to COVID-19 themed tobacco and nicotine product marketing on social media (British Medical Journal). 

#ecig: How Social Media is Changing the Ad Game (Johnson & Wales University)

Effects of Social Media on Adolescents’ Willingness and Intention to Use E-Cigarettes: An Experimental Investigation    (Nicotine and Tobacco Research)

New Approach to Decrease Smoking Among Young Adult Bar Patrons (Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Time Code

00:04 Introduction to the Podcast

00:10 Understanding the Vaping Industry and Its Influence on Teens

00:36 The Role of Social Media in Promoting Vaping

01:55 The Misconceptions about Vaping and E-cigarettes

03:22 The Dangers of Vaping and E-cigarette Chemicals

06:09 The Deceptive Marketing Strategies of Vaping Companies

07:47 The Impact of Influencer Marketing on Vaping

11:50 Activism and Its Role in Combating Vaping

14:57 The Role of FDA and Regulatory Loopholes

19:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston interviews journalist Dashka Slater about her new book, Accountable, where she writes about the true story of a social media account run by a small group of teens who posted racist memes. The account spread quickly and got edgier as it went. The book follows the account’s profound effect on the teens, friends, and high school. Dr. Ruston's interview with Slater dives into issues like what compels teens to do things they know are out of bounds, such as acts of racism, the difference between guilt and shame, and transformative justice. Slater discusses methods of communicating with children about preventing doing such acts, and Dr. Ruston provides strategies for them to use when they encounter friends who do, and shares advice for parents and teens on dealing with the repercussions of online racism and the complexities of forgiveness and empathy.

Here is a link to Dashka Slater’s website, where you can find a link to her book and much more.

Here is Slater’s Substack, where she has lesson plans, too.

00:04 Introduction and Overview

01:04 The Epidemic of Online Racism

01:43 Unveiling the Story of 'Accountable'

02:42 The Impact of Racist Online Activities

03:01 The Discovery and Consequences of the Racist Account

08:34 The Role of Video Games in Promoting Offensive Language

10:10 The Creation and Spread of the Racist Account

11:35 The Bystander Effect and Group Dynamics

18:52 The Impact on the Victims

21:38 Understanding Different Types of Justice

24:56 The Role of Restorative Justice in Schools

44:43 The Power of Forgiveness and Healing

47:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts