The Internet and kids

Who is that sexy guy? Two cool things about this pic..

1. Stephanie Dove Blake gave a shout out in front of hundreds from stage to some of the parents she’s featured on her podcast, and I appreciate the opportunity to be one of them.
2. Her awesome podcast is called The Powerful Parenting Journey, and she talks about how technology and social media is shifting how kids grow up.

Stephanie’s presentation was powerful, talking about how pressure, anxiety, and depression for kids is at an all-time high.

She shared from Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” how:

• Depression among girls is up 145% and boys 161%
• Suicide is up 91% for boys and 167% for girls

And a huge part of it is because of the online Pandora’s box that’s been opened.  We’re now in the digital parenting era, and there’s no going back. But her podcast and other resources help with ideas how to navigate it.

The movement she’s leading is not to punish or hold technology against our kids, but to find the best balance that’s right for each family.