In this episode of Hot Topics, the hosts, J Fotsch and Will Cox welcome Dr. Leonard B. Horton III, assistant professor of journalism at Missouri State University, to explore how fathers can foster healthy screen time habits in the digital age. With humor and honesty, the conversation spans early parenting decisions to teen technology use, revealing both the risks and the opportunities that screen-based media present for families.

Key points include the importance of modeling healthy tech behavior, understanding the hidden algorithms behind social media and recognizing the emotional vulnerabilities children face in digital spaces. Dr. Horton emphasizes intentional parenting and consistent communication, sharing practical tools like monitored phones, weekly check-ins and family goal-setting to keep kids grounded and connected.

Episode Highlights

[05:03] – "You give them something to do... and what that does is it goes from 15 minutes and it turns into an hour." [06:42] – "You can't just give a kid a device and tell them to figure it out. You've got to be hands-on with it." [12:46] – "Algorithms influence our choices and what we see on social media." [16:27] – "When you're not included in that group, you're really not included." [21:16] – "I would get an alert… so I could have a conversation." [29:53] – "Every Sunday night… no TVs, no phones… what is one goal you have for this week?"

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