Parenting in a Tech World

Parenting a child with mental health challenges can feel isolating, but support is out there. Casie Fiorello from Other Parents Like Me shares her experiences, practical resources, and advice to help families navigate these challenges with confidence and community.

Learn more about Other Parents Like Me: https://oplm.com/

Kim Gravel gets real about parenting in an always-connected world. She shares how she talks to her kids about online safety, balances social media and privacy, and uses tools like Bark to help protect her family.

Resources in this episode:

- Check out Kim's website: https://www.kimgravel.com/

- Connect with Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimgravel/

- Tune into Kim's podcast: https://www.kimgravelshow.com/

- "Delay is the way" with Protect Young Eyes: https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/

Kids and tech collided in big ways in 2025 — from viral slang taking over classrooms to major online safety laws reshaping the internet. We’re breaking down the moments that mattered and what they mean for your kid’s digital world.

Discussed in this episode:

- Australia's social media ban and how our friends from Parenting in a Tech World, the Facebook group, are feeling about it:

--- https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/media-technology/media/social-media-ban-faqs

--- https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentinggeeks/permalink/1993460504617313

- Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

- Kids Online Safety Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1748/text

- All things SLANG:

--- Algospeak: https://www.bark.us/blog/algospeak-social-media-moderation/

--- 6-7 trend: https://www.bark.us/blog/6-7-slang/

--- Bark's slang guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/teen-text-speak-codes-every-parent-should-know/

--- Bark's emoji guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/emoji-slang-guide/

--- Bark's sexual slang guide: https://www.bark.us/blog/sexual-slang/

- Our predictions for 2026: https://www.bark.us/blog/2026-predictions/

- More about the Disney/Sora announcement and AI sycophancy:

--- https://openai.com/index/disney-sora-agreement/

• --- https://info.bark.us/ai-sycophancy

Sexual abuse prevention expert and safety educator Kimberly King shares how parents can have meaningful conversations about body safety and boundaries with their kids. We also dive into her resources for families and the podcast she created to empower moms and protect kids.

Make sure to get your own copies of I Said No! and Body Safety for Young Children: Empowering Caring Adults.

- https://info.bark.us/i-said-no

- https://info.bark.us/body-safety-children

Connect with Kimberly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toughtopicsmom/ and check out her website: https://www.toughtopicsmom.com/

Additional resources:

- Body Boss Bootcamp for kids: https://tough-topics-mom.mykajabi.com/body-boss-bootcamp

- 9 Red Flags to Spot Grooming: https://www.kimberlykingbooks.com/post/9-tactics-predators-use-to-groom-kids-red-flag-phrases-every-parent-needs-to-know

• - Book a Family Safety Consultation with Kimberly: https://www.calendly.com/toughtopicsmom

Jenny McCarthy is a New York Times bestselling author, actress, and television host known for her humor, honesty, and passion for family life. A proud mom herself, she’s been a longtime advocate for open conversations about parenting, health, and the challenges of raising kids today. In this episode, Jenny joins us to talk about technology, connection, and what it really means to protect and empower kids in the digital age.

What if online safety lessons actually worked? In this episode, you’ll go behind the scenes with Bark’s Connected Communities team to see how they’re helping 4th- and 5th-graders build healthy tech habits that last.

Learn more about the Connected Communities program and bring it to your school!

https://www.bark.us/learn/barks-connected-communities/

Before your kids power on their new holiday devices, set them up for safe, responsible use. We’ll cover the simple steps and settings that make a big difference.

Join the Parenting in a Tech World Facebook group to connect with other like-minded parents: https://info.bark.us/join-pitw

Check out all of our tech guides when setting up new tech for your kids! https://www.bark.us/tech-guides/

Licensed counselor and mom Tessa Stuckey joins us to share a grounded, compassionate look at what it really takes to raise emotionally healthy kids in a hyper-connected world. From how screens affect mental health to having hard conversations, we discuss different ways parents can build digital resilience in kids.

Connect with Tessa:

- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themomtherapist/

- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tessastuckeylpc

- Twitter https://www.twitter.com/themomtherapist

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessastuckeylpc

Visit Tessa's sites:

• https://www.tessastuckey.com/
• https://www.projectlkup.org/

Order Tessa's book: https://www.tessastuckey.com/order-book

Teens are getting creative when it comes to hiding content on their phones. From vault apps that look like calculators to hidden photo folders, it can be hard for parents to know what's really going on. In this episode, we break down why kids use them and how parents can stay informed without breaking trust.

Learn more about vault apps: https://www.bark.us/blog/find-hidden-apps/

Join Parenting in a Tech World: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119842088645840

This episode was recorded live at Bark Week at the Cliff House in Maine with our CEO, Brian Bason, and CTO, Brandon Hilkert. We looked back on Bark’s journey from a small startup to where we are today, helping protect millions of families across the country.

Learn more about Bark: https://www.bark.us/