In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg and Dawn Wible discuss the critical issues surrounding digital wellness and safety for children.

Dawn shares her journey as the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., highlighting the importance of advocacy, education, and legislation in addressing the challenges posed by technology and social media.

Dawn takes parents through the risks associated with children's use of digital devices, the necessity of open conversations between parents and children, and the role of schools in ensuring a safe digital environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in advocating for their children's safety online and creating healthy tech habits at home.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

About Dawn Wible:

Dawn Wible is the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., a digital wellness and safety organization. For over a decade, she has trained communities, organizations, schools, and families on safer tech use.

Dawn is an online safety advocate and certified digital wellness educator. She is the co-chair of the Online Harms Prevention work group at Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network. Dawn works alongside social media reform organizations on legislation to help protect kids from targeted and inhumane addictive software design and advocates against the exploitation of children and their data privacy. Dawn and her husband Matt, the founder of an outdoor mentorship organization for young men, have been working with youth for 25 years.Together they are walking this road alongside all parents dealing with technology in the home, modeling openness and safer habits as they raise their own three boys. Please reach out to [email protected] if you would like to connect her to your schools or communities. And follow her work at Talk More Tech Less on Instagram.

Parents everywhere are worried about the rise of empathetic, human-like AI chat bots. I brought in Noah Coffman of Young People's Alliance to dive into the evolution of AI chatbots and unpack how these bots are engaging users emotionally.

We discuss both the perks and pitfalls of AI, from its potential in mental health support to the ethical issues around privacy and dependency. We emphasize the importance of open conversations with kids about the risks of unregulated AI, and why fostering critical thinking is key as this tech continues to develop.

A few AI chat bot apps that Noah mentioned in the episode; Replica, Character AI, Kindroid, Gnomey, Linky, Pi, Simsimi, Momate

Additional episodes on the topic of AI chatbots:

About Noah Coffman:

Noah Coffman is a student at the University of Notre Dame studying philosophy and computer science. He is also the Research and Policy Director at the Young People's Alliance, a non-profit full of digital natives who are seeking to advocate for young people's issues on the state and federal level. For almost a year now, Noah has been developing and advocating for chatbot regulation on the federal level.

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.

Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

In this conversation, Dr. Lisa Strohman discusses the intersection of technology and child psychology, focusing on the implications of gaming, social media, and educational technology on children's safety and mental health.

She emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in understanding the risks associated with these platforms and advocates for educational programs that empower youth to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.

We cover a ton of topics including; screens at school, gaming, smartphone use, screen time recommendations, smart watches, tech addiction and more.

Connect with Dr. Lisa on her website.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

About Dr. Lisa Strohman

In this conversation, I brought in Parker Hymas of Fight the New Drug to discuss the significant impact of pornography on youth, relationships and society.

The changing landscape of pornography makes having open and early conversations with our kids vital. This discussion provides parents with actionable resources and guidance on how to have these important conversations.

We also cover questions that were submitted by parents through Instagram. Thank for those!

Resources for Parents:

Fight the New Drug Resources for Parents

Conversation Blueprint

What to ask your school about device safety?

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr.

Brain Heart World Documentary

About Parker Hymas

Fight the New Drug is a non-religious and non-legislative nonprofit that exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts. FTND aims to decrease the demand for sexual exploitation through education while helping individuals live empowered lives free from the harmful effects of pornography. Parker is FTND's Director of Public Outreach and is an accomplished speaker with a passion for developing and engaging communities.

Trigger warning: The following content contains sensitive subject matter, including depictions of suicide and self-harm. Please view or listen with caution. What is empathetic AI and is it safe for our kids? In this conversation, Laurie Segall discusses the urgent need to address the impact of technology, particularly AI, on youth. She highlights the risks associated with social media and the emergence of empathetic AI companions, emphasizing the lack of regulation and the potential dangers for children. The discussion also touches on the case of Sewell, a 14-year-old Florida boy who tragically died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, raising critical questions about the responsibilities of tech companies in safeguarding young users.Segall warns that the current landscape of AI is fraught with risks, particularly for young users, and calls for urgent action from lawmakers to ensure safety and ethical standards in AI applications.Connect with Laurie and her team at Mostly Human Media: https://mostlyhuman.com About Laurie Segall

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.

Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

This is the grooming conversation that all parents need to listen to. Anna Sonoda, LCSW, corrects misconceptions about grooming and educates parents on how to prepare, prevent and protect our children from predators (both online and offline).

Anna Sonoda, LCSW, graduated from Emory University with a double major in anthropology and French Studies before earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia in 2006. She became a licensed clinical social worker in 2009.

Anna's clinical background includes residential mental health, outpatient anger management, domestic violence intervention, and dual diagnosis treatment. Her most significant work was as a cognitive behavioral therapist for convicted sexual offenders. Becoming a mother of five deepened her commitment to child protection and the importance of recognizing grooming behaviors in adults.

In December 2022, she published Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target, which unpacks the complexities of this issue. In August 2024, she released an accompanying journal Duck Duck Groom: A Guided Journal for survivors. Anna presents to individuals, groups, and organizations about how adults can better protect children by identifying the signs of grooming.

Connect with Anna on her website.

Resources mentioned in the episode or provided by Anna:

Gaming Sites where grooming is prevalent:

Dating Apps where grooming is prevalent:

Live Stream + Social Media Platforms where grooming is prevalent:

Grooming:

Flattery

Favoritism

Forbidden Fruits

Fear

Prevention:

Permission

Public use

Private settings

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg interviews Michael Lawson Neff, a founding partner at Neff Injury Law, about the legal implications of online harms, particularly focusing on the case against Snapchat related to its deadly speed filter.

They discuss the challenges of holding tech companies accountable under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the impact of social media on youth, and the importance of parental guidance in navigating these issues.

Neff shares insights from his ongoing litigation and emphasizes the need for legislative changes to protect children from online dangers.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

Meet Michael Neff:

Michael Neff is the founder of Neff Injury Law, a national litigation firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in serious injury and wrongful death cases. With over 25 years of experience, Mike has established himself as a dedicated advocate for individuals facing off against large corporations and insurance companies. His firm's track record includes securing over $100 million in jury verdicts and settlements, with notable verdicts in 2013 and 2017 that ranked among the top 100 civil verdicts nationally for those years.

Trigger warning: The following content contains sensitive subject matter, including depictions of suicide and self-harm. Please view or listen with caution. 

This is a story that every parent must hear. The future is here, and that includes AI chatbot companions who emulate human relationships. These products are unregulated and unsafe, particularly for children. 

I spoke to Megan Garcia, an attorney from Florida. Megan is the mother of Sewell Setzer III, who died by suicide in February 2024 after being emotionally manipulated and abused by an AI chatbot. Megan is filing a lawsuit and sharing her story to warn families of the dangers of this technology and to demand accountability from Character.AI and the tech industry. 

Resources mentioned in the episode: