How Smartphones and Social Media Use Are Changing Our Kids’ Brains | Episode 68 with Lauren

This week, Lauren is breaking down one of the most pressing issues we see in our community: the impact of smartphones, social media, and screen time on kids and teens. We are covering how social media companies actually make money, why these platforms are designed to be addictive, and how technology has far outpaced research and public policy. We also dig into the major studies shaping what we know—ABCD, Pew Research Center, Common Sense Media—and what they reveal about mental health risks, sleep disruption, developmental delays, the “sick role” online, and the rise in depression, anxiety, and loneliness among young people.We also take a close look at cyberbullying: how often it happens, who’s most at risk, the psychological consequences, and why teens almost never report it. Finally, we share clear, realistic steps parents can take—from tech contracts and device-free zones to removing phones from bedrooms and modeling healthy habits—to reduce harm and support their kids’ wellbeing. Join Dr. Lauren LaRose, psychiatrist and mom of three, as she brings on experts in mental health, physical health and education and explores ideas outside the traditional medical model. The Little Brain Campaign aims to make issues kids and caregivers face easier to understand, while always keeping in mind that we need to look beyond the usual answers to find what really works.Follow The Little Brain CampaignInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thelittlebraincampaign/⁠