How Worried Should You Actually Be About Phones, Screens & Protecting Kids Online?

WARNING: This episode contains brief mentions of grooming and child sexual assault material. If you or someone you know needs help, a list of resources is available at the bottom of the description.  Today we have Jo Robertson on the podcast. Jo is a qualified sex therapist with a master's in medicine and nearly 20 years in sexual health, child development, and trauma. She came on to talk about one of the most urgent questions we hear from parents in our community: how do we protect our kids online? This was one of our most eye-opening conversations. A 65% surge in under-age gaming since 2021, the insane increase in children creating sexual content of themselves (seven to ten year olds), how online grooming actually works and why the "not my kid" belief is a myth, and the four immediate things any parent can do right now.  Jo also shares her own experience raising three boys with strict screen rules, how she handles the "but all my friends have phones" conversation without backing down, and the exact age-by-age roadmap for talking to your kids about bodies, consent, porn, and the internet - including why eight is the right age to explain sex, and ten is the right age to talk about porn. New episodes out every second Thursday.  Follow us on Instagram: @tworawsisters Download the Two Raw Sisters app on the Apple App Store here, or Google Play here.  Where to get help:• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)• Youth services: (06) 3555 906• Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234• What’s Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.