What’s Really Happening with Kids at School with Nate Webb

What are kids actually struggling with today? In this episode of Parents Uncharted, Sarah sits down with school counselor, speaker, and digital safety advocate Nate Webb to discuss what he's seeing firsthand in schools and communities across the country. From anxiety and social media to group chats, pornography, AI chatbots, boredom, resilience, and the growing pressure facing young people, Nate shares practical advice for parents trying to navigate childhood in an increasingly digital world. Together, they explore why connection matters more than control, how parents can build healthier relationships with technology, and why the most powerful tool your child has isn't an app… it's you. Whether you're raising a child with a smartphone or simply trying to understand the world they're growing up in, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and actionable guidance for modern families. In this episode: • Why parents may be more anxious than their children• The surprising ways screens are impacting resilience• What school counselors are seeing with pornography and online content• Why group chats have become a major source of conflict• The role boredom plays in creativity and development• How AI companions are changing relationships• Why connection is still the most powerful protective factor• The simple message every parent needs to hear: you are enough The digital world may continue to evolve, but one thing remains unchanged: children still need trusted adults who are willing to show up, listen, and guide them. As Nate puts it, you don't need the perfect app or the latest parental control tool to be a great parent. Your presence, your influence, and your relationship with your child matter more than any technology ever could. Chapters (00:00) Introduction (01:15) Meet Nate Webb: School Counselor & Speaker (03:20) What Adults Misunderstand About Kids Today (05:00) How Parents Can Start Hard Conversations (08:00) Body Image, Filters & Social Media (10:00) What Students Are Struggling With Most (13:00) Why Kids Need to Feel Uncomfortable Emotions (15:00) Anxious Parents, Anxious Kids (20:00) Risky Play, Independence & Resilience (23:00) The Importance of Boredom (28:00) Modeling Healthy Tech Habits (32:00) Group Chats, Gossip & Digital Drama (34:30) Social Media Bans for Kids: Do They Work? (36:00) Teaching Digital Literacy at Home (39:00) Online Validation & Personal Branding (46:00) Healthy Tech Use Starts With Connection (48:00) AI Chatbots, Relationships & The Future (55:00) One Thing Every Parent Should Remember (57:30) Why Nate Has Hope For This Generation (59:00) Where to Find Nate Webb More About Nate Nate Webb is a school counselor, father, and national speaker known for his work on digital safety and youth resilience. Through his speaking engagements, online content, and work in schools, Nate helps parents cut through the fear and focus on what matters most: connection, communication, and helping kids build the skills they need to thrive. Connect with Nate Webb: Website: https://natewebbspeaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realnatewebb/ Connect with Sarah Adams: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices