Teens open up about the impact of social media on their lives

Summary

The video script discusses the impact of screen time and social media on youth mental health. It highlights the story of a young girl who developed an eating disorder due to harmful content on Instagram. The script also covers statistics showing increased risks of mental health issues among teens who spend more than three hours daily on social media. It emphasizes the importance of open communication and setting boundaries to foster a healthier relationship with technology, as well as the role of parents in guiding their children through this digital age.

Takeaways

• 📱 By age 18, 86% of kids have a smartphone, and 95% of teens 13 to 17 use social media, according to Common Sense Media and the U.S. Surgeon General.
• 📉 There are both positives and negatives to social media; it connects friends but also poses real risks like bullying and mental health issues.
• 😟 A teen recounts her experience with an eating disorder that started from content seen on Instagram, highlighting the dangers of certain online content.
• ⚠️ 46% of teens 13 to 17 feel worse because of social media, and those who spend more than three hours a day on it face double the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
• 🎯 Teens shared their perspectives on social media use, with many admitting to extensive use of apps like TikTok and Instagram, often to the detriment of their sleep and mental health.
• 👁️ Parents and experts discussed the importance of guiding children on responsible phone use, setting boundaries, and fostering open communication about online experiences.
• 🛡️ Social media companies like Snapchat and TikTok have implemented safety measures, such as parental tools and screen time limits, though teens can often override these restrictions.
• 👪 Experts emphasize that parents need to stay informed about their children's online activities, maintain open conversations, and set clear boundaries for phone use.
• 🛌 Teens shared strategies for healthier phone use, such as handing over their phones to parents at night to improve sleep and reduce distractions.
• 🚫 A mental health advocate and parents discussed the importance of vulnerability and curiosity in conversations about social media, encouraging parents to engage positively and understand their children's online world.

Q & A

What percentage of kids have a smartphone by the age of 18 according to Common Sense Media?

By the age of 18, 86% of kids have a smartphone according to Common Sense Media.

What percentage of teens aged 13 to 17 are using social media according to the U.S. Surgeon General?

95% of teens aged 13 to 17 are using social media according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

What was the turning point for the girl who developed an eating disorder due to social media content?

The turning point for the girl who developed an eating disorder was when she started clicking on posts about models and weight loss on the Instagram Explore page.

How many times was the girl hospitalized due to her eating disorder?

The girl was hospitalized 13 times due to her eating disorder.

What did the doctor tell her about her prognosis when she was 15?

The doctor told her that her heart, liver, and kidneys were all failing and she was going to die in the next couple of weeks.

What percentage of teens aged 13 to 17 feel worse due to social media?

46% of teens aged 13 to 17 said that social media makes them feel worse.

What is the risk for mental health issues like depression and anxiety for teens spending more than three hours a day on social media?

Teens that spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk for mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

What is the favorite social media app among the teens mentioned in the script?

The favorite social media apps among the teens mentioned in the script are TikTok and Instagram.

How does the 15-year-old Elizabeth describe her experience with TikTok?

Elizabeth describes her experience with TikTok as watching many funny videos and just keeping on scrolling.

What is the one-hour daily screen time limit set by TikTok for teens under 18, and can it be overridden?

TikTok has set a one-hour daily screen time limit for teens under 18, but teens can enter a passcode to override that limit and continue watching.

What is the advice given by the relationship therapist for fostering open communication with children about their online experiences?

The relationship therapist advises parents to be vulnerable, sit down with their teenagers, hold them, and lead with curiosity, asking about both the negative and positive aspects of their digital world.

What is the importance of knowing your children's unlock code according to the parents who lost their daughter to suicide?

Knowing your children's unlock code is important because it allows parents to navigate through the platforms their children use and understand what they are experiencing online, which can be crucial for their mental health and safety.

What is the suggestion given for creating tech-free zones in households?

The suggestion given for creating tech-free zones is to have areas in the home where screens are not allowed, such as during meals or in bedrooms at night, to encourage more face-to-face communication and interaction.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health

The first paragraph discusses the prevalence of smartphone and social media use among teenagers and the associated risks. By the age of 18, 86% of kids have a smartphone, and 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 use social media, which can lead to both positive connections and negative mental health impacts. The narrative includes a personal story of a girl who developed an eating disorder influenced by social media content, highlighting the severity of the issue. Statistics show that teens feeling worse due to social media is common, and there's a call to action for addressing the youth mental health crisis, which the U.S. Surgeon General considers a defining public issue.

05:00

🛡️ Navigating Social Media Safely with Parental Guidance

The second paragraph focuses on the role of parents and the measures social media companies are taking to ensure the safety of teens. It emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in guiding children's social media use. The discussion includes the introduction of in-app parental tools, content moderation policies by social media platforms, and the challenges of enforcing screen time limits. The conversation also touches on the importance of open communication, understanding the platforms, and recognizing the signs of potential issues due to excessive screen time.

10:00

🌱 Fostering Healthy Digital Habits and Parental Engagement

The third paragraph explores strategies for fostering a healthy relationship with technology and the importance of parental modeling. It discusses the idea of creating tech-free zones and opportunities for face-to-face communication. The paragraph includes advice from parents who have implemented boundaries with their children's screen time and the importance of knowing children's unlock codes to monitor their digital activities. The emphasis is on making technology use fun and creative, while also ensuring that it does not interfere with mental health and well-being.

Keywords

💡Smartphone

A smartphone is a handheld device that combines the functionalities of a computer and a mobile phone, allowing users to access the internet, send emails, and use various applications. In the context of the video, it is highlighted that by the age of 18, 86% of kids have a smartphone, indicating the prevalence of this technology in young people's lives and its potential impact on their social interactions and mental health.

💡Social Media

Social media refers to online platforms that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. The script discusses the high usage rates among teens, with 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 using social media, and the associated risks, such as the spread of negative content and its impact on mental health.

💡Bullying

Bullying is the act of using power to impose on, intimidate, or harm others. In the video, it is mentioned that a girl joined social media to escape bullying and fit in, but instead encountered harmful content that contributed to her developing an eating disorder, illustrating the complex relationship between social media and bullying.

💡Eating Disorder

An eating disorder is a mental health condition characterized by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. The script recounts a personal story where exposure to certain types of content on social media led to the development of an eating disorder, underscoring the serious consequences that can arise from social media consumption.

💡Mental Health

Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The video emphasizes the connection between social media use and mental health issues, particularly among teens, with statistics showing that those spending more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk for mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

💡Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. The script mentions that rates of depression are increasing among young people and suggests a link between social media use and this rise in depression.

💡Screen Time

Screen time refers to the amount of time spent looking at a screen, such as a television, computer, or smartphone. The video discusses the impact of excessive screen time on teens, with over half of them spending at least four hours a day on social media apps, and the potential negative effects on their mental health.

💡Digital Flourishing

Digital flourishing is a concept that refers to the positive development and well-being of individuals in the context of their digital lives. The script includes a call to give kids the tools to achieve digital flourishing, which involves responsible and healthy engagement with technology and social media.

💡Parental Controls

Parental controls are mechanisms that parents can use to regulate or monitor their children's use of electronic devices and online content. The video mentions in-app parental tools and the importance of parents knowing their children's passwords and access codes to ensure safety and foster open communication.

💡Therapy

Therapy is a form of treatment that involves talking about a person's problems with a trained professional to improve mental health and behavior. The script highlights the role of therapy in helping individuals, like the girl who struggled with an eating disorder, to overcome their challenges and improve their mental health.

💡Mental Health Advocate

A mental health advocate is someone who actively supports and promotes mental health awareness, understanding, and treatment. The video features a mental health advocate who met with President Biden and emphasizes the need for education and protection to ensure a healthier relationship with technology.

Highlights

86% of kids have a smartphone by the age of 18 according to Common Sense Media.

95% of teens aged 13 to 17 are using social media, as stated by the U.S. Surgeon General.

A girl joined social media on her 10th birthday to combat bullying and social isolation.

Content on social media, such as posts about models and weight loss, can lead to eating disorders.

The girl was hospitalized 13 times due to her eating disorder, starting at age 15.

46% of teens aged 13 to 17 feel worse due to social media, highlighting its negative impact on mental health.

The U.S. Surgeon General has called the youth mental health crisis the defining public health issue of our time.

Teens spending over three hours a day on social media face double the risk for mental health issues.

Over half of teens report spending at least four hours a day on social media apps.

Teens discuss the impact of filters and unrealistic body images on their self-esteem.

Most parents follow their children on social media, influencing their online behavior.

Teens have taken steps to have a healthier relationship with their phones, such as limiting night-time use.

Instagram has made changes to prohibit content that encourages or promotes eating disorders.

Snapchat and TikTok have implemented parental tools and screen time limits for teens.

A relationship therapist emphasizes the importance of open communication and setting boundaries with technology.

Parents are advised to know their children's unlock codes and social media platforms for better monitoring.

A parent's message highlights the importance of knowing how to navigate social media platforms for your children's safety.

The importance of creating tech-free zones and opportunities for face-to-face communication is discussed.

Parents are encouraged to model good digital behavior for their children to create a healthier digital culture.

Transcripts

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE OF OUR

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE OF OUR

SPECIAL EVENT KIDS IN CRISIS

SCREEN TIME.

AND IT IS TIME TO HEAR FROM THE

KIDS THEMSELVES.

>> YEAH.

HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR

DEVICES AND THE TIME THEY SPEND

ON THEM?

KATE SNOW IS HERE WITH THAT PART

OF THE STORY.

HI, KATE.

>> GOOD MORNING, GUYS.

BY THE AGE OF 18, 86% OF KIDS

HAVE A SMARTPHONE ACCORDING TO

COMMON SENSE MEDIA.

AND THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL

SAYS 95% OF TEENS 13 TO 17 ARE

USING SOCIAL MEDIA.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POSITIVES,

CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS, FOR

EXAMPLE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO REAL RISKS.

>> SHE REMEMBERS THE MOMENT SHE

JOINED SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT WAS THE DAY OF HER 10th

BIRTHDAY PARTY.

>> I WAS SOMEONE THAT GREW UP

HEAVILY BULLIED AND STRUGGLED TO

FIT IN SOCIALLY.

SO WHEN MY PEERS TOLD ME THERE

WAS THIS APP THEY WERE

DOWNLOADING TO STAY CONNECTED TO

EACH OTHER TO EXPAND THEIR

SOCIAL LIFE, I THOUGHT IF I

DOWNLOADED IT, IT WOULD HELP ME

FIT IN, TOO.

>> SHE DOWNLOADED INSTAGRAM AND

FOLLOWED A FEW OTHER STUDENTS.

BUT WHEN SHE TURNED TO THE

EXPLORE PAGE, SHE SAW CONTENT

FROM ACCOUNTS SHE DIDN'T FOLLOW.

WHEN SHE STARTED CLICKING ON

POSTS ABOUT MODELS AND WEIGHT

LOSS, SHE SAYS IT TOOK A TURN.

>> IT WENT FROM SWAP OUT A CANDY

BAR FOR A CARROT TO THIS IS HOW

TO HIDE YOUR FOOD, HOW TO AVOID

EATING COMPLETELY.

>> SHE SAYS THE CONTENT HELPED

LEAD TO HER EATING DISORDER.

SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED 13 TIMES

STARTING AT THE AGE OF 15 WHEN

HER DOCTOR DELIVERED THIS DIRE

WARNING.

>> HE LOOKED ME IN THE EYES AND

SAID THE INSURANCE CALLED AND

ASKED FOR YOUR PROGNOSIS, AND I

HAD TO TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE

GOING TO DIE IN THE NEXT COUPLE

OF WEEKS.

YOUR HEART, LIVER, KIDNEYS,

THEY'RE ALL FAILING.

>> SHE MADE MAJOR CHANGES IN HER

LIFE AND SHE'S IN A HEALTHIER

PLACE NOW GOING TO THERAPY AND

TAKING A TWO-YEAR BREAK FROM

SOCIAL MEDIA.

HER STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.

46% OF TEENS 13 TO 17 SAID THAT

SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES THEM FEEL

WORSE.

BACK IN MAY, THE U.S. SURGEON

GENERAL ISSUED A WARNING CALLING

THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS,

THE DEFINING PUBLIC ISSUE OF OUR

TIME.

>> WE SEE RATES OF DEPRESSION OF

DISEASE AND LONELINESS GOING UP

IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

I EACH'M CONCERNED SOCIAL MEDIA

DRIVER OF THAT.

>> TEENS THAT SPEND MORE THAN

THREE HOURS A DAY ON SOCIAL

MEDIA FACE DOUBLE THE RISK FOR

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LIKE

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

AND A LOT OF AMERICAN TEENS ARE

SPENDING MORE TIME THAN THAT.

A POLL THIS MONTH FOUND JUST

OVER HALF OF TEENS SAY THEY'RE

SPENDING AT LEAST FOUR HOURS A

DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA APPS.

FAVORITE APP?

>> I'D PROBABLY SAY LIKE TIKTOK.

>> TIKTOK.

>> INSTAGRAM.

>> YEAH, INSTAGRAM.

>> WE HAVE A DIVIDE.

>> I SAT DOWN WITH 15-YEAR-OLD

ELIZABETH, 13-YEAR-OLD JOSIAH,

16-YEAR-OLD AND 17-YEAR-OLD

AARON AT THEIR SCHOOL OUTSIDE

NEW YORK CITY TO LEARN ABOUT

THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA USE.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU

START LOOKING ATTIC TOK TIKTOK.

>> IT IS JUST SO MANY FUNNY

VIDEOS AND I JUST KEEP

SCROLLING.

>> I'M JUST AVOIDING EVERYTHING

ELSE IN MY LIFE.

>> I WATCH TIKTOK TO FALL

ASLEEP.

>> THESE TEENS SAY THEY DON'T

USE FILTERS WHEN THEY POST ON

SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THEY SEE A LOT

OF THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS?

>> I HAVE ONE FRIEND THAT USES A

FILTER ON EVERY SINGLE PHOTO,

EVERY SINGLE VIDEO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE

FOR REAL ANYMORE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HER.

>> HOW MUCH OF YOUR MENTAL

HEALTH IS TIED TO USING THE

PHONES OR SCREENS?

DO YOU SEE A CONNECTION THERE OR

NOT?

>> NOT SO MUCH NOW BUT WHEN I

WAS YOUNGER I WAS MORE

IMPRESSIONABLE TO WHAT I WOULD

SAY.

AND I WAS DEFINITELY MORE DOWN

ON MYSELF THEN.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SEE?

>> PEOPLE LIKE WITH THE FILTERS

OR PEOPLE WITH THE UNIMAGINABLE

BODIES THAT ARE ALL FAKE AND

PERFECT.

AND IT'S LIKE, WHY CAN'T THAT BE

ME?

YOU KNOW?

>> MOST OF THEIR PARENTS FOLLOW

THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> MY MOM DOES SEND ME A LOT OF

TIKTOKS, MY DAD INSTAREELS AND

STUFF.

>> THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE TAKEN

STEPS TO HAVE A HEALTHIER

RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PHONES.

MEGAN SAYS LAST SCHOOL YEAR SHE

WOULD SNEAK HER PHONE INTO HER

ROOM AT NIGHT.

THIS YEAR HER PARENTS MAKE HER

HAND IT OVER AT 9:30.

>> MY WORK WASN'T GETTING DONE.

I WASN'T GETTING GOOD SLEEP

BECAUSE I WAS SCROLLING.

IT SEEMS LIKE SCROLLING AT NIGHT

IS THE ONLY FREE TIME WE HAVE.

THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

ANYWAY.

BUT NOW THAT THEY TAKE MY PHONE,

I'M GETTING MUCH BETTER SLEEP.

>> SOPHIE IS A SOPHOMORE AT

STANFORD AND A MENTAL HEALTH

ADVOCATE, MEETING PRESIDENT

BIDEN LAST YEAR.

SHE SAYS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH

IT IS DIFFERENT.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA NOW IS A PLACE

OF LEARNING.

BUT IT IS A PLACE WHERE I HAVE

TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS IN

ORDER TO PROTECT MYSELF AND TO

PROTECT THAT 10-YEAR-OLD SOPHIE

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> IN THE YEARS SINCE HER

EXPERIENCE, INSTAGRAM MADE

CHANGES.

META SAYS THEY DON'T ALLOW

ANYONE TO ENCOURAGE OR PROMOTE

EATING DISORDERS.

AND THEY REMOVE CONTENT WHEN

THEY SEE IT, WHEN THEY BECOME

AWARE OF IT.

NBC NEWS REACHED OUT TO SOCIAL

MEDIA COMPANIES ABOUT SAFETY

MEASURES FOR TEENS.

SNAPCHAT HAS IN APP PARENTAL

TOOLS THAT ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW

YOUR TEENS' FRIENDS AND WHO THEY

MESSAGED RECENTLY.

YOU CAN RESTRICT SENSITIVE

CONTENT, REPORT ANY CONCERNS

THAT YOU HAVE.

TIKTOK SAID THEY SET A ONE-HOUR

DAILY SCREEN TIME LIMIT ON TEENS

UNDER 18.

BUT THE TEENS CAN ENTER A PASS

CODE TO OVERRIDE THAT AND

CONTINUE WATCHING.

>> A LOT OF TEENS WILL TELL YOU

THEY KNOW THE PASS CODE.

KATE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION

GOING WITH A GROUP OF PARENTS

THAT UNDERSTAND THIS BATTLE.

>> AND TO ANSWER THEIR

QUESTIONS, A RELATIONSHIP

THERAPIST WHO HELPS FAMILIES

OVERCOME MENTAL HEALTH

CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THE

CHALLENGES OF SCREEN TIME.

SHE'S THE AUTHOR OF "COURAGEOUS

CONVERSATIONS CONNECT."

>> SO WHAT WAS YOUR WAKE-UP

CALL?

YOU'RE YOUNG.

YOU'RE A PART OF THIS GENERATION

NOT TOO LONG AGO.

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THIS WAS A

REAL PROBLEM?

AND WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO

THOSE OUT HERE LISTENING TODAY?

>> MY WAKE-UP CALL IS WHEN I

ALMOST ENDED MY LIFE.

THEY ASKED ME ABOUT FORMS OF

WELLNESS.

I WAS SPENDING BETWEEN 10 AND 12

HOURS A DAY.

MY MESSAGE AND WHAT I BUILT IS

AN ORGANIZATION TO SOLVE THIS

PROBLEM.

I BELIEFVE WE NEED TO GIVE KIDS

THE TOOLS TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS

TO ACHIEVE DIGITAL FLOURISHING.

>> A LOT OF PARENTS GIVE THEIR

KIDS PHONES BECAUSE THEY SAY I

WANT MY KIDS TO BE SAFE.

WHEN REALLY WHAT WE HAVE SEEN

THROUGHOUT THIS HOUR IS THE

BOOGIE MAN IS INSIDE THE PHONE,

NOT OUTSIDE THE PHONE.

BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE

YOUR KID A PHONE, WHAT ARE SOME

THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TO MAKE

SURE YOU DO IT PROPERLY?

>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THE

PHONE IS A POWERFUL TOOL THAT

YOU ARE PUTTING IN THE HANDS OF

YOUR CHILDREN.

IT IS LIKE PUTTING A

TWO-YEAR-OLD IN THE DRIVER'S

SEAT AND SAYING DRIVE.

YOU'RE GOING TO CRASH.

SO THE CHILDREN'S BRAINS AREN'T

FULLY DEVELOPED.

THE PARENTS HAVE TO GUIDE THEM

JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

SO OPEN CONVERSATION, NOT ONE OR

DONE.

HAVING A CONVERSATION, WHAT ARE

YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE PHONE?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MANAGE THE

PHONE?

HERE ARE THE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR,

WHAT ARE THE DANGER SIGNS.

THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.

ALSO THINKING ABOUT, ALL RIGHT,

NOW THAT YOU HAVE OPEN

COMMUNICATION, THE PROTECTIVE

FACTORS.

KNOW THE CODES.

KNOW THE ACCESSES.

KNOW THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

THAT THOSE KIDS ARE ON.

THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE

ACCESS.

YOUR PARENTS ARE NOT YOUR

FRIENDS REALLY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE

THE PARENT.

YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THEM.

SO HAVE THAT ACCESS.

>> LET'S GET SOME OF THE PARENTS

QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE WANDA WHO HAS A

12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?

>> SO I SEEM TO FIND THAT EVERY

TIME I ASK MY DAUGHTER TO PUT

HER PHONE DOWN, IT TURNS INTO A

FIGHT.

HOW CAN I GET HER TO PUT HER

PHONE AWAY WITHOUT CAUSING AN

ARGUMENT?

>> THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE.

PARENTS SAY THIS IS THE ONLY

THING THEY'RE FIGHTING ABOUT

ANYMORE.

>> YES.

WANDA AND ALL YOU OTHER PARENTS,

THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT

QUESTION.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY

CONVERSATION.

THIS IS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL

CONVERSATION.

YOU GUYS GOT TO TALK TO EACH

OTHER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH EACH

OTHER AND FOR YOUR DAUGHTER OR

FOR YOUR SONS, FIND COMMON

GROUND.

THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE

COMMON GROUND.

KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION

OPEN.

THE COMMON GROUND MIGHT BE,

OKAY, WE WILL STAY ON THE PHONE

LESS.

WE WILL HAVE TECH FREE ZONES.

>> DID THAT WORK FOR YOU?

>> I DEFINITELY NEEDED

BOUNDARIES.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE THEM

BECAUSE MY BRAIN WAS STILL

DEVELOPING.

>> THE BOUNDARIES WILL LEAD TO A

FIGHT.

I THINK ABOUT THIS AS A PARENT.

PARENTING IS HARD.

LETTING IT SLIDE IS SO MUCH

EASIER.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE NOT IN THE

MOOD TO FIGHT, SO YOU GIVE IN.

>> YOU CAN'T GIVE IN.

>> WE HAVE DIANA NAPIER WHO HAS

A TEENAGER AT HOME.

SHE HAS A QUESTION.

>> HI.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW DO YOU FOSTER OPEN

COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILDREN

SO THEY FEEL THEY CAN COME AND

TALK TO YOU IF THEY SEE

SOMETHING ONLINE THAT MAKES THEM

FEEL JEALOUS OR SCARED?

>> WELL, THE REALITY IS THAT

TECH IS VERY EMOTIONAL.

THERE IS SO MUCH FEAR.

WE'RE OFTEN POINTS AND YELLING

AT OUR KIDS FOR BEING ON THEIR

DEVICES.

BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, I

ESCAPE THROUGH MY SCREEN TO NUMB

OUT.

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO AS A

PARENT IS TO BE VULNERABLE

YOURSELF AND SIT DOWN AND HOLD

YOUR TEENAGER BECAUSE THEY NEED

THAT MORE THAN YOU NEED FINGER

POINTING.

AND ASK THEM, SOCIAL MEDIA IS

MAKING ME FEEL BAD ABOUT MY

BODY.

LEAD WITH CURIOSITY.

ASK THEM NOT JUST THE BAD THINGS

BUT ALSO WHAT REALLY EXCITES YOU

ABOUT BEING IN THE DIGITAL

WORLD.

SHOW ME BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT FOR YOU PAGE IS.

>> SO WE WANT TO PLAY A CLIP

FROM PROJECT HEALTHY MINDS AT AN

EVENT THAT'S A NONPROFIT.

LAST WEEK THERE WERE TWO PARENTS

AT AN EVENT.

THEIR 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER DIED

BY SUICIDE.

THEY LEARNED SHE WAS DEPRESSED

AFTER OPENING HER OWN.

TONY HAD A MESSAGE HE WANTED TO

SHARE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY

WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW.

PLEASE KNOW YOUR CHILDREN'S

UNLOCK CODE.

WE KNEW HER UNLOCK CODE.

WE KNEW HER PASSWORDS AND

EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST DIDN'T

KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH

THESE PLATFORMS.

>> THAT'S IT.

YOU CAN SET ALL THESE RULES.

BUT IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW

TO USE IT -- WE KEEP SAYING IT

IS NOT A FAIR FIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> FOR PARENTS YOU HAVE TO MAKE

SPACE.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT BOUNDARIES,

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE THIS

FUN AND BRING PLAY AND CREATIVITY TO THIS.

CREATIVITY TO THIS.

A LOT OF TIMES WE SAY HAVE A

SCREEN FREE STRAV GER HUNT.

PARENTS ARE THE MODELS, JUST

LIKE MY OTHER SUBSTANCE.

YOU HAVE TO SAVE YOURSELF FIRST.

>> AND YOU SAID AT NIGHTTIME

LOCK THE PHONE UP.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, AL ROKER DID THAT

WITH HIS SON.

HE TOOK HIS KIDS' PHONE, HE PUT

IT IN A LOCK BOX IN A SAFE AND

SAID, SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

>> YEAH.

>> IT MAY CAUSE A HUGE TO DO,

BUT AFTERWARDS, THEY SLEPT THAT

NIGHT.

THEY HAVE WOKEN UP IN THE

MORNING AND THEY CAN START

AGAIN.

>> IT'S LIKE CREATE TECH FREE

ZONES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR

TALKING.

GO OUT AND TALK.

IN THE CAR, DON'T MISS THE

OPPORTUNITY TO GET OFF THE

SCREEN AND BE THE MODEL FOR YOUR

CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU'RE CREATING

DIFFERENT CULTURE.

>> IT IS A WAKEUP CALL FOR ALL

OF US.

MY KIDS ARE THE FIRST ONE TO

SAY, YOU ARE ON THE SCREEN.

GUESS WHAT?

WE CAN ALL DO BETTER.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS.