Teens on Their Phones

This introductory lesson outlines the course structure, workbook, and what you can expect to learn.

Don’t skip this intro - it will set you up for what you need to complete the rest of the course!

Shift from fear-based to evidence-based thinking about your teen's digital world. You'll learn the three main approaches parents take toward technology, why social media actually supports some crucial developmental needs, and practical risk reduction strategies that work in real life, not just in theory.

Learn how to talk with your teen about social media without triggering eye rolls or defensiveness. You'll get specific question frameworks to use, strategies for becoming genuinely curious about their digital world, and tips for letting your teen be the expert while you listen and learn.

Discover how to create a shared foundation for your family's digital life by identifying what matters most to all of you. You'll work through exercises to define your core values and your teen's values, explore where they overlap, and brainstorm practical ways to live them out online, acknowledging when it's easy and when it gets tricky.

Learn how to set realistic, collaborative boundaries that actually work in the digital age. We'll cover everything from curating a healthier social media feed and managing privacy settings to the monitoring debate (including surprising research on surveillance apps). You'll also examine your own social media habits, because recent studies show parent screen time may impact teen mental health more than you think.

Part 1 of 2 about social media and relationships. Understand how social media has fundamentally transformed teen friendships and connections, because as one teen put it, "our entire social life is linked to social media". You'll learn to recognize both the genuine benefits and real pitfalls while helping your teen navigate online relationships safely and authentically.

Part 2 of 2 about social media and relationships. Explore the serious side of teen digital relationships, including digital dating abuse, sexting risks, and online coercion. You'll learn the warning signs that cross the line from normal teen behavior to abusive patterns, understand why these behaviors have become alarmingly normalized among teens, and get practical risk reduction strategies to help keep your teen safe without resorting to scare tactics.

Learn to distinguish between media hype and genuine concerns by exploring the research on social media's impact on body image, sleep, and mental health. You'll discover evidence-based strategies for addressing these issues, recognize the actual warning signs that warrant professional help, and get practical solutions for problems like sleep disturbances, disordered eating, and reliance on AI.

Wrap up the course with a recap of key strategies and your next steps for putting everything into action. You'll get a comprehensive resource list for ongoing support, reminders about using the workbook effectively, and encouragement to keep the conversations going, because this is just the beginning of your new approach to digital parenting.