The Screenagers Podcast Delaney Ruston, MD

Sometimes, gaming is not all fun and games. Foul words and degrading comments are all too common when kids and teens play video games together. From first-person shooter games like Call of Duty to building games like Minecraft and Roblox, competitive banter can be ugly. In this episode, Dr Ruston talks with Dr. Kishonna Gray, assistant professor of digital studies at the University of Kentucky, who researches various human dynamics that occur during video gaming. Dr. Gray works with parents and youth on how to manage the hard parts of gaming culture and shares many insights and solutions on today’s show. A teen gamer adds thoughts as well. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.
 
EPISODE NOTES Featured Expert Kishona Gray

We're bringing back this episode today to help with the common arguments in the home about screen time and what to do. What is a parenting strategy that can promote healthy screen use, and other positive behaviors, while at the same time decrease fighting? In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with one of her favorite parenting experts, Dr. Tammy Fisher Huson, about a strategy that has made a real difference in Dr. Ruston's own home. 

Parenting kids has always had challenges, but now, in the tech revolution, conflicts are at a new level. The good news is that research shows that conflicts done well have all sorts of benefits for youth. But how do we ensure healthier conflicts? On today’s episode, Dr. Ruston talks with Lisa Damour, Ph.D. psychologist and author of three New York Times best-selling books about adolescents, including “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” The episode explores teen psychology, common screen time arguments, and several approaches to having healthier conflicts. The episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.
Featured Expert Lisa Damour Research References The role of music in adolescents' mood regulation (Sage Journal) Extreme Metal Music and Anger Processing (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience) The appeal of sad music: A brief overview of current directions in research on motivations for listening to sad music (The Arts in Psychotherapy) Additional Links  Lisa Damour’s website 
The Ask Lisa Podcast
Books by Lisa Damour:
Untangled
Under Pressure 
The Emotional Lives Of Teenagers
 

Concerns over Snapchat use by its many young users seem to be discussed much less than concerns over TikTok and Instagram. Yet, issues with Snapchat are plenty — be it social conflicts or the sexually explicit material that can be seen on the app. In today's episode, Dr. Ruston discusses these topics and more with a high school boy and a young woman in college. The guests discuss problems created by the App's Snapscore feature, which is a ranking given to users based on how many snaps they send or receive. In addition, they talk about social conflicts that can happen on the app, issues around sexual content, and suggestions to parents regarding when to allow the app and how to talk about it with kids.  
Additional Links The birth of Snapchat
How Snapchat defines Snapscore
Snapchat’s Discover page and connection to Cosmo
About OnlyFans
 

In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston dives into the pressing issue of social media addiction through the story of one young person, Lars, and insights from the chief of addiction medicine at Stanford, Ana Lembke, MD, and longtime media researcher Douglas Gentile, PhD. Through Lar’s struggle with social media addiction, listeners gain an intimate look at the impact of social media on mental health and identity. The episode sheds light on the various ways compulsive social media use can impact a young person and delves into the science behind digital addiction. Ultimately, Dr. Ruston and her guests offer valuable tips on how to know when social media use is in the zone of a clinical addiction and, most importantly, how to help teens who are in that zone, or wobbling there, to break free. 
Featured Experts Anna Lembke, MD
Douglas Gentile, Ph.D.
Additional Links Anna Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation
Lars May and Half The Story
Time code of the episode 00:00 Introduction to Social Media Addiction
00:37 The Lawsuits Against Social Media Giants
01:47 Interview with Experts on Social Media Addiction
02:15 The Power of Social Media and Its Impact
04:19 The Journey of a Social Media Influencer
09:43 The Struggle with Mental Illness and Technology
11:11 The Science Behind Social Media Addiction
13:40 Understanding Addiction on a Spectrum
19:27 The Impact of Overabundance on Mental Health
20:19 Recovering from Social Media Addiction
24:54 Helping Others Overcome Social Media Addiction
25:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 

 

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks to author and psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff, Ph.D.,  about the power of self-compassion. They discuss the prevalent issue of self-criticism among parents, particularly regarding screen time, and how adopting self-compassion can help navigate such challenges. Dr. Neff and Dr. Ruston share personal parenting experiences along the way.  The episode provides practical advice to help listeners, parents, and teens initiate their own self-compassion practice.
 
Featured Expert Kristin Neff, PhD
 
Research References Meeting Suffering With Kindness: Effects of a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention for Female College Students (Journal of Clinical Psychology) 
Self-compassion and Psychological Resilience Among Adolescents and Young Adults (Self and Identity) 
Development and Validation of the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (Journal of Personality Assessment) 
The Development and Assessment of a Scale to Measure Self Assessment  (Self and Identity)
Time code of the episode 00:04 Introduction and Personal Reflections
00:26 Understanding Self Compassion
00:48 Interview with Kristin Neff
02:29 Exploring the Concept of Self Compassion
04:59 Applying Self Compassion in Personal Life
05:45 Challenges and Misconceptions about Self Compassion
07:08 Understanding Self Criticism
11:44 Applying Self Compassion in Parenting
12:45 Balancing Fierce and Tender Self Compassion
15:59 Growing Compassion through Personal Struggles
18:08 A Day at the Park: A Parent's Perspective on Autism
19:04 The Struggles of Parenting and the Power of Self-Compassion
20:26 Research Insights: Self-Compassion in Parenting Autistic Children
22:05 The Impact of Self-Compassion on Teens and Motivation
23:10 Practical Steps to Cultivate Self-Compassion
29:32 The Role of Self-Compassion in Authenticity and Relationships
31:58 Resources and Tools for Developing Self-Compassion
32:42 Conclusion: The Power of Self-Compassion in the Screen Age
 
Additional Links Dr. Kristin Neff’s Website 
 
Two Books by Dr Neff:
Self Compassion: The Proven Power Of Being Kind To Yourself
Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive