Parenting in a Tech World

Bark Technologies

Welcome to Parenting in a Tech World, the podcast for families raising kids in the digital age. Join Bark CMO Titania Jordan as she unpacks digital dangers, discusses the latest viral social media trends, and shares expert tips for helping protect kids online and in real life.

  1. 3d ago

    They're Hunting Predators So You Don't Have To

    Online predators are actively targeting your kids right now, and two Michigan men decided they couldn't wait for the system to act. Jake Hockey and C.J. of Pred Task Force built a team that runs undercover stings, with decoys posing as minors on dating apps, confronting suspects on camera, and calling law enforcement when the time is right. Jake and C.J. are citizen investigators who have grown Pred Task Force from a local Michigan operation into a nationwide mission, with hundreds of thousands of followers watching their work unfold in real time. In four months of operation they caught dozens of offenders, and survived a loaded gun pulled on them during a confrontation. They walk you through exactly how a sting works from setup to confrontation to law enforcement handoff. They also get honest about the dangers they face, the legal criticism their work has drawn from local prosecutors, and how they define their role when the system feels too slow. You'll hear what they've learned about how predators operate online and what parents consistently get wrong about where these conversations start. Key insight: Predators aren't lurking on the dark web. They're finding kids on the same apps your teen uses every day, and early detection is the intervention that most victims never got. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review wherever you listen — and if you haven't subscribed yet, now is a great time. It helps other parents find us. Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Follow Pred Task Force on Instagram: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-igFollow Pred Task Force on Facebook: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-fbSubscribe to the Pred Task Force YouTube channel: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-ytSupport Jake and CJ by purchasing PTF merch: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-merch Join the conversation in our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitw Bark monitors your child's devices and alerts you to contact with potential predators before a conversation escalates: https://www.bark.us

    53 min
  2. Jun 17

    The 3am Spiral: How Technology Is Lifting the Mental Load of Early Parenthood

    The invisible mental load of early parenthood — tracking feeds, monitoring sleep, anticipating every need — is one of the most exhausting and least-talked-about realities of having a baby. Nanit's latest parent report pulls back the curtain on what's actually happening in homes across the country during those first overwhelming years. Victoria Vaynberg is the Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Nanit, the smart baby monitor and parenting platform used by millions of families — and she's spent her career at the intersection of technology, health data, and the moments that matter most to parents. In this conversation, Victoria breaks down what Nanit actually does beyond watching over a crib, what the parent report data revealed that genuinely surprised her, and how the platform is designed to ease — not add to — the mental load parents already carry. She also shares how she thinks about the responsibility of being inside some of the most intimate moments of family life, and the natural through-line between keeping a baby safe at night and helping families navigate technology as kids get older. Key insight: Nanit's parent report found that the mental and emotional weight of early parenthood is significantly underestimated — and that parents are actively looking for tools that give them confidence, not just information. Connect with Victoria: https://info.bark.us/victoria-vaynberg Learn more about Nanit: https://info.bark.us/nanit Read Nanit's 2026 Parenting Report: https://info.bark.us/nanit-parenting-report-2026 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review wherever you're listening — it only takes 30 seconds and helps other parents find us.  Join the conversation in our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitw  Learn how Bark supports families as kids grow beyond the nursery: https://www.bark.us

    38 min
  3. Jun 10

    His 17-Year-Old Son Died by Suicide After a Sextortion Scam. Now He's Changing the Law.

    Financial sextortion is targeting teenage boys at an alarming rate — and most families have never heard of it until it's too late. In 2022, 17-year-old Gavin Guffey fell victim to an online blackmail scam and died by suicide. His father, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, refused to let Gavin's death be the end of the story. Rep. Guffey is one of the driving forces behind Gavin's Law, one of the nation's first pieces of legislation specifically targeting financial sextortion — and he's now working to build momentum for similar protections at the national level. In this episode, Brandon shares who Gavin was as a person, how the scam unfolded, and what he wants every parent and teenager to understand about how these predators operate. He breaks down what Gavin's Law actually does, where the fight to hold tech platforms accountable stands today, and how families can get involved in protecting other kids. Key insight: Financial sextortion scams often move from first contact to blackmail within minutes — and the criminals specifically target teens who are least likely to tell a parent. Learn more about Rep. Brandon Guffey: https://info.bark.us/rep-brandon-guffey Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://info.bark.us/brandon-guffey-ig Support Less Than 3: https://info.bark.us/less-than-3 If this episode moved you, please leave a review wherever you're listening — it takes 30 seconds and helps other parents find us before they need this information. Join our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitw Learn how Bark monitors for sextortion warning signs and alerts parents before a crisis escalates: https://www.bark.us/

    48 min
4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Welcome to Parenting in a Tech World, the podcast for families raising kids in the digital age. Join Bark CMO Titania Jordan as she unpacks digital dangers, discusses the latest viral social media trends, and shares expert tips for helping protect kids online and in real life.

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