What would the internet look like if it were designed for people instead of profit?

Sara shares what pushed her to make the film. After a decade of criticizing social media from the outside, she found she couldn't put her own phone down and had lost her ability to read for fun. Getting her focus back led her to a bigger problem: almost everyone agrees we're on our phones too much, but few can picture an alternative.

Trisha offers one. At 13, she invented ReThink, a tool that prompts kids to pause before posting something hurtful. It's the same idea behind Pause, Check, Choose: give the still-developing brain a moment to catch up. As she puts it, the adolescent brain is "like a car with no brakes." Her point for the industry is that if a 13-year-old could build this, platforms could have done far more, far sooner.

Kristin explains why they haven't. She reported the cyberbullying of her son Carson to the app YOLO four times and never heard back. Outrage and drama keep kids online longer, and time online is what gets sold to advertisers. She also describes the fight for the Kids Online Safety Act and the lobbying money spent against it.

In this episode:

• Why the pause matters so much for adolescent brains
• How the business model, more than a lack of ideas, blocks safer design
• Why Sara calls parental controls "lipstick on a pig," and why design is the real conversation
• Where the Kids Online Safety Act stands, and how states are stepping in on AI chatbot safety
• Kristin's advice for parents: wait as long as you can, keep phones out of bedrooms and off the dinner table, and keep talking
• What gives each guest hope: phone-free schools, a generation skeptical of AI, and the resilience of the human spirit

Neither Kristin nor Trisha has ever met a parent or a young person who wished they'd gotten social media sooner.

If you're a parent carrying guilt about this, hear what Kristin says: it's an unfair fight. No shame. No judgment. You don't have to navigate this alone. Watch the film, talk about it with your kids, and start where you are.

This episode discusses suicide and cyberbullying. Please listen with care.

Watch the film: https://www.yourattentionplz.com/
ReThink: free on the App Store, Google Play, and as a Chrome extension
Learn more about The Screen Guardians: https://thescreenguardians.com/

Most parents think the problem is screen time or willpower. But what if the real issue is something else entirely? In this episode, Katie talks with Ben Gillenwater (Family IT Guy, former NSA cybersecurity expert) about why understanding platform incentives changes everything about digital wellness, parental controls, and raising digitally healthy kids.

They explore: why free platforms aren't free, how AI is entering schools without parent consent, what makes early-adopter technology dangerous for kids' developing brains, and the practices that actually protect children—from code words to notification strategies to family rituals.

Learn why incentives matter more than willpower, how to evaluate any platform your kid uses, and how education—not restriction—builds lasting digital health. Ben shares how he introduced his 11-year-old to AI safely, and Katie reveals the one practice that turns shame into safety.

For parents, educators, and anyone raising kids in the digital age. Grounded in research. Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

Topics covered: digital wellness | parental controls | screen time | platform incentives | AI in schools | online safety | kids and technology | digital health | algorithms | screen habits | childhood safety | technology habits | internet safety | dopamine | parenting | education not restriction

Guest: Ben Gillenwater, Family I.T. Guy

Duration: ~2 hours

Your child's school hands them an internet-connected device for seven hours a day. Do you know what's on it, who chose the software, or what it's collecting?

Allie Terry and Liz Jenkins didn't either. They were two moms living across the street from each other in Utah, asking questions about their kids' school Chromebooks that were easy to dismiss one at a time. Those questions became an Instagram account, then a working relationship with state legislators, and then actual legislation that passed and takes effect next fall.

In this episode, Katie talks with Allie and Liz about what they found when they started looking: a fifth grader who received explicit content through a shared Google Doc, content filters that flagged problems no one at the school was reviewing, hundreds of ed-tech contracts that were never meaningfully vetted, and student data being collected and shared in ways no parent ever agreed to. They also walk through exactly how two parents with no policy background got two bills written and moved.

In this episode:

• What's really on school Chromebooks—and who vets it
• How explicit content reached a fifth grader
• Why content filters alone aren't enough
• The ed-tech contracts schools carry (and why they're not properly reviewed)
• Student data collection and privacy violations
• How to read your child's school device agreement
• From G-Rated Schools to state legislation: how two parents created change
• Four things any parent can do this week—in any state
• AI in schools and what's coming next

Resources mentioned:

• G-Rated Schools: https://www.instagram.com/g_rated_school/
• Child First Policy Center: https://childfirstpolicy.org/
• The Digital Delusion by Jared Cooney Horvath
• Internet Safety Labs / BYU audit of Utah school apps

From The Screen Guardians:

• Free parent course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/
• The Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/
• K–12 school program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/
• Newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

This conversation is a powerful reminder: you don't have to be a tech expert to pay attention, ask questions, and advocate for your child.

At The Screen Guardians, we believe education is the greatest form of protection. Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

Summer screen time has a way of creeping up the moment the school-day structure disappears. In Episode 34 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, Katie sits down with mom of three and former labor-and-delivery nurse Janelle Campbell for an honest conversation about planning an intentional summer — without banning screens or scheduling every second.

They get into why device use spikes over the break, how to decide what you actually want summer to feel like, and the small habits that keep the whole house calmer.

In this episode:

• Why rhythm beats a rigid schedule (and how to build one)
• The 15-minute one-on-one habit that curbs sibling fighting
• Janelle's 4-year tradition: going screen-free through the end of June
• "Limits are a tactic, but habits are the goal" — setting screen expectations that stick
• Non-smartphone tools for staying connected: Bark watch, Gabb watch/phone, and the tin can
• Modeling healthy phone use (100% of kids surveyed said their parents struggle to put the phone down)
• Easy wins for hot or rainy days, including free daily bowling

The big takeaway: kids don't need a perfect summer. They need a present parent.

📖 Read the full blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/summer-screen-time-intentional-summer/
🔗 Grab the family agreement, device guides, and conversation starters inside the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/
💌 Get calm, research-grounded support in your inbox: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

The digital age has presented us with incredible opportunities to connect, learn, and grow — but it hasn't come without its challenges, especially for parents striving to raise children in a world dominated by technology. As the host of our podcast, Screen Guardians, Katie Longhauser shares a personal, powerful story that gives meaning to our mission: protecting and preserving childhood as we continue to focus on the digital health of children.

Through her heartfelt testimony, Katie reveals how her life experiences have shaped her relentless drive to empower parents, schools, and communities with the tools they need to keep children safe in today's digital landscape. Her mission is rooted not just in professional expertise, but in deeply personal encounters with trauma, resilience, and ultimately, faith.

Full Shownotes here: https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/digital-health-for-children/

If you've ever found yourself yelling "put the phone down!" while simultaneously scrolling your own device, you're not alone. Intentional parenting in a digital world is one of the biggest challenges families face today — and most of us are figuring it out as we go.

On a recent episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie Longhauser sat down with Kori Bloom — founder of Conscious Not Crazy, author of The Business of Parenting, and a mom of two teenagers — to talk about what it really looks like to lead yourself first as a parent, communicate without fear, and stay connected to your kids in a world full of devices.

This conversation was packed with practical wisdom. 

In this episode, host Katie sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Walter — an assistant professor at Rockhurst University who prepares the next generation of educators, a former English teacher, a mom of two elementary-age kids, and the academic vice president of her children's PTA. She lives this conversation from every angle: the lecture hall, the classroom, the dinner table, and the school board meeting.

Together they unpack what teacher prep does (and doesn't) cover when it comes to technology, why "digital natives" can make a TikTok but can't double-space a document, why bell-to-bell cell phone bans may be one of the best things to happen to teachers in years, and the single most powerful thing a worried parent can do.

Grounded in research, not fear. No shame, no panic — just clear eyes, real hope, and a deep belief that we can do better, because our kids are worth it.

At the heart of this shift is a deeper question: Are our current digital practices truly supporting learning—or simply becoming the norm without reflection? At McPherson Middle School in Kansas, one principal decided to pause, reassess, and lead with intention. What followed was a bold reimagining of how—and when—technology should serve students.

We've all heard the warnings about screen time and social media overuse, but what actually happens when students step away from it completely? At Screen Guardians, we recently sat down with Giuliana, a recent graduate from Faustina Academy, for a raw and insightful conversation about growing up without social media during high school—and how it shaped her confidence, friendships, and mental health.

Her story is a powerful reminder of what's possible when schools—alongside families—prioritize social media safety for kids.

👉 Stay tuned for more real stories and strategies on Screen Guardians Podcast — by Kids Digital Health Hub, the trusted name in K–12 digital wellness and safety.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/social-media-safety-for-kids/

Have you ever wondered how stepping away from your devices might reshape your emotional landscape? This is the journey that students at Loyola University embarked on, guided by the insightful Dr. Shreya Hessler.

Her groundbreaking course, "Digital Detox: Doing Nothing and Doing Well," challenges the status quo, offering students a chance to reconnect with themselves and their peers in meaningful ways.

Join us as we explore how this innovative approach is cultivating emotional resilience, redefining engagement in a screen-saturated world, and uncovering the profound benefits of intentionally unplugging.

Imagine this: an innocent teenager unknowingly befriends someone online. What starts as lighthearted conversation escalates into something unimaginable—blackmail involving explicit photos or videos. This isn't just some distant horror story; it's happening to thousands of children worldwide, and the numbers are climbing.

In 2023 alone, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received over 26,000 reports of sextortion, a statistic that reflects the urgency of addressing this epidemic. That's why this isn't just a podcast episode—it's a wake-up call.

In this episode, we'll dive deep into:

• What sextortion is and how it works
• The skyrocketing rise of these cases in recent years
• Practical prevention strategies every parent must know
• What to do if your child has already been targeted

Together, we'll cut through the fear, get to the facts, and arm you with the tools to safeguard your kids in the unpredictable digital world. If you're ready to take action and learn exactly how to protect your family, let's get started.

In this hard-hitting episode of Screen Guardians Podcast, Katie and Kevin uncover a deeply disturbing incident that took place at an elementary school dance in the Blue Valley School District in Kansas.

A convicted sex offender—released after serving 8 years for possession of child sexual abuse material—was allowed to attend a school event with zero warning to parents. He was even seen filming students at the event.

Kevin, a child crimes investigator, breaks down the real risks, the statistics behind offender behavior, and why this scenario poses more danger than schools—or even the legal system—may admit.

We discuss:

• Why the school's current safety policies fall short
• What the new policy says—and why it's still not enough
• What parents can do right now to advocate for safer schools
• How to check sex offender registries and ask the right questions before school events

If you think this couldn't happen at your school—think again. This episode is a must-listen for any parent, teacher, or community leader serious about keeping kids safe.

📢 Share this episode, talk with your school, and speak up.
Because silence helps predators. Awareness protects children.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

• Kansas Sex Offender Registry
• Tips for parent advocacy
• Safety policy breakdown

What happens when protecting children takes a back seat to bureaucracy, miscommunication, or worse—inaction?

In one of the most emotionally charged and urgent episodes of the Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie Longhauser and co-host Detective Kevin Cronister dive deep into a real-life case that shocked a local school community and ignited a movement for legislative change.

In February 2024, a shocking incident occurred at Blue River Elementary School in the Blue Valley School District of Kansas. A registered sex offender, convicted of possessing hundreds of hours of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), was granted permission to attend a K–5 school dance—an event filled with children as young as five.

Yes, it was legal. And yes, it could very well happen again.

In this follow-up, we bring you the firsthand voices of the parents who experienced this violation of trust and are now pushing for statewide legislative change and urgent school policy reform.

This isn't just their story—it's a call to action for every parent, educator, and policymaker.

Let's dive in.

For a detailed breakdown of the timeline, initial fallout, and legal loopholes that allowed this to occur, be sure to check out Episode 7 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, titled "When Schools Fail: A Predator at the Dance" 🔗

In this episode, Katie Longhauser walks through how we got here, what's actually happening in kids' developing brains, and the clear next steps families and schools can take without fear, shame, or burning the whole system down.

In this episode:

• How edtech started with good intentions — and where the brain science was missing
• What no one told teachers about dopamine, attention, and a developing prefrontal cortex
• The decade-long pattern in reading, math, and behavior data
• Who funded the early "screens are fine" studies — and why that matters
• 6 questions every parent should ask their school in writing
• How to build a Recovery Plan with your child before they need one
• What schools can do now, starting with their mission statement

Read the full article + FAQs: https://thescreenguardians.com/edtech-in-schools/

Free Parent Course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/

Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/

K–12 Program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/

Join the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

This conversation originally aired on the Get Curious Podcast, Ep. 10.

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In today's hyper-connected world, children have access to the internet at their fingertips—but with this access comes invisible risks that many parents are unprepared for. One of the most alarming issues in our digital age is the link between pornography and sex trafficking. It's a connection that isn't just surprising but deeply troubling.

Did you know the average age of first exposure to pornography is just 12 years old? Or that predators and sex traffickers actively exploit this exposure to groom and manipulate children? While pornography might be portrayed as "harmless entertainment," behind the scenes, it fuels an insidious cycle of exploitation and trafficking—one that impacts women, children, and even entire communities.

For parents, the question isn't if your child will encounter explicit content online, but when. And as alarming as this may sound, there are concrete ways to prevent these dangers and empower your family.

This episode exposes the often-overlooked connection between pornography and trafficking. We'll discuss how predators use digital platforms to exploit vulnerabilities, how early exposure to explicit content warps kids' understanding of relationships, and—most importantly—how you can protect your children in an increasingly digital world. Let's educate ourselves, stay vigilant, and take action together.

In our latest podcast episode, Katie Longhauser—mom and advocate for digital health—sat down with Kevin Crosser, an experienced detective working on the frontlines of internet crimes against children. Together, they explored the unsettling realities of online threats, but more importantly, shared actionable ways parents can step up to protect their children.

Let's dive into the highlights of this eye-opening conversation, where we uncover not only the dangers of the digital age but also the tools and strategies to safeguard childhood.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/protecting-childhood-in-a-digital-world/

In this episode, host Katie sits down with Ryan Bevins and JP Claxton, the founder and co-founder of Fight Club — a confidential, peer-support organization for teens built on one powerful idea: no one fights alone.

Ryan and JP share how a single group of struggling boys grew into a movement, why the whole model works precisely because "adults get out of the way," and what happens when kids put down their phones and actually talk to each other. We get into the loneliness kids feel the moment the screen shuts off at night, why they're chasing affirmation in all the wrong places, how Fight Club is quietly dismantling the mental health stigma for boys, and the simplest, most hopeful thing every parent can do about it.

If you have a teenager in your life — or love someone who does — this one's worth every minute.

Resources Mentioned

• Fight Club — fightclub-us.com

• Kids TLC — Fight Club's mental health partner providing embedded, licensed therapists

• Galatians 6:2 — "Carry each other's burdens…"

• "Battle for Your Time" — a talk on social media and where our time really goes

• 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation

Connect with The Screen Guardians

• Explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/

• Free parent course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/

• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

• Read the blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/blog/

If today's conversation resonated, share it with a parent, coach, teacher, or youth pastor who has a teen in their life. You're not alone in this — and neither are our kids.

If you or a teen in your life is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7 — call or text 988.

Behind every screen is a young person trying to belong, express, and cope—and sometimes, that digital world can become overwhelmingly dark.

This powerful story from educator and mother Ellen Riley reveals the raw reality of what can happen when online missteps meet real-world consequences—and why grace, education, and empathy must be at the center of how we support our kids.

When you meet Ellen Riley, you'd never know that behind her composed demeanor and compassionate heart is a mother who lives every day with the unimaginable loss of her son. On May 24th, 2021, Ellen's 14-year-old son Aiden took his life—and her family's world changed forever.

But Ellen's bravery and willingness to speak out is helping transform pain into purpose.

Show Notes and Photos:

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/teen-mental-health-and-digital-safety/

Today, those same parents are among the strongest voices for digital wellness in their community.

In this special episode, host Katie sits down with Ronna, Amy, and Taryn — three Syracuse moms who came in with their arms crossed and stayed to ask hard questions. They talk openly about the guilt they carried, the brain science that finally made it click, the pushback they got at home, and the small changes that stuck: phones out of bedrooms, screens out of car rides, and family dinners where everyone's device goes away — parents included.

They also say the thing most parents are afraid to admit: this is hard, your kid will feel left out, and you'll wonder if you're doing the right thing anyway.

This is what education over restriction actually looks like in a real town, in real homes. Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

Resources Mentioned

• The Screen Guardians K–12 Program — https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/

• The Parent Portal — https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/

• The Screen Guardians weekly emails - https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

• USD 494 Syracuse, Kansas — Superintendent Paul Larkin, and the district wellness committee

• Kansas State Board of Education — where Taryn and Ronna shared their family stories (see Ep. 33)

• Susan Dunaway, neurotherapist — the brain science presentation on dopamine and the developing brain

• Kevin Chronister, ICAC detective — the digital safety presentation

• Mrs. Plunkett and Ms. Wirtz — the USD 494 teachers who delivered the lessons

What happens when an entire school district stops talking about screen time and actually does something about it?

In this episode, we hand the mic to the people who went first. Recorded live on May 13, 2026 before the Kansas Department of Education State Board, you'll hear Superintendent Paul Larkin, Elementary Principal Liz Plunkett, and parent Taryn Parks from USD 494 in Syracuse, Kansas share exactly what happened when their community brought The Screen Guardians program into every grade, K–12.

This isn't theory. It's a real district, a real rollout, and real results — told by the educators and parents who lived it.

In this episode:

• Why a one-time assembly doesn't work — and what to do instead
• How Syracuse prepared teachers before teaching a single student
• Winning parent trust through radical transparency
• The surprising way kids became the messengers at home
• Teaching brain science so kids understand dopamine, digital footprints, and the echo chamber
• Pairing education with fewer devices — textbooks, handwriting, and tech-free early grades
• Why collective action beats going it alone

Whether you're a parent, teacher, principal, or board member, this conversation is proof that one community can lead the way.

📌 Bringing this to your school? Learn about the K–12 program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/

📌 For parents: explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/

📌 New here? Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

Because education is the greatest form of protection.

But when it comes to technology in schools, something is off.

We're handing our youngest students open access to the digital equivalent of an AP chemistry lab—filled with volatile content, complex systems, and doors that lead to strangers, exploitation, and surveillance. And unlike the careful safety protocols we apply to real-world materials, we don't yet have the same safeguards for the devices and platforms our children use every day.

This is the reality Andy Liddell, principal at the EdTech Law Center, laid bare on a recent episode of the Screen Guardians Podcast. His law center represents families in cases where kids have been harmed by school-issued technology—through data mining, unsafe digital access, online exploitation, and broken systems that don't know how (or when) to intervene.

This isn't a fear-based narrative. It's a truth-based one.

And it's more urgent than most people realize.

In Episode 27 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie sits down with Tessa Stuckey — licensed family therapist, parenting coach, author of For the Sake of Our Youth, and founder of nonprofit Project Look Up — to talk about the social media effects on teen mental health that she's witnessed firsthand in her therapy office since 2014. What she discovered changed everything.

In this powerful episode of the Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie Longhauser sits down with Principal Christina Mehaffey of Faustina Academy—a leader courageous enough to ask the hard questions about tech, culture, and the emotional well-being of kids. What followed was a school-wide transformation that not only reshaped student behavior, but rewired an entire community's mindset on how to raise children in a digital world.

If you're a parent, educator, or community leader wondering "Is this just how it is now?"—this story will show you it doesn't have to be.

There are some conversations that feel too big to begin.

Talking about the digital world and our kids—what they're exposed to, what they're carrying, how their brains and hearts are shaped by screens—that's one of those conversations. It's big. It's overwhelming. And for parents and educators alike, it can feel like we're already behind.

But today, I want to offer you a different story. A slower, steadier one. A story about ordinary people doing sacred work in their homes, schools, and churches…one conversation at a time.

Recently, I sat down with Sarah Siegand, an author, speaker, and co-founder of Parents Who Fight. For nearly a decade, Sarah and her husband have quietly and consistently helped thousands of families navigate digital safety—not through fear or shame, but through wisdom, community, and deeply-rooted love.

Sarah joined me on the Screen Guardians podcast on the day her new book launched. It's called Next Gen Tech Reset, and it's designed for church and youth leaders who want to reimagine how we engage with teens—not just in ministry, but in a world where algorithms, anxiety, and constant comparison have become the norm.

This post is a reflection on that conversation—not a summary, but a story of hope for parents, educators, and leaders who want to begin again. Who want to do it differently, starting now.

Shownotes: https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/one-conversation-shifts-digital-parenting-strategies/

In a world that's increasingly dominated by screens, social media, and digital distractions, our children are growing up facing challenges that didn't exist just a generation ago. At the Kids Digital Health Hub, we're committed to helping families understand these challenges — and most importantly — how to protect and support children as they grow up in a digital world.

In a recent episode of the Screen Guardians podcast, host Katie sat down with Kat Kaplan, a school counselor working primarily with fifth through eighth-grade students, to dig deep into the effects of digital exposure on children's mental health.

Here's what we learned from Kat — someone who is truly on the front lines of this growing issue.

I've always believed in the power of a story—especially when it comes from someone who's lived every moment of it.

That's why I invited Ben Tracy onto the Screen Guardians platform. Ben isn't just a digital safety advocate.

He's a man who ran across the United States—3,100 miles, 125 days, 120 marathons—all for one purpose: to draw attention to the ways digital harm is impacting our kids.

And he isn't here for buzzwords or vague warnings. He's here to talk about what's real—about the lives we've lost, the lives we can still protect, and the hard conversations every parent, educator, school, and student needs to have.

This isn't just a cautionary tale; it's a call to action. One that challenges all caregivers to stay informed, stay present, and stay connected as they raise kids in today's tech-driven world.

Sometimes parenting in a digital world feels less like walking a line—and more like walking a tightrope. No net. No guarantees. Just hope that we've done enough to protect them.

Recently, I sat in conversation with two deeply thoughtful parents and my co-host, Detective Kevin Cronister—someone who has spent the last decade uncovering hidden threats to children online. We gathered around a table (virtually), not because we had answers, but because we had questions. Big ones.

This episode wasn't easy.

It surfaced grief, disbelief, and fierce love. The kind of love that wakes you up and won't let you sit still.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/harmful-school-issued-devices/

Kids Digital Health Hub and Screen Guardians have officially launched our Parent Portal. In this guide, we will show you how this digital library equips you with the knowledge to create a safe digital home.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/parent-portal-digital-health-at-home/

When I first sat down with Paul Larkin, superintendent of Syracuse USD 494 in Western Kansas, I wasn't expecting a conversation that would stay with me for days.

There was no script. No sweeping rhetoric. Just truth—clear, steady, and hard-won.

Paul has served in public education for more than 30 years—as a teacher, coach, principal, and now as superintendent for nearly a decade. He's seen technology arrive and evolve in classrooms. He remembers the time before cell phones. He was there when the "one-to-one device" model was first celebrated as a tool for equity.

And now?

Now, he's watching kids fall asleep in class after scrolling on school-issued devices until 3 a.m.

Now, he's listening to kindergarten teachers say: "We're done—we don't want iPads in our classrooms anymore."

Now, he worries—not because he's anti-tech, but because he's honest about what's happening.

Full shownotes - https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/digital-safety-in-schools/

What if prevention became the first layer of protection — not the second? In this solo episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, founder Katie Longhauser walks through why we're so good at responding to harm but not as intentional about preventing it, and what that means for parents trying to figure out how to protect kids online in 2026.

From a Sunday-morning church donation to the World Cup coming to Kansas City, Katie unpacks how the starting line of harm has moved — and why online safety education has to begin before the first message ever lands.

In this episode:

• Why prevention feels invisible (and response feels urgent)
• How the grooming process actually starts online — and why it doesn't feel dangerous at first
• The cultural model we've built (harm → response → recovery) and how to expand it
• What real prevention looks like at the family, school, and community level
• Three small shifts you can make this week to protect your kids online
• How a Recovery Plan changes everything when a digital mistake happens

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Parent Portal — thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal
• Free Parent Course — thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide
• The Screen Guardians K–12 Program — thescreenguardians.com/k-12
• Companion blog post: How to Protect Kids Online: Why Prevention Has to Come First

If this episode resonated, share it with another parent, educator, or community leader. When we educate early, communicate often, and lead with intention, we don't just respond to problems — we prevent them.

Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

Subscribe to the newsletter at thescreenguardians.com/subscribe.

What happens when a kid becomes the screen time expert in her own house?

In this episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie sits down with Ali, a fifth grader who chose kids and screen time as her year-long school exhibition project — "Logged In and Tuned Out: The True Impact of Screen Time" — and her dad, Corey. After reading Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, Ali deleted apps, rethought her own habits, and discovered a message worth sharing: screens aren't all bad, and it's never too late to find balance.

This is a conversation full of hope, not fear — and a beautiful reminder that education, not restriction, is what actually helps kids build a healthy relationship with technology.

Resources & links:

• Read the companion blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-and-screen-time/
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/
• Join the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/

Not anti-technology. Pro-child. You don't have to navigate screen time alone — start where you are, and we'll walk this digital parenting road with you.

🎧 The Screen Guardians Podcast | https://thescreenguardians.com/podcast/

Last week, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a group of parents, educators, and advocates at the Kansas State Capitol. It wasn't a polished, pretty press moment. It was real and gritty—honest words in wood-paneled hearing rooms, the air thick with both urgency and hope. In front of lawmakers, we made the case for something simple, but increasingly rare: classroom spaces where kids can learn, connect, and grow without the constant hum of a phone in their pocket.

That's the heart of Senate Bill 302 here in Kansas—a bill that supports bell-to-bell phone-free school days.

And in this week's episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, I had the honor of discussing this moment, and the bigger movement it belongs to, with my friend and fellow advocate, Kim Whitman.

Kim isn't just a voice in this space—she's a leader. She's helped launch the Phone-Free Schools Movement, co-leads the nonprofit Smartphone Free Childhood U.S., and is helping districts and families across the country imagine something better: schools where real connection and real learning take priority.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/bell-to-bell-phone-free-schools-report/

You already know the screens are an issue. You feel it in the eye rolls. You feel it in the bedtime battles. You feel it in your own thumb as you scroll one more time before sleep. Raising healthy kids in a digital age isn't about removing devices — it's about raising kids who actually know how to use them. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Shreya Hessler returns to The Screen Guardians podcast with practical, neuroscience-backed strategies you can start tonight — without yelling, shaming, or starting World War III at the dinner table.

You're not alone in this. Let's walk it together.

There are moments in parenting when something small nudges at your attention—and then, without warning, that "small" thing becomes a defining shift. That's what happened to Gretchen Shanahan in 2018.

She remembers it clearly—the way the questions started stacking up in her mind. Why are my kindergartners using iPads during indoor recess? How much screen time are they actually getting during the school day? Who's counting?

At the time, she didn't label herself a digital wellness advocate or a trailblazer.
She was simply a mom asking questions.

But questions can be catalytic. And Gretchen's curiosity eventually led her to become one of the leading voices on parental digital wellness—founding Digitally Wise Consulting, speaking on stages, and currently standing in the midst of one of the most significant lawsuits calling for greater protections around student data privacy.

I sat down with Gretchen for a powerful conversation that moved between her personal choices, classroom culture, and the very real risks families face when children are immersed in technologies we don't fully understand or regulate.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/student-data-privacy-screens-in-schools/

In our latest heartfelt episode of Screen Guardians Podcast, we stepped away from headlines and stats to center on something more personal — the story behind one of the voices in this mission to protect children.

Meet Kevin Cronister: a SWAT-trained detective, a forensic psychology expert, a martial artist, and, most importantly, a devoted father and champion for kids.

In a deeply emotional conversation with co-host Katie Longhauser, Kevin shared the roots of his vocation, what drives him to investigate Internet crimes against children, and how fatherhood has shaped both his personal and professional mission.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/story-of-child-exploitation-detective/

There are conversations I wish we didn't have to have.

But here we are—because ignoring hard truths doesn't protect our children. And pretending the digital world isn't changing at an alarming pace only leaves families more vulnerable. That's why we created the Screen Guardians podcast. It's not just information we're sharing—it's a lifeline for parents, educators, and anyone desperate to understand what's really happening behind screens.

In a recent episode, I sat down with Kevin Cronister—ICAC lead detective and father of five—to talk about something no one wants to think about: the rising digital exploitation of children.

It's a heavy topic, but we approached it the same way we always do: anchored in truth, softened with compassion, and focused on practical hope.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/emerging-online-threats-to-kids/

In one of the most grounded and deeply human conversations we've had the honor to be part of, Kevin and I sat down with Dr. Currie Myers—America's Criminologist—for an episode that reached well beyond crime statistics and research papers.

It reached into the heart of why we do this work.

Because behind every warning about online risk, behind every school training or digital wellness tool we design, there are stories. Family stories. Police reports that start with a parent's voice cracking on the phone. Classroom moments when a child sheepishly confesses something they've seen but wish they hadn't.

There's the stillness in a teacher's face when they realize how much they didn't know they were supposed to protect kids from—the kind of dangers that don't show up in textbooks.

And that's what we talked about with Dr. Myers.

Not just the "what" of digital safety. But the "why."