If you’re a human with a phone in 2026, you know how addicting social media can be. Most of us struggle to keep from scrolling too much. I mean…all those doggy reels are just hilarious!

Now imagine how hard it is for vulnerable young brains to keep from getting hooked?

New lawsuits against the social media giants are confirming what so many of us parents have been saying for years. Big Tech companies have known how dangerous their “just keep scrolling” algorithms are for kids, but they’ve chosen lining their pockets over keeping our kids safe.

Of course “their kids” are protected. Did you know that many Silicon Valley giants don’t give their own kids phones until 16?

On the podcast this week, I’m talking to Free Press reporters, Maya Sulkin and Frannie Block, authors of the article Is Social Media The New Big Tobacco, about the harmful effects of social media and how brave families are stepping up to hold Big Tech accountable for targeting our kids.

Something clicked while listening?

We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/

Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-338

About Randi Rubenstein

Randi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.

Randi’s Web and Social Links

1. Website: https://mastermindparenting.com/
2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparenting
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/

About Maya Sulkin and Frannie Block

Maya Sulkin is a reporter for The Free Press, covering breaking news, politics, education, Gen Z, and culture. Before that, she served as the company's Chief of Staff. Frannie Block is an investigative reporter at The Free Press, where she covers the forces shaping American life—from foreign influence in U.S. politics and national security to institutional overreach and due process failures. She began her career covering breaking news at The Des Moines Register.

Guest Links

1. Article Is Social Media The New Big Tobacco? https://www.thefp.com/p/is-social-media-the-new-big-tobacco
2. Maya Sulkin https://www.thefp.com/w/maya-sulkin
3. Frannie Block https://www.thefp.com/w/frannie-block

Resources Discussed/Links

Our 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/

Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/

Parents have questions about phones, tablets, video games…essentially all the screen time things.

You might ask yourself: What age is too young to give them their own device? How do I get them to turn it off without fighting? How much time is too much?

Am I a bad mom if I not only allow, but sometimes even encourage, rotting on a screen when I just need some time to get shit done or be “on break”?

It’s so tempting to think about screens as a black or white issue. They’re either evil brain rot, or essential for human development in this digital age of AI and robots taking all our jobs?!? But neither extreme sounds quite right, does it?

That’s why I’m so happy to bring you this convo with Ash Brandin. Ash is the bestselling author of Power On. This book is such a helpful resource for this neverending battle with screens.

Something clicked while listening?

We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/

Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-336

About Randi Rubenstein

Randi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.

Randi’s Web and Social Links

1. Website: https://mastermindparenting.com/
2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparenting
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/

About Ash Brandin

Ash Brandin, EdS, known online as TheGamerEducator, empowers families to make screen time sustainable, manageable, and beneficial for the whole family. Now in their 15th year of teaching middle school, they help caregivers navigate the world of tech with consistent, loving boundaries, founded on respect for children, appreciation of video games and tech, and knowledge of pedagogical techniques. Ash has appeared on podcasts including Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Good Inside with Dr. Becky, and Culture Study with Anne Helen Petersen, and has contributed to articles featured on Romper, Scary Mommy, Lifehacker, The Daily Beast, USA Today, and NPR. Their bestselling book, Power On: Managing Screen Time to Benefit the Whole Family, debuted in August, 2025. In their free time, Ash loves to hike, bake, play video games, and spend time with their family.

Ash’s Web and Social Links

1. Instagram.com/thegamereducator
2. substack.com/thegamereducator

Resources Discussed/Links

Our 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/

Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/