The relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health issues like anxiety is complex, and researchers continue to probe the mechanisms and causalities that may be involved in this relationship. In this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Sarah Myruski, Assistant Research Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University about recent neuroimaging findings that indicate an important role for emotion regulation skills in the association between anxiety and social media use. Dr. Myruski delves into her work on adolescents and social media use, exploring how brain imaging tools are helping to define how preferences for communicating emotions online and coping strategies relate to differences in emotion regulation and risk for anxiety. Dr. Myruski also provides important insights for parents about how their support can play a powerful role in helping their child’s emotion regulation skills.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How brain science helps us understand emotion regulation and anxiety.
• How adolescent preferences for digital communication may relate to anxiety and which youth are most vulnerable.
• Why age may affect the way youth use digital media to cope with stress.
• How anxiety may work to make neutral or ambiguous stimuli seem threatening.
• What type of parenting behavior best supports development of healthy emotional regulation.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
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Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Boredom is a common and frequently misunderstood psychological state for adults and children alike. On this episode, host Kris Perry goes deep with leading boredom researcher James Danckert, PhD, a Professor of Neuroscience at University of Waterloo. Dr. Danckert explains the unique neural state of boredom, dispels both positive and negative myths about it, and explains how boredom is distinct from other feelings. Sharing research that indicates boredom is on the rise, Dr. Danckert delves into how boredom is a “call to action” that can be motivating, and how it relates to other issues like attention, loneliness, self-control, multitasking, and increased digital media use.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why boredom isn’t just a lack of stimulation, but an active, complex psychological state.
• What neural imaging studies show about people who are prone to boredom.
• How boredom proneness relates to attention, focus, ADHD, depression, anxiety, self-control, media multitasking, and loneliness.
• The important difference between encouraging “down time” instead of boredom for children.
• Why children are more prone to boredom than adults.
• Research findings on the relationship between boredom proneness and problematic smartphone use.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
X: @childrenscreens
Bluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social

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Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Parents and caregivers today face what can feel like momentous and fraught decisions about how and when to introduce new technology to children — whether that be an iPad for a toddler or a smartphone for a tween. In this special episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with a leading voice on digital parenting and youth development, Dr. Jenny Radesky.

A Professor of Pediatrics at University of Michigan Medical School and co-Medical Director of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, Dr. Radesky provides invaluable advice for parents on all things digital media, from a nuanced view on how to determine when a child is ready for new tech to tips on evaluating the quality of children’s programming. She describes how digital media can displace important experiences for children’s learning and growth, and how parents can minimize harm and maximize the benefits of family digital media use.

In this episode, you will learn:

1. How to spot the developmental signs that a young child may — or may not — be ready for tech introduction.
2. Quick tips for evaluating whether media content for children is of high quality — or should be avoided.
3. What research shows about using screens to calm children — and its impact on building the skills needed for emotional regulation.
4. Why the “daily frictions” and “tiny dramas” of life are essential for building children’s resilience and coping skills.
5. Why restricting child access or time spent on digital media is not effective as a parenting tool — and what to try instead.
6. Key signs a teen or tween might be ready — for their first smartphone.
7. How digital media and experiences are designed to hook the brain’s reward system, rather than develop problem-solving skills.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

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Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
X: @childrenscreens
Bluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social

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Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au