Taking Back Our Digital Lives

  • We Deserve Better Than Addictive Technology

    Some days, it feels like we’re finally waking up to the harm caused by attention-extractive technology. And yet, the tech industry continues to optimize for the same old KPI: time spent. More minutes. More taps. More hours are stolen from our actual lives. I had hoped we were moving past that…

  • The Fragmented Mind: How Online Life Reshapes Kids’ Attention

    That’s the quiet danger of today’s kid-friendly platforms: they don’t just eat time. They fragment attention. And attention is the foundation of executive function — the set of mental skills that help kids plan, regulate, and carry out their goals. The Brain’s Management System Executive function is what allows us to…

  • Buzzing Brains, Quiet Streets: What Happens When We Finally Unplug

    The buzzing you feel when you unplug?That’s your brain detoxing from a life of overstimulation. But if we never sit in the silence long enough — if we don’t help our children build that tolerance — we never reach the deeper layer underneath. That’s where creativity happens.That’s where emotional intelligence…

  • Digital Detectives: Teaching Kids to Navigate Deepfakes and Digital Trickery with Confidence

    AI is reshaping what our kids see online — and sometimes, what they see isn’t real. Rather than reacting with fear, we can teach them to think critically, create intentionally, and discern what’s true. These three skills — critical thinking, creativity, and discernment — will help them stay grounded, confident, and capable…

  • Future-Proofing Our Kids: Teaching Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Taste in the Age of AI

    The future belongs to kids who can think, create, and discern. While AI gets smarter, these human skills—critical thinking, creativity, and taste—are more essential than ever. Here’s how I use technology intentionally at home to protect my children’s brains and strengthen soft-skills. The three most important skills our children can…

  • Parent Guide to Fortnite

    Fortnite Isn’t Harmless Fun: What Parents Should Know Fortnite may look like harmless play, but it’s designed as a nonstop engagement machine — flashing rewards, constant stimulation, endless battles, and pressure to spend. Kids aren’t just playing; they’re navigating FOMO-driven shops, aggressive monetization, and open chats with strangers, all layered…

  • Parent Guide to Roblox

    Roblox Isn’t Harmless: What Parents Should Know Roblox isn’t just a game — it’s an open platform that collects kids’ data, exposes them to predatory behavior, and trains them on reward cycles they’re not developmentally ready to handle. Even with parental controls, the risks of surveillance, grooming, and overstimulation remain…

  • The Boom-Boom Trap of the Scroll

    Short-form video platforms hook the brain by using slot machine–style rewards, endless micro-decisions, and dopamine loops that keep kids swiping. The scroll becomes more addictive than the content itself, draining focus and reshaping developing brains in ways that make reflection and real connection harder. Scrolling through short-form videos isn’t as…

  • Kids’ First-Phone Guide

    Which Phone Is Truly Safe for Kids? A Privacy-First Comparison Every device makes trade-offs between privacy, safety, and independence. This guide compares them side by side so you can choose what truly works for your family. Guiding Principle A safe phone is a tool that lets kids explore the world with…

  • Why Teaching Healthy Digital Development Is More Important Than Ever

    Children are growing up in a world where technology learns them as much as they use it. By understanding the hooks—endless scroll, autoplay, and AI-driven suggestions—parents can guide kids toward healthier patterns. With reflection, clear boundaries, and tech-free spaces, families can model balance and help children develop the skills to…