1 00:00:19,199 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: And we are back with another edition of the Federalist 2 00:00:22,039 --> 00:00:25,600 Radio Hour. I'm Matt Kittle, Senior Elections correspondent at The 3 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,199 Federalist and your experienced Shirpa on today's quest for Knowledge. 4 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,479 As always, you can email the show at radio at 5 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:38,000 the Federalist dot com, follow us on x at FDR LST, 6 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,799 make sure to subscribe wherever you download your podcast, and 7 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,359 of course to the premium version of our website as well. 8 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,560 Our guest today is Claire Morrell, fellow at the Ethics 9 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,679 and Public Policy Center. Her new book, The Tech Exit, 10 00:00:54,159 --> 00:00:58,560 A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, 11 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:02,479 offers some very timely help to families looking for a 12 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,239 screen detox. Claire, thank you so much for joining us 13 00:01:06,239 --> 00:01:07,959 in this edition of the Federalist Radio Hour. 14 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having me. 15 00:01:10,439 --> 00:01:13,079 Speaker 1: You bet. It's a fascinating book, and we will delve 16 00:01:13,159 --> 00:01:16,480 into that momentarily. But I would like to begin with 17 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,840 a recent US Supreme Court decision that I think is 18 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:23,640 so important because, let's face it, as parents, we know 19 00:01:23,879 --> 00:01:28,760 what a cesspool the internet can be. With all of 20 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,799 the good that it has offered, it certainly has offered 21 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,120 its share of awful too. The US Supreme Court late 22 00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:39,920 last month, at the end of its term, upheld a 23 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:45,439 Texas law requiring consumers to provide age verification in order 24 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:50,920 to gain access to commercial websites that, frankly our pornographic 25 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,079 in nature, provides sexually explicit material. It was the first 26 00:01:56,079 --> 00:02:00,000 time that the Court has imposed requirements on adult consumers 27 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:04,280 in order to protect minors from having such access. It 28 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,960 is worth noting that the majority opinion was six' three. 29 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,560 Claire that means that three of our justices said it's 30 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,520 a burden or too much of a burden to require 31 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:25,560 these porn pedlers to verify the age of the people 32 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,400 going on to their. Sites what do you think about 33 00:02:28,439 --> 00:02:30,879 The Supreme court decision what it ultimately. 34 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,319 Speaker 3: Means, now this is a, huge huge win for parents 35 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,199 and families and children Across america because it made really 36 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,879 clear that these age verification laws they are. Constitutional it 37 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,120 does not place an undue burden on adult privacy and. 38 00:02:47,159 --> 00:02:49,479 Speech that's what the court. Ruled they said this is 39 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,000 to be viewed under intermediate scrutiny because the burden on 40 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:56,639 adult speech is only, incidental and they really tried to distinguish, 41 00:02:56,719 --> 00:02:59,759 listen these these laws are not banning any type of 42 00:02:59,759 --> 00:03:03,039 Con they're not saying that adults can't post or access 43 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,439 this type of. Content it's just saying you have to 44 00:03:05,479 --> 00:03:08,639 prove you're an adult to access this. Content so the 45 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,439 case is all about access and just restricting children's access to, 46 00:03:12,439 --> 00:03:16,240 obscendee which again the court recognized states have a compelling 47 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,400 interest to protect children from this obscene. Material and the 48 00:03:20,599 --> 00:03:23,439 opinion was very explicit that it said adults don't have 49 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,879 A First amendment right to a void age, verification that 50 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,960 we have accepted these laws in the real world in 51 00:03:30,039 --> 00:03:33,000 brick and mortar, stores and it's just applying those to 52 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,479 the online. Space so it's a common sense solution that 53 00:03:36,599 --> 00:03:40,120 both really does protect adult privacy and. Speech they just 54 00:03:40,199 --> 00:03:43,719 have to verify their inn adults and importantly puts an 55 00:03:43,759 --> 00:03:47,039 effective hurdle in place to make sure that children aren't 56 00:03:47,039 --> 00:03:49,479 accessing this. Content AND i can tell you a lot 57 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:53,240 of children are exposed to these pornography websites on. Accident 58 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,919 they click on a link through social media or a search, 59 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,759 engine and they don't realize where they're going and it 60 00:03:58,879 --> 00:04:02,080 just immediately because there's no age, verification they're exposed to 61 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,639 all the subscene. Content and so it places a really 62 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,039 effective and important hurdle so that even if a child 63 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,159 were to click on a link, accidentally they're not suddenly 64 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,240 exposed to this extremely obscene. 65 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,399 Speaker 1: CONTENT i don't understand the argument against. THIS i, mean 66 00:04:19,319 --> 00:04:23,000 we all know that there are age restrictions on buying, 67 00:04:23,079 --> 00:04:28,839 cigarettes on buying, alcohol all kinds of age restrictions from 68 00:04:29,519 --> 00:04:33,639 state to state across the, country and they're unified at 69 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,560 the federal level in different. Areas why would this be an. 70 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: Exception, no it shouldn't. 71 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 3: Be AND i think critically this, decision and this was 72 00:04:44,759 --> 00:04:48,120 noted in the oral, Arguments Justice gorsich kept making this 73 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,600 point that we don't want one constitutional regime that governs 74 00:04:51,639 --> 00:04:54,600 the real world and a different constitutional regime that governs 75 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,519 the online. World our goal should be to make those. 76 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 2: As equal as. 77 00:04:58,199 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: Possible and so What i've noted in PIECE i wrote 78 00:05:00,959 --> 00:05:03,839 about this case The National review was that this case 79 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,879 critically brings the virtual world into alignment. 80 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 2: With the real. 81 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 3: World this law that has been you, know these laws 82 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,560 have been in existence in the brick and mortar world 83 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,199 honestly since like the nineteen, fifties and we're just catching 84 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:17,879 up to say we have to have this in the 85 00:05:17,959 --> 00:05:20,959 online world, too which is where most children are encountering. 86 00:05:21,079 --> 00:05:23,959 Pornography they're not going to brick and mortar, Stores they're 87 00:05:23,959 --> 00:05:27,920 stumbling across it online and so it's critically. Important and you, 88 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,240 know the court addresses the internet has, changed even just 89 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,839 in the last twenty years that now ninety five percent 90 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,600 of teens have. Smartphones where it's too. Easy there are 91 00:05:37,639 --> 00:05:40,839 too many portals to the online. World it's impossible to 92 00:05:40,879 --> 00:05:42,800 put this all on. Parents we don't have. 93 00:05:42,879 --> 00:05:43,759 Speaker 2: Parents we don't tell. 94 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 3: Parents it's your job to run around and make sure 95 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,519 every store in town doesn't sell, alcohol, tobacco or obscenity 96 00:05:49,519 --> 00:05:51,959 to your. Kids and this is the same for the virtual. 97 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,160 World parents should not have to try to effectively shut 98 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,480 down every possible access point to a pornography. Website it 99 00:05:58,519 --> 00:06:01,160 should be on those sites to verify that the people 100 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:04,240 accessing their material are adults and not. Children and that's 101 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:05,160 what this decision. 102 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,319 Speaker 1: Does that's very. Interesting i'm curious what you think about 103 00:06:08,399 --> 00:06:13,839 what it says this. Decision moving, forward with the cases 104 00:06:14,439 --> 00:06:19,519 yet to come before The court on where The internet 105 00:06:19,759 --> 00:06:22,839 and the regulation of The internet, goes we know that 106 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,160 with the birth of The information Super. HIGHWAY i don't 107 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,240 know if you know, this but Al gore created it 108 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:33,519 many years. Ago we still have a good chuckle on 109 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:40,240 that about the former vice president and presidential candidate and 110 00:06:40,519 --> 00:06:44,800 perhaps his overstatement on his initial involvement in the. Process 111 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:50,399 all of that, said When congress was talking about the 112 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:54,120 open use in the public domain of The, internet it 113 00:06:54,639 --> 00:06:59,319 wanted to create a pretty wide birth at the time 114 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:05,279 because of concerns, about you, know over zealous restrictions on 115 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:09,360 The First. Amendment much has, changed, though has it not 116 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:15,600 in the last thirty plus years since we've gone beyond 117 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:21,040 My space and all of these other original creations of The. 118 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:25,319 Internet where do you think this court case suggests that 119 00:07:25,399 --> 00:07:29,160 we're going in terms of regulating and changing the laws 120 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:29,519 on that. 121 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,519 Speaker 3: Front, Yeah i'm hopeful that it means good. THINGS i 122 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:36,439 think at at the, minimum it made extremely clear that 123 00:07:36,519 --> 00:07:40,240 states have over passed these age verification, laws but it 124 00:07:40,319 --> 00:07:44,160 also left open other options to states to protect children 125 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,839 from online. Obscenity that was one of the critical pieces 126 00:07:47,319 --> 00:07:52,120 of this decision was by applying intermediate, scrutiny the court 127 00:07:52,199 --> 00:07:55,680 was now setting aside the least restricted means, test which 128 00:07:55,759 --> 00:07:57,959 if a law is treated under strict, scrutiny you have 129 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,480 to prove it's the least restrictive means means for obtaining that, 130 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,279 outcome because you don't want to burden adult. Speech so 131 00:08:05,439 --> 00:08:08,959 setting aside the least restricted means test and opening up 132 00:08:09,079 --> 00:08:14,519 intermediate scrutiny is incredible for a state's ability to regulate 133 00:08:14,519 --> 00:08:17,600 in this area because now they could actually take multiple 134 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,920 approaches to protecting children from online. Obscenity they don't have 135 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,879 to prove that one build a path is the least restrictive. 136 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,519 Means there's now other options that they could. Pursue and, 137 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,319 so you, know age verification for porn sites is obviously 138 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,320 a very common sense. Solution but what the court recognized 139 00:08:34,519 --> 00:08:38,120 is that states need to be able to govern and 140 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:42,679 legislate in this, area and they said that nuance of 141 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:46,480 balancing adult rights with this compelling interest to protect children 142 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:51,679 requires intermediate scrutiny so that states can explore other options 143 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,360 that would balance those rights in order to protect. Children 144 00:08:55,399 --> 00:08:59,559 and So i'm actually hoping that this court case decision 145 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,279 really opens a path for states to pursue and explore 146 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,039 more options that they may have not even been considering 147 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,440 given the past legal hurdles they had to, overcome and 148 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,279 so the application of intermediate. SCRUTINY i can't over state 149 00:09:13,399 --> 00:09:16,720 enough just how critical that is to giving states much 150 00:09:16,759 --> 00:09:20,919 more flexibility in this area and also To. CONGRESS i 151 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,320 would really love to See congress pass a federal age 152 00:09:24,399 --> 00:09:27,399 verification for porn site's. Law this case just makes it 153 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,399 very clear that that type of law is. Constitutional SO 154 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,799 i don't know what more Mandate congress needs to take 155 00:09:33,879 --> 00:09:37,120 up the solution so that we have this protection, nationwide 156 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,080 not just state by. State and twenty four states have 157 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,759 passed these. Laws it's not Just. Texas that is nearly 158 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,559 half the, country and so it really provides a path 159 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,360 forward for all those laws to be, upheld for more 160 00:09:48,399 --> 00:09:50,879 states to pass these, laws and, then AS i mentioned in, 161 00:09:50,919 --> 00:09:54,960 general just give more states flexibility and trying to regulate 162 00:09:55,279 --> 00:09:59,320 the internet in terms of protecting, kids especially from online. 163 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,360 Obscenity that states will now have more options to. 164 00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:05,519 Speaker 1: Pursue that's interesting because you, know we think about this 165 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,480 as A texas, case but it really is a case 166 00:10:08,639 --> 00:10:12,399 for every state out there that is considering or has 167 00:10:13,159 --> 00:10:15,519 one of these laws in. Place as you, mentioned almost 168 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:20,600 half the states do very meaningful moving forward in terms 169 00:10:20,639 --> 00:10:24,720 of state by state legislation and as you, say congressional 170 00:10:24,879 --> 00:10:29,200 legislation weighing into. This with all of that, said we 171 00:10:29,279 --> 00:10:35,919 know the pitfalls and potholes of the, internet access to, 172 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:41,440 it and more than, that as we have expanded the 173 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:46,679 use of these little devices next to, us that are 174 00:10:46,799 --> 00:10:51,440 constantly around, us it has become more and more difficult 175 00:10:51,519 --> 00:10:55,200 to get away from. Them your, book once, Again The Tech, 176 00:10:55,519 --> 00:10:59,799 EXIT A Practical guide To Freeing kids And teens From, 177 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:05,039 artphones is all about this brave new world that we've 178 00:11:05,039 --> 00:11:09,600 been existing in now for for several. Years and you, 179 00:11:09,639 --> 00:11:16,679 know kids place in that brave new. World what inspired, 180 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,080 YOU i guess to delve into this. 181 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 2: Topic, no that's a great. 182 00:11:23,759 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 3: Question so my research and policy work the last almost 183 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,320 five years now has focused on protecting kids from online, 184 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,399 harms and you, know looking at just solutions like we 185 00:11:33,519 --> 00:11:37,720 just discussed age verification for pornography, websites parntal consent for social, 186 00:11:37,759 --> 00:11:40,759 media just laws that would actually just help us better 187 00:11:40,759 --> 00:11:43,679 protect our. Kids but in my, WORK i would frequently 188 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,440 interact with parents and they would always ask, Me, okay 189 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,799 based on your, research what SHOULD i do for my own? 190 00:11:48,879 --> 00:11:51,240 Kids SHOULD i give them a? Smartphone when CAN i 191 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:53,679 let them on social? Media and the ANSWER i gave 192 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,720 them was from my, RESEARCH i had been convinced THAT 193 00:11:56,799 --> 00:11:59,120 i would not be letting my own children have access 194 00:11:59,159 --> 00:12:01,360 to smartphones or so social, media that the harms were that. 195 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,240 Bad the screen time limits and prontal controls sold to 196 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,200 parents by the tech companies as the, solution the kind 197 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,399 of moderate approach of let your kids use our, technology 198 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:13,799 you can mitigate all the harms with our screen time 199 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,879 limits and prontal controls was not. True from the research 200 00:12:16,879 --> 00:12:20,080 THAT i was, seeing these controls were not fully, effective 201 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,320 and the screen time limits were not sufficient to mitigate 202 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,840 the extremely addictive design of the. Platforms that the screen 203 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,039 time limit does not map on to a child's mental 204 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,159 or emotional time spent in the virtual world that They 205 00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:36,960 it creates a constant craving for more because of the dopamine, 206 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,519 released and so no time limit was ever, enough and 207 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,080 even a short amount of time each day could create 208 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,960 a very strong compulsion change the child's, behavior their mood 209 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,240 revolving around the time that they could get back onto that. 210 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,639 App and SO i recognize THOUGH i had young, kids 211 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,879 they were five and, under and these parents often had. 212 00:12:54,879 --> 00:12:58,559 Teenagers you, KNOW i had not the experience to, say 213 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,919 this is how he made it through the teen, years you, 214 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,240 know withholding smartphones in social, media and SO i set 215 00:13:04,279 --> 00:13:08,399 out to write this book to prove that a smartphone 216 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,679 free childhood is actually. POSSIBLE i was really wanting to 217 00:13:11,759 --> 00:13:14,159 just prove it to, myself since this is WHAT i 218 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:18,279 wanted to. Do BUT i really had become convinced from 219 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,759 my research that a smartphone free childhood was. Necessary BUT 220 00:13:21,799 --> 00:13:24,480 i wanted to, understand you, know is it possible to do, 221 00:13:24,519 --> 00:13:26,639 that and if, so how had families done? This and 222 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,840 so my Book The Tech exit is a result of 223 00:13:29,879 --> 00:13:33,519 all of that, research those interviews with dozens of families 224 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:36,720 and hundreds MORE i heard of who have actually success 225 00:13:36,919 --> 00:13:42,600 successfully opted out of smartphones and social media during childhood 226 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:43,320 and even. 227 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 2: Through the teen. 228 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 3: Years and so this book offers parents a very practical 229 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,960 roadmap how to reverse course if you've already given your 230 00:13:51,039 --> 00:13:55,679 children these screens like smartphones or social. Media just successful 231 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,200 steps for how to detox from these, devices but then 232 00:13:59,279 --> 00:14:00,919 how to keep going over the long. 233 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 2: TERM i realize it sounds. 234 00:14:02,919 --> 00:14:07,399 Speaker 3: Daunting to imagine a childhood where your children don't have 235 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,120 smartphones like, ever like pushing that off until adulthood can seem, 236 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,799 daunting but so many families have done. This it's actually 237 00:14:13,879 --> 00:14:18,559 a growing movement of. Parents it was, extremely extremely encouraging 238 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,279 to speak with these, families and SO i distill the 239 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,679 kind of key commitments and principles that these families adopted 240 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,840 to help them successfully exit these addictive screen technologies during. 241 00:14:30,919 --> 00:14:34,600 Childhood and that is the result the book is the 242 00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:37,799 tech exit is the result of all the research in those, 243 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:41,279 interviews and SO i would just encourage parents that it's 244 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:45,679 never too, late and THAT i think often the challenges 245 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,200 and hurdles to a smartphone free childhood seem greater than 246 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,799 they actually. Are AND i kind of address all of 247 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:56,000 those maybe common misconceptions in the book and kind of 248 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,200 explain how these families did. This AND i invite other 249 00:14:59,279 --> 00:15:02,320 families then to join with these families who are saying 250 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,840 no to screens and to recognize that the tech exit 251 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:10,000 is fundamentally really a positive. No that they're saying no 252 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,279 to these addictive screens was saying yes so much more 253 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,200 in the real, world and these children are, Flourishing their 254 00:15:15,279 --> 00:15:18,000 childhoods are not boring or dull as you may as 255 00:15:18,279 --> 00:15:20,600 you may perceive to think, that, oh these kids off, 256 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,360 screens they must be so introverted or, weird or you, 257 00:15:24,399 --> 00:15:27,039 know just having very boring, childhood and it's quite the. 258 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:31,440 Opposite they're extremely. Engaged they have, real meaningful, friendships and 259 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:35,399 they are pursuing lives of really true flourishing off of the. 260 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,679 Screens and SO i hope that this message will reach 261 00:15:38,919 --> 00:15:42,320 parents Across america and just give them really the courage 262 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,360 and the hope that they need to pursue this, lifestyle 263 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,559 the courage to say, no and just the hope that 264 00:15:48,639 --> 00:15:51,039 this is actually the best thing you could do for your, 265 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,519 child and it's actually more possible to do it than 266 00:15:53,559 --> 00:15:53,840 you may. 267 00:15:53,879 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 4: Realize why has the housing market absolutely? Tanked The watchdout 268 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:06,440 On Wall street podcast With Chris. Markowski every Day chris 269 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,279 helps unpack the connection between politics and the economy and 270 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,720 how it affects your. Wallet when is the right time 271 00:16:11,759 --> 00:16:15,919 to buy a? House market uncertainty is, everywhere INCLUDING ai, 272 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,519 tariffs is The fed lowering interest. Rates don't expect the 273 00:16:19,559 --> 00:16:22,480 housing market to recover anytime. Soon whether it's happening IN 274 00:16:22,559 --> 00:16:24,360 dc or down On Wall, street it's affecting you. 275 00:16:24,399 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: Financially be. 276 00:16:25,159 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 4: Informed check out the watchdot On Wall street podcast With 277 00:16:27,559 --> 00:16:30,200 Chris markowski On, Apple spotify or wherever you get your. 278 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: Podcasts, well you, know you bring up a good. POINT 279 00:16:39,399 --> 00:16:43,799 i think about WHAT covid taught, us among many. Things 280 00:16:44,639 --> 00:16:52,600 we've spent years in isolation in many, ways you, know 281 00:16:52,799 --> 00:16:56,240 some had it worse than, others obviously depending on where you. 282 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:00,360 Were but that became such a time of you, know, 283 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:05,599 dependency even more dependency on these devices and electronic, devices 284 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,960 these these smartphones and in these kinds of. Ways and 285 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,720 it was in it was and remains an artificial way of. 286 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:18,079 Connecting AND i, think among other things that the pandemic, 287 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:24,880 DID i think this reliance in this isolation with smartphone 288 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:33,880 technology really made us disconnected as a. Race and and 289 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,119 so THEN i think about that and how much more 290 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:42,000 it has become so part Of american, life AND i 291 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,599 think it is daunting for for some some. Parents you, 292 00:17:44,599 --> 00:17:48,279 know as a, parent a dad of three, kids all, 293 00:17:48,319 --> 00:17:52,119 teens NOW I i have we've gone through these kinds of. 294 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,480 Battles but it sounds like from your book you have 295 00:17:56,839 --> 00:18:04,079 multiple examples of how you replace. This you, know this 296 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:09,839 what can feel, like you, know an addictive drug for. 297 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:14,000 Kids so let's walk through some of those steps and 298 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:16,440 the experiences that the families you talked to. 299 00:18:16,559 --> 00:18:20,759 Speaker 3: Had, yeah SO i try to encourage parents that just 300 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:25,240 start with a thirty day digital. DETOX i think sometimes 301 00:18:25,319 --> 00:18:28,079 doing this over the long haul can seem, Like, okay 302 00:18:28,079 --> 00:18:30,039 that's a really big. Decision we're not sure we can do. 303 00:18:30,079 --> 00:18:32,200 That just test it out for thirty. Days and WHAT 304 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,799 i will say Is i'm not going to sugarcoat. It 305 00:18:34,799 --> 00:18:37,839 the first few days and weeks will feel really challenging 306 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,680 because these screens actually have addictive, effects and children can 307 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:45,160 go through symptoms of. Withdrawal they can be more, irritable, 308 00:18:46,079 --> 00:18:49,960 moody and just and kind of depressed because you've taken 309 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,279 the screen away because there is such a strong compulsion towards. 310 00:18:53,279 --> 00:18:57,519 It but just replacing that with your own time and 311 00:18:57,559 --> 00:19:01,000 attention and screen free activities is. Possible and so these 312 00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:04,039 families really committed to doing this thirty. Days the first 313 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,000 few days or weeks may have been a lot more parental, 314 00:19:07,039 --> 00:19:11,039 involvement but then what happens is they kind of pushed 315 00:19:11,079 --> 00:19:15,720 through this point of resistance and kids creativity and their 316 00:19:15,759 --> 00:19:19,480 ability to play independently starts to come. Back they actually 317 00:19:19,519 --> 00:19:22,680 stop asking for the, screens their habits are reshaped and. 318 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,960 Reformed Doctor, Dunkley Victoria dunkley wrote a, Book Reset Your Child's. 319 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,039 Brain she's a medical doctor and she was treating kids 320 00:19:30,039 --> 00:19:33,039 in her practice for symptoms of autism AND, adhd and 321 00:19:33,079 --> 00:19:36,279 what she found was often screens were just mimicking or 322 00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:40,119 exacerbating those, symptoms and that taking the screens away for 323 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,079 some kids resolved their symptoms. Entirely they didn't actually have 324 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,599 autism OR. Adhd these screens had induced this kind of 325 00:19:47,599 --> 00:19:52,000 state of hyper arousal of their nervous system that was 326 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,480 mimicking those. Conditions and then for children who really truly 327 00:19:55,519 --> 00:19:58,319 did HAVE adhd or, autism just taking the screens away 328 00:19:58,319 --> 00:20:01,000 for thirty days cut their symptom in. Half and so 329 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,599 what she says in her book is that it takes 330 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,400 that kind of amount of, time thirty, days to really 331 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,920 help a child's developing nervous system, reset but it's. 332 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 2: Possible it's possible. 333 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 3: For their nervous system to, reset their habits to be. 334 00:20:13,559 --> 00:20:16,039 Reshaped and what these families say is when they made 335 00:20:16,039 --> 00:20:18,240 it to thirty, days they saw these benefits in their 336 00:20:18,319 --> 00:20:21,240 kid that they didn't even know were, possible that they 337 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,039 were just pleasantly, surprised BECAUSE i think so many parents 338 00:20:24,559 --> 00:20:28,240 can't picture dealing with a difficult child without a. Screen you, 339 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,359 know it becomes an easy way to calm them down 340 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,119 just handing them a. Device but when you take it 341 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,000 away and you kind of push through that point of, 342 00:20:35,039 --> 00:20:37,799 resistance your child comes out the other side of this 343 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:42,160 detox much, STRONGER i, mean a much more flourishing, child 344 00:20:42,519 --> 00:20:45,319 free of the kind of dependence and addiction to the. 345 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,839 Screens with their nervous system, reset their habits, reshaped their 346 00:20:48,839 --> 00:20:53,160 brain can really actually rewire, itself especially the younger they, 347 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,279 are the more plastic the. Brain and so reading these 348 00:20:56,319 --> 00:20:59,960 stories about these families who, detoxed diving into the science 349 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:04,480 behind a detox totally convinced me that at a, minimum 350 00:21:04,599 --> 00:21:07,559 any family can try a thirty day detox and see 351 00:21:07,559 --> 00:21:11,359 the results for yourself and then let those positive results 352 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:13,839 spur you on to keep. Going and that's what most 353 00:21:13,839 --> 00:21:16,920 of these families have, done is then they took that 354 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,920 and adopted that lifestyle. Permanently AND i then walk through 355 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,160 the kind of five key principles or commitments of these 356 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:28,119 families that helped them go over the long, term even 357 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:30,799 through the teen years even through high. School same note 358 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:34,240 as smartphones and social. Media and so just, BRIEFLY i 359 00:21:34,279 --> 00:21:37,039 can't unpack and full what each of these chapters deals 360 00:21:37,079 --> 00:21:39,519 into in the, book but at a high level THAT 361 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,519 i try to help readers remember these principles with an 362 00:21:43,599 --> 00:21:49,559 acronym which is feast, feast and that's in contrast to 363 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,880 the digital fast from. Screens so if you detox from 364 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:54,519 the screens for thirty, days. 365 00:21:54,319 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 2: What do you re. Enter you re enter a. 366 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,319 Speaker 3: Feast and SO i wanted parents to have as positive 367 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,519 vision as the guiding, principles and so those briefly they 368 00:22:03,559 --> 00:22:06,279 stand FOR f stands for find other. FAMILIES i, mean 369 00:22:06,279 --> 00:22:08,240 this was just, critical both or and. Other with the 370 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:10,079 FAMILIES i spoke, to they said they were able to 371 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:13,200 find just one or two other families who also were 372 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,599 committed to not giving their kids smartphones or social, media 373 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:18,359 and that allowed their children to have a few with 374 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,680 their peers who also weren't on these technologies and parents 375 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,759 to have allies to encourage them and keep them going 376 00:22:24,759 --> 00:22:28,119 when they may base base points of resistance or encounter. 377 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,240 Challenges and that just felt like having those that kind 378 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,759 of camaraderie of doing this with a few other families 379 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,720 creating these kind of counter communities resisting these things together 380 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:43,640 was really helpful and keeping this lifestyle sustainable for the longer. 381 00:22:43,759 --> 00:22:49,599 TERM e stands for, educate exemplify or, sorry, educate explain and, 382 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,200 Exemplify and this chapter is really about trying to explain 383 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,440 to your children why you have these tech, restrictions that 384 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:59,599 these aren't just restrictions handed down from on. High but 385 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,000 there was a lot of conversations that the parents had 386 00:23:02,039 --> 00:23:05,279 with their, kids trying to educate them for themselves on 387 00:23:05,319 --> 00:23:08,920 the harms of the digital technologies so that they're actually 388 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:13,279 prepared to face them as, adults explaining the rationale behind those, 389 00:23:13,319 --> 00:23:17,799 decisions and then exemplifying the kind of responsible technology use 390 00:23:18,079 --> 00:23:20,960 you'd want your children to have as. Parents AND i 391 00:23:21,039 --> 00:23:22,920 think you, know this is very convicting to a lot of, 392 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,799 parents but we all often struggle with addiction to our own, 393 00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:31,960 devices and so just asking ourselves if how we are 394 00:23:32,039 --> 00:23:34,640 using a smartphone is really how we'd want our child 395 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:36,680 to be using a smartphone as an, adult and thinking 396 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,519 about what we're modeling for them and explaining and having 397 00:23:40,599 --> 00:23:43,759 lots of conversations around. That and SO i think a 398 00:23:43,799 --> 00:23:45,920 common myth is, OH i JUST i need to give 399 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,079 them a smartphone when they're young SO i can train 400 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,599 them on it to use it health in healthy ways an. 401 00:23:50,599 --> 00:23:53,960 Adult but that is actually the. Opposite giving a child 402 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,680 a powerful technology too young before they're really mature enough 403 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,240 to handle that can really undermine their ability to develop 404 00:24:01,319 --> 00:24:03,920 the skills to use it wisely as an. Adult it 405 00:24:04,079 --> 00:24:08,319 hinders their development of self control and emotional. Regulation but, 406 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,640 instead as we have in other areas of our, life 407 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,920 we recognize some things harmful or dangerous for a child to, 408 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,519 operate so we, explain we talk to them about, it 409 00:24:17,559 --> 00:24:19,880 and we model what a healthy use of that looks 410 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,319 like as an. Adult so like alcohol would be a 411 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,960 prime example of. That parents modeling a healthy use of, 412 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,039 alcohol having conversations with their children about. It you, know 413 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,039 we're not giving alcohol to young, children but we're training 414 00:24:31,079 --> 00:24:32,960 them about, it and it should be the same with the. 415 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,319 Smartphone and so that's WHAT i saw in these. Families 416 00:24:35,559 --> 00:24:39,599 they were very intentional in having conversations and modeling that as, 417 00:24:39,759 --> 00:24:43,559 parents and that actually then led their children and their 418 00:24:43,599 --> 00:24:46,160 grown children when they went off to college to really 419 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,799 if they ended up getting smartphones or social, media be 420 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,559 able to recognize in themselves when they were using it too. 421 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:55,839 Much they were much more able to self regulate towards 422 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,400 a healthy use of it than their peers who had 423 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,400 grown up on, smartphones who had a a lot of 424 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:04,160 just dependence and addictive behaviors towards the. Phones because if 425 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,720 you grow up and you form your habits without, it 426 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,720 you don't have the same dependence on. It you've actually 427 00:25:10,799 --> 00:25:14,480 lived life from zero to eighteen without a. Smartphone you're 428 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,039 actually able to function without it in. Ways that really 429 00:25:18,079 --> 00:25:21,119 always kind of serve as a guiding force for kids 430 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,640 then to recognize if they're using it too, much because 431 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:24,079 they know. 432 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,759 Speaker 2: What life looked like without, it so that's really. 433 00:25:26,759 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 3: CRITICAL a this short kind of quick Chapter Adopt, ALTERNATIVES 434 00:25:31,799 --> 00:25:34,640 i just try to inform parents about all the great 435 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,839 alternative phones that are now available instead of a SMART 436 00:25:38,559 --> 00:25:40,680 i think a lot of parents genuinely give a child 437 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,440 a first smartphone because they are trying to fulfill a 438 00:25:43,519 --> 00:25:45,079 communication need. 439 00:25:45,279 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 2: On the part of that. 440 00:25:46,319 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 3: Child but there's better options available now that don't have 441 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,640 an internet browser or social media or online gaming that 442 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,000 can still be used as a tool to talk or. 443 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,640 Text some of them many of them actually have LIKE, 444 00:25:58,759 --> 00:26:01,519 gps other tools that you might want a child to 445 00:26:01,559 --> 00:26:04,039 begin to be able to, use especially if they're, driving 446 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,039 but none of the addictive. 447 00:26:05,559 --> 00:26:06,519 Speaker 2: Apps or internet. 448 00:26:06,559 --> 00:26:09,759 Speaker 3: Browser and SO i give examples of how the families 449 00:26:09,799 --> 00:26:12,039 then delayed the age of first cell, phone and then 450 00:26:12,039 --> 00:26:14,279 when they did get a, phone adopted one of these 451 00:26:14,279 --> 00:26:18,440 alternatives like the gab phone or bark phone or pinwheel 452 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,519 phone or wise. Phone there's actually many options out there 453 00:26:21,559 --> 00:26:26,440 now for. PARENTS s stands for set up digital accountability 454 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,200 in the home and family screen, rules and this principle 455 00:26:29,319 --> 00:26:32,640 is just one of these families just practiced really technological 456 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,279 transparency in their. Home so even when a child does 457 00:26:35,279 --> 00:26:38,759 get a first email account or first dumb phone where 458 00:26:38,759 --> 00:26:41,480 they're texting or communicating with their friends on it that 459 00:26:41,559 --> 00:26:45,160 there was no kind of expectation of absolute privacy of 460 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,079 a child's communication, channels but that there was openness between 461 00:26:49,319 --> 00:26:52,319 the children's channels of communication and the parents that the, 462 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,680 parents if they wanted, to could check that email account 463 00:26:55,799 --> 00:26:58,039 or check those text messages to make sure their children 464 00:26:58,079 --> 00:27:02,960 weren't getting into something dangerous or inappropriate that they shouldn't. 465 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,559 Be and so it doesn't mean that parents are constantly 466 00:27:05,599 --> 00:27:08,359 surveilling their, kids but that there is an expectation of digital, 467 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,359 accountability and most of the family said that in itself 468 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,880 was the protection for their. Kids just knowing that mom 469 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,200 Or dad could check it really kept them from getting 470 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,559 into dangerous. Things and then the family screen rules that 471 00:27:19,599 --> 00:27:21,960 these families all had in common was that screen use 472 00:27:22,039 --> 00:27:25,799 was always public and, purposeful that if a child needed 473 00:27:25,799 --> 00:27:28,240 to access The internet on the family, computer it was 474 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,640 done in a public place and for a specific purpose 475 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:34,119 that anyone else in the household could see. Into because 476 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,039 these families are not anti, tech they're actually for a 477 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,759 very intentional use of, technology and they recognize smartphones and 478 00:27:40,799 --> 00:27:44,519 social media are powerful and addictive technologies that don't belong in. 479 00:27:44,599 --> 00:27:47,559 Childhood but they are proactively training their kids on how 480 00:27:47,559 --> 00:27:50,799 to use computers and The internet as a tool the 481 00:27:50,839 --> 00:27:53,000 way it was meant to be, used and that's by 482 00:27:53,079 --> 00:27:55,359 having it be used in a way that's public and. 483 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:59,440 Purposeful and then any screen entertainment like a television in 484 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,440 the home always used in a way that was sparing 485 00:28:02,599 --> 00:28:05,799 and shared and so not a daily. Habit but they would, 486 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,440 enjoy you, know watching a football game on the weekend 487 00:28:08,599 --> 00:28:10,480 or a family movie night on A friday, night and 488 00:28:10,519 --> 00:28:12,920 it was always an activity that was done together BECAUSE 489 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,440 i think sadly often the way screens are used in 490 00:28:15,519 --> 00:28:19,160 homes are dividing family. Relationships each member turns to their 491 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:23,240 own screen for their own individualized, entertainment and these families 492 00:28:23,279 --> 00:28:26,680 really pushed back against, that having a large communal screen 493 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:29,680 used for entertainment in a way that was shared and 494 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:33,319 bringing the family closer. Together and then the last point 495 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,319 was just tea trade screens for real life responsibilities and. 496 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,240 Pursuits and this was the most fun chapter to, write, 497 00:28:40,319 --> 00:28:43,799 honestly just what these families had filled childhood with instead 498 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:50,400 real life hobbies, sports you, know, music, reading playing, outside 499 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,759 all the THINGS i think about if anyone just, pictures you, 500 00:28:53,759 --> 00:28:55,960 know if you think of childhood and like the idyllic, 501 00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:58,720 childhood those are the activities that you think, of and 502 00:28:58,759 --> 00:29:01,000 that's what these kids are. Doing BUT i will say 503 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,839 even more importantly than, that it wasn't just replacing kids 504 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:10,079 screens with activities or, hobbies but also really helping kids 505 00:29:10,119 --> 00:29:14,000 take on more. Responsibilities that there was an intentionality of 506 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,119 kids learning to do chores or tasks around the home 507 00:29:17,279 --> 00:29:20,240 to be a contributor and a producer to the family 508 00:29:20,839 --> 00:29:24,279 and taking on responsibilities that would actually help children progress 509 00:29:24,359 --> 00:29:27,359 towards adulthood and develop the skills that we would all 510 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,559 want our children to, have whereas screens really stunt those. 511 00:29:31,599 --> 00:29:35,319 Skills and so just the emphasis in these families towards, 512 00:29:35,519 --> 00:29:38,480 service serving each other first in the home and then 513 00:29:38,559 --> 00:29:41,680 actually helping a child take on more responsibilities to serve 514 00:29:42,039 --> 00:29:45,880 their broader, community their, church their, school their local. Neighborhood 515 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,200 and so it was really inspiring because these kids instead 516 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,200 of being so self, focused BECAUSE i, mean the smartphone 517 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:56,480 is just inherently self focused. Device it makes you just 518 00:29:56,519 --> 00:30:01,200 focus on, yourself your own individualized, entertainment projecting yourself out 519 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,319 to social media to be you, know reviewed by your. 520 00:30:04,359 --> 00:30:07,440 Peers it's all about your own kind of self, expression self. 521 00:30:07,559 --> 00:30:11,160 Entertainment these teens are experiencing the. Opposite they're very others 522 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:15,359 focused by learning to serve their families and their. Communities 523 00:30:15,599 --> 00:30:18,240 and what a powerful antidote that is to the teen 524 00:30:18,319 --> 00:30:21,480 anxiety that we see that has come through the. Smartphones 525 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,279 that when you're thinking about other, people you're really not 526 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,440 very worried or anxious about. Yourself and so that was 527 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:29,079 very inspiring to see in these. 528 00:30:29,119 --> 00:30:33,279 Speaker 1: Families it's, interesting you KNOW i think About i'm of 529 00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:36,440 a certain age WHERE i grew up without The. INTERNET 530 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,720 i grew up without small. Screens, now obviously we had 531 00:30:41,079 --> 00:30:43,680 a couple of TVs in the, house AND i certainly 532 00:30:43,759 --> 00:30:48,279 watched my share of, Television but that idealic childhood you 533 00:30:48,319 --> 00:30:52,200 talk about is something that is always front of mind for, 534 00:30:52,359 --> 00:30:56,519 me and as one of the great blessings of my. 535 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:59,680 Life you, KNOW i was a WHEN i, was you, 536 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:05,720 know in elementary school through middle. School in the, SUMMERTIME 537 00:31:05,759 --> 00:31:08,799 i thought of nothing but baseball and basketball and you, 538 00:31:08,839 --> 00:31:12,559 know hanging out with my, friends riding my, bike you, 539 00:31:12,559 --> 00:31:16,599 know and that was the. Life AND i guess that's 540 00:31:16,599 --> 00:31:19,240 the question THAT i, have is that with a generation 541 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,319 that has grown up knowing nothing but screens all around, 542 00:31:23,359 --> 00:31:27,759 them even if they are, not you, know part of, 543 00:31:27,799 --> 00:31:32,039 that because their families have taken this, track AND i 544 00:31:32,079 --> 00:31:37,240 think it's very, Admirable but how do they ultimately relate 545 00:31:37,799 --> 00:31:42,839 to the others around, them the vast majority of these 546 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,440 kids who are growing up so connected to their. Smartphones, 547 00:31:47,319 --> 00:31:47,799 no it's. 548 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 2: A really important. 549 00:31:48,519 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 3: Question i'm glad you asked, it and it's SOMETHING i 550 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,079 do bring. Up is, that, unfortunately the harms of social 551 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,480 media and smartphones are not just individual they actually a 552 00:31:57,519 --> 00:32:01,240 group level effects because what you just, said they change 553 00:32:01,279 --> 00:32:04,440 the entire social, environment even for the kids that aren't 554 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,839 on social. Media if this is how everyone is relating 555 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,160 is through the, apps and so it's a big part 556 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:12,160 of actually the REASON i advocate for public policy. Solutions 557 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,319 Things i've advocated for are just raising the age of social, 558 00:32:15,319 --> 00:32:19,680 media pushing it back towards sixteen or even. Eighteen the 559 00:32:19,759 --> 00:32:22,559 country Of australia did, this they banned social media for 560 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,599 kids under. Sixteen because what you're recognizing is there is 561 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,680 a collective element to the, harm which requires collective. Solutions 562 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:34,240 the same way we've age restricted other technologies out of 563 00:32:34,319 --> 00:32:37,559 childhood that we've recognized are too harmful and too powerful 564 00:32:37,559 --> 00:32:41,279 for a child to. USE i mean motor, vehicles, firearms 565 00:32:41,279 --> 00:32:44,000 these all have age restrictions to, them and SO i 566 00:32:44,039 --> 00:32:48,119 similarly have advocated that for smartphones and social media because 567 00:32:48,319 --> 00:32:51,000 of the dangers that they cause not just to the, 568 00:32:51,039 --> 00:32:53,880 individual but to the collective group as a. Whole BUT 569 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:59,119 i will encourage, parents we can also find these collective solutions. 570 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,839 Ourselves and so while public policy is one way to 571 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:06,599 provide collective, Solutions i'm encouraged AS i wrote these stories 572 00:33:06,599 --> 00:33:10,119 in the book of families who are finding the creating 573 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,640 these kind of counter communities in their local. Area ONE 574 00:33:13,759 --> 00:33:16,240 i talk about one neighborhood where the moms on the 575 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:18,640 street just started talking to each other about the kind 576 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:20,920 of childhood they wanted for their, kids and they, said 577 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:22,799 we want our kids to be riding bikes and playing 578 00:33:22,839 --> 00:33:25,880 outside with each, other and agreeing on that common vision 579 00:33:26,279 --> 00:33:30,119 really created a very vibrant community on the street where 580 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:33,160 the consensus is that kids are playing, outside not on. 581 00:33:33,279 --> 00:33:35,519 Phones and you know that mom, said there's a couple 582 00:33:35,559 --> 00:33:37,920 parents on the street that share their tech restrictions that 583 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,480 don't allow their kids to have. Smartphones but there's actually 584 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:42,640 other families on the street that their kids do use, 585 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,519 phones but it's not now the de facto go to 586 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,400 out activity because they've created this culture where kids are 587 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,599 playing outside and that becomes so appealing to even the 588 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:53,359 other kids who do have screens that they want to 589 00:33:53,359 --> 00:33:56,160 go outside and play. Too and so just the kind 590 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:58,440 of HOPE i would hold out to parents is that 591 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,720 we can be the change that we want to see 592 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,119 by conspiring together with other parents in our, community in our, 593 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,599 churches in our schools and trying to get a group 594 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,639 of parents to agree on this positive, vision even if 595 00:34:09,639 --> 00:34:12,199 we don't all land in the exact same places on 596 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:17,000 the tech. Restrictions pursuing a community that is really trying 597 00:34:17,039 --> 00:34:20,320 to embrace a real, life in person. Childhood giving our 598 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:24,519 children real life relationships and friendships is a really powerful 599 00:34:24,679 --> 00:34:27,960 antidote that pushes back against the kind of pressures towards 600 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,639 screens during. Childhood and what that mom said about her 601 00:34:30,679 --> 00:34:32,960 street is now the other parents are kind of, like 602 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,280 don't be that parent to get your kid a. Smartphone 603 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,199 like we have this great thing, going you, know don't 604 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:41,199 be the parents to kind of bring smartphones into this. 605 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:43,679 Speaker 2: Community so, SCHOOLS. 606 00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:45,320 Speaker 3: I also address a whole chapter in the book towards 607 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:49,159 what schools can do because they are also really powerful 608 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:54,039 in providing these collective. Solutions we see increasingly schools going phone, 609 00:34:54,079 --> 00:34:57,039 free bell to, bell smartphone bands from the school, day 610 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,519 that even just removing phones from the entire schoolchool day 611 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:04,360 can change the social environment at school that it's not 612 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:07,559 just banned during class, periods but it's banned from bell to, 613 00:35:07,639 --> 00:35:10,400 Bell and so it's not just children's learning environment that's, 614 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,559 protected but the social environment during the school day is 615 00:35:13,599 --> 00:35:15,960 then not about what's happening on the apps or the text, 616 00:35:16,039 --> 00:35:18,800 messages that they're actually in person together during the school. 617 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:21,840 Day so there's just a couple examples of the kind 618 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:26,440 of collective solutions that can help push back against the 619 00:35:26,559 --> 00:35:29,719 dynamics that you're talking, about where even the kids who 620 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:32,880 aren't on the apps can be affected if everybody else 621 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,360 is socializing through these. Apps and so JUST i want 622 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,360 to encourage parents on the front lines that you can 623 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,519 be the change in your local. Community talk to other. 624 00:35:40,599 --> 00:35:42,880 Parents that was what the whole CHAPTER i, Mentioned find 625 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,519 other families is just like all the different ideas and 626 00:35:45,599 --> 00:35:47,800 ways that you can get other parents on board with this. 627 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:50,159 Speaker 2: Vision and then also talk to your. 628 00:35:50,159 --> 00:35:53,039 Speaker 3: School if your school has not adopted a bell to 629 00:35:53,079 --> 00:35:55,199 bell phone, BAN i would just point. 630 00:35:55,039 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 2: You to that chapter of the. 631 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,639 Speaker 3: BOOK i present all the evidence for how affective these 632 00:35:59,679 --> 00:36:01,960 have been in all the districts and states that are 633 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,159 adopting these. Policies and then, finally the last chapter the 634 00:36:05,199 --> 00:36:08,679 book does talk about these policy solutions that parents you, 635 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,840 know can advocate for to their legislators to say these 636 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:13,840 are the kinds of solutions that they want to see 637 00:36:14,079 --> 00:36:17,360 to really help push smartphones in social media out of 638 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:18,960 childhood at a higher. 639 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:23,280 Speaker 1: Level definitely strengthen numbers with something like, this where it 640 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:27,280 is so, prevalent it is everywhere we. TURN i can't 641 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:31,639 help but think of a funny scenario and image in 642 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:35,440 my mind where you have a bunch of, kids you, 643 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,880 know six seventh, graders eighth, graders out on a playground 644 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:43,400 and they're all stuck to their smartphones their, screens and 645 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:46,760 a kid walks out with a baseball and starts tossing 646 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:48,239 it in the, air and all of a sudden it 647 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:53,480 catches their attention and they, say what's that new? Technology 648 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,800 so this is a baseball, Here i'll show you you 649 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:00,760 can hit it. Too oh, wow that's. COOL i think 650 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:05,920 we've reached that point in our society, fortunately where maybe 651 00:37:07,119 --> 00:37:12,239 is definitely time we rediscover what was so good about 652 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:16,079 being alive and being alive in the moment without all 653 00:37:16,119 --> 00:37:21,920 of these diversions that we've had over the last several. Years, 654 00:37:22,519 --> 00:37:26,519 well it is a fascinating, book a timely, book AND 655 00:37:26,679 --> 00:37:29,119 i think there will be a lot of parents who 656 00:37:29,159 --> 00:37:34,039 will SAY i could definitely use the. HELP i appreciate 657 00:37:34,079 --> 00:37:37,000 you joining, Us claire on this edition of The Federalist Radio. 658 00:37:37,079 --> 00:37:39,079 Speaker 2: Hour thanks so much for having. 659 00:37:39,119 --> 00:37:43,920 Speaker 1: Me absolutely thanks to my guest again, Today Claire, morrell 660 00:37:44,199 --> 00:37:48,440 fellow at The ethics And Public Policy center and author 661 00:37:48,639 --> 00:37:53,239 of The Tech Exit Practical guide to freeing kids and 662 00:37:53,360 --> 00:38:01,599 teens from. Smartphones it's time to Detoc you've been listening 663 00:38:01,599 --> 00:38:04,679 to another edition of The Federalist Radio. Hour i'm At, 664 00:38:04,719 --> 00:38:08,559 Kittle Senior elections correspondent At The. Federalist we'll be back 665 00:38:08,599 --> 00:38:12,679 soon with. More until, then stay lovers of freedom and 666 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:21,519 anxious for the fray