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Welcome to Parenting in a Tech World, the podcast for families raising kids in the digital age. Join Bark CMO Titania Jordan as she unpacks digital dangers, discusses the latest viral social media trends, and shares expert tips for helping protect kids online and in real life.
47 Episodes
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Bark's 2025 Annual Report analyzed a record 11.1 billion online activities—and the findings reveal a troubling paradox. While predator alerts in monitored spaces dropped 60%, national sextortion cases are surging. The danger hasn't disappeared; it's just moved where parents can't see it. We break down the biggest risks facing kids today, from the 650% spike in disordered eating content among tweens to why predators are migrating to shadow spaces—and what parents can do about it.Check our Bark's 2025 Annual Report: https://www.bark.us/annual-report-2025/
Dr. Jean Twenge, psychologist and author of 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, has spent decades studying how technology is reshaping childhood. Her research provided some of the earliest evidence linking smartphones and social media to rising rates of teen depression and anxiety. She shares the 'aha' moments from her work, what the data really shows about teens and tech, and the rules every parent should follow in a high-tech world.Visit Dr. Twenge's website to find her books, discover her research, learn about speaking engagements, and more. Don't forget to join the conversations happening in our Facebook group, Parenting in a Tech World!
Melissa McKay, president of the Digital Childhood Institute, made headlines when her viral post forced Google to reverse its policy of emailing kids instructions to remove parental controls at age 13. She shares the story behind that win, why Roblox is doing the same thing, and what parents need to know about protecting their kids when tech companies prioritize profit over safety.Learn more about the Digital Childhood Institute and connect with Melissa. Don't forget to check out Melissa's viral posts about Google and Roblox!
Selma Blair gets candid about parenting her 14-year-old son in an always-connected world. She shares how she's navigated tech and social media as both a public figure and a mom, the conversations she's had about online safety, and her advice for parents trying to find balance in a digital age.
Paul Raffile is a cybercrime expert and online safety advocate who's been on the front lines of catching sextortion scammers and exposing platform failures. He shares what parents need to know about sextortion, which apps pose the biggest risks, and the shocking reality of what social media companies allow to happen on their platforms.Connect with Paul on LinkedIn!Resources, stories, and other things mentioned in this episode:Paul's experience with MetaThe UK DocumentaryThe Yahoo BoysMeta's "Teen Nudity Controls"The story of Jordan Demay and sextortionThe Take it Down ActThe Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
Dr. Nidhi Gupta — physician, author of Calm the Noise, and founder of the Phreedom Foundation — breaks down how tech is impacting our health and what families can do to take back control. She shares the science behind constant notifications, her 'aha' moment that led to writing the book, and the three rules every family should start with tonight.Learn more about Dr. Gupta and the Phreedom Foundation on her website, and order your copy of Calm the Noise.
Ben Gillenwater — aka The Family IT Guy — brings 30 years of cybersecurity expertise to the parenting table. He shares how his background shaped the way he protects his own kid online, what parents can expect from his online community, and the one change that can make the biggest difference in your family's digital safety.Connect with Ben:On his websiteInstagramTikTokResources mentioned in this episode:How to Set Up Roblox Parental ControlsRoblox App ReviewThe Top 5 Hidden Dangers of RobloxWhy Parents Are Banning RobloxBen's meditation app, BeingNCMEC and the Cyber TipLineStories discussed in this episode:Jordan DeMay, sextortionAdam Raine, ChatGPT and suicide764 Group
Heather Dubrow, star of The Real Housewives of Orange County and mom of four, joins us to share her real-life wisdom on raising kids in the digital age. From screen time struggles to teaching inclusivity, this episode is full of honesty, perspective, and a little Housewives flair.
Parenting a child with mental health challenges can feel isolating, but support is out there. Casie Fiorello from Other Parents Like Me shares her experiences, practical resources, and advice to help families navigate these challenges with confidence and community.Learn more about Other Parents Like Me.
Kim Gravel gets real about parenting in an always-connected world. She shares how she talks to her kids about online safety, balances social media and privacy, and uses tools like Bark to help protect her family.Resources in this episode:Check out Kim's websiteConnect with Kim on InstagramTune into Kim's podcast"Delay is the way" with Protect Young Eyes
Kids and tech collided in big ways in 2025 — from viral slang taking over classrooms to major online safety laws reshaping the internet. We’re breaking down the moments that mattered and what they mean for your kid’s digital world.Discussed in this episode:Australia's social media ban and how our friends from Parenting in a Tech World, the Facebook group, are feeling about itJonathan Haidt's The Anxious GenerationKids Online Safety ActAll things SLANG:Algospeak6-7 trendBark's slang guideBark's emoji guideBark's sexual slang guideOur predictions for 2026 ????More about the Disney/Sora announcement and AI sycophancy
Sexual abuse prevention expert and safety educator Kimberly King shares how parents can have meaningful conversations about body safety and boundaries with their kids. We also dive into her resources for families and the podcast she created to empower moms and protect kids.Make sure to get your own copies of I Said No! and Body Safety for Young Children: Empowering Caring Adults.Connect with Kimberly on Instagram and check out her website!Additional resources:Body Boss Bootcamp for kids9 Red Flags to Spot GroomingBook a Family Safety Consultation with Kimberly
Jenny McCarthy is a New York Times bestselling author, actress, and television host known for her humor, honesty, and passion for family life. A proud mom herself, she’s been a longtime advocate for open conversations about parenting, health, and the challenges of raising kids today. In this episode, Jenny joins us to talk about technology, connection, and what it really means to protect and empower kids in the digital age.
What if online safety lessons actually worked? In this episode, you’ll go behind the scenes with Bark’s Connected Communities team to see how they’re helping 4th- and 5th-graders build healthy tech habits that last.Learn more about the Connected Communities program and bring it to your school!
Before your kids power on their new holiday devices, set them up for safe, responsible use. We’ll cover the simple steps and settings that make a big difference.Join the Parenting in a Tech World Facebook group to connect with other like-minded parents: https://info.bark.us/join-pitwCheck out all of our tech guides when setting up new tech for your kids! https://www.bark.us/tech-guides/
Licensed counselor and mom Tessa Stuckey joins us to share a grounded, compassionate look at what it really takes to raise emotionally healthy kids in a hyper-connected world. From how screens affect mental health to having hard conversations, we discuss different ways parents can build digital resilience in kids.Connect with Tessa:InstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInVisit Tessa's sites:https://www.tessastuckey.com/http://www.projectlkup.org/Order Tessa's book: https://www.tessastuckey.com/order-book
Teens are getting creative when it comes to hiding content on their phones. From vault apps that look like calculators to hidden photo folders, it can be hard for parents to know what's really going on. In this episode, we break down why kids use them and how parents can stay informed without breaking trust.Learn more about vault apps: https://www.bark.us/blog/find-hidden-apps/Join Parenting in a Tech World: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119842088645840
This episode was recorded live at Bark Week at the Cliff House in Maine with our CEO, Brian Bason, and CTO, Brandon Hilkert. We looked back on Bark’s journey from a small startup to where we are today, helping protect millions of families across the country.
After losing their son and brother, Jack, to suicide, John and Rick Padilla transformed heartbreak into advocacy. In this moving conversation, they share how their work — from Mountain in My Mind to legal reform — is creating hope and healing for families everywhere.Learn more about Mountain in My Mind and follow John on social:InstagramYouTubeResources mentioned in this episode:Childhood 2.0 DocumentaryJudi's House (for those local to Denver)Connect with Rick via email: richardl.padilla@gmail.com
Raising kids in the digital age isn’t easy, but Sage Haven is making it a little kinder. Founders (and sisters!) Anne and Kate share how their messaging app helps parents guide healthy online conversations while keeping kids safer.Sage Haven is the first messaging app designed to address online bullying head-on with AI moderation that is designed to block harmful messages before they are sent and nudge kids towards kindness. It also allows parents to approve every contact and monitor their child’s messages directly from their own phones, with the support of AI-powered alerts and conversation recaps. Sage Haven is thoughtfully designed for a child’s early messaging years, with built-in flexibility to gradually scale back supervision as they grow and gain independence.Learn more at www.sagehavenforkids.com and www.sageparents.org and follow Kate and Anne’s journey on the Sage Sisters Podcast.Links:Download the Sage Haven appGet the Sage Parents Free Kids & Tech GuidebookFollow Anne and Kate on social:Sage ParentsSage Haven for KidsSage Sisters PodcastSage Parents on Facebook
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