Is your teen being “red-pilled?”

Anybody else part of the 3am club? Not to brag but it’s like super exclusive. You have to be over 40, exhausted every kind of sleep remedy in the game and constantly juggling nonsensical worries and anxieties! It’s a super chill hang! 

Parenting kids in the digital age is overwhelming to say the least. That’s why we made a guide as parents — for parents — trying to navigate a world no one prepared us for. This isn’t just about screen time. It’s about understanding what’s really happening on your child’s phone and what you can actually do about it. Check out our Screen Sense guide today! 

Helping Your Teen Take A Tech Break

We all need a break from screens. Especially our teens, given how impressionable they are at this stage in their lives. And it’s up to us to encourage some balance! First thing’s first, we have to practice what we preach. If we’re going to urge our teens to be on their phones less, we have to do the same! That can also come in the form of creating “phone-free” zones in the house. Maybe it’s at the kitchen table for family meals or in the living room for game night. Wherever it is, make it a hard and fast rule and stay consistent! On top of that, you can also suggest tech-free family activities: hiking, movie night (there’s some tech involved but we’ll allow it!), cooking/baking and anything else that encourages your family to put down the screens and enjoy each other’s company. 😄

For more tips on how to encourage your teens to take a break from tech, click here! 

How to Know If Your Kid is Being “Red Pilled”

If you’re not a movie buff, allow us to explain.  In the 1999 movie The Matrix, the protagonist is faced with a choice: take the red pill, which would enable him to understand life-changing truths. Or take the blue pill and live in blissful ignorance. Hence the term “red-pilled.” While it might not seem nefarious on the surface, it’s a phrase that’s been co-opted by misogynistic and just generally problematic groups. And their messaging is being spread online to teens, specifically our boys. One mom on TikTok shared that her middle schooler was using subtle “red-pilled” language by saying things like, “Femboys are weird”, a sentiment that shocked her because her son had always been open-minded and inclusive. 

Another thing to look out for is if your teen starts referencing the “80/20” rule, a theory that claims 80 percent of women are only attracted to the “top 20 percent” of men. This “theory” is one that some men use to blame women for sexual and romantic rejection. In other words: the male loneliness epidemic can be attributed to women being too picky. This is deeply troubling rhetoric. So as always, stay on top of what your kid is doing online, especially on YouTube! 

Teen Sports and Screen Time

Flag on the play (sorry, we had to)! High school coaches report that it takes around 20 minutes to re-engage athletes mentally when they use their phones before a game. That’s a lot of time! Athletes and coaches alike know that every minute of the game is precious. Now, we realize sports are not the most important thing in the world. They’re supposed to be fun (and maybe build some character/camaraderie along the way)! But it’s important for our teens that they are fully present when they’re engaging in physical activity that helps them release endorphins. 

The truth is that kids (and some adults!) have a hard time self-regulating with tech. Parents, coaches and teachers have to guide them. Our Screen Sense guide offers insight into how to balance tech use, mental toughness and even athletic growth. Check it out!

Who To Follow: Positive Influencers For Teens

Social media isn’t all doom and gloom. There are some huge positives that can come from it, especially for teens! We’ve decided to highlight one account per week that we think teens could benefit from following! 

If our teen girls insist on being on social media (we don’t have much of a leg to stand on here 😬), let’s do our best to make sure they’re following people who make them feel about themselves. Enter Tiffany Ima! Tiffany is a self-love and body positive advocate who consistently puts out empowering and honest content about body image. She shows women and girls how to embrace who they are and feel confident in their own skin. We could all use more of that!