The Screenagers Podcast

Join Delaney Ruston, MD, a leading authority on parenting in the digital age and the filmmaker of the award-winning Screenagers movies, as she explores strategies for raising screen-wise and tech-balanced youth. Through interviews with researchers, thought leaders, and young people themselves, the Screenagers Podcast delivers the latest in science along with practical tips and important insights that parents will want to share with their kids and teens.

Episode 1: TikTok’s Allure and How Two Teens Cut Back

Time on TikTok has been skyrocketing. Why is it attracting such huge numbers of teens? What positives can happen on the app, and what are some of the risks? The sheer amount of time it consumes is what most young people say is TikTok’s biggest downside. On today’s show, Dr. Delaney Ruston speaks with two teenagers, Marie and Manisha, who answer these questions and others. Delaney puts on her metaphorical doctor’s coat when both girls share that they want to change their behavior on TikTok. Delaney helps them decide a plan of action, and then we flash forward to hear how they did with their goals. 

Episode 2: Brain Biology and Preventing Excessive Video Gaming
Why do some kids and teens get overly frustrated and bored when it’s time to turn off their video games? How to know when game playing has become excessive? What are tips that all families should know for ensuring healthy videogame play? In today’s episode, Physician Delaney Ruston explores these issues along with a new model of brain biology to help explain irritability and boredom associated with video gaming. We hear from teens along with psychiatrist Dr. Clifford Sussman, who specializes in helping young people regain tech balance. We also hear from Andrew Fulton, who was in the film Screenagers when he was getting treatment at an internet rehab center, and is now working at the same center helping others recover from videogame overuse. Go here or anywhere you listen to your podcasts to download Screenagers Podcast.

Prevent COVID-19 and Save Lives

As the summer approaches and COVID cases are dropping, people are beginning to ease social distancing and other protective measures. Westchester Youth Congress created this video to remind everyone that despite the dropping cases in New York, we have to remain vigilant and continue to prevent spreading the virus. States like Texas and Florida which eased regulations and opened back up, ended up spreading the virus further.

We have to come together as a community and work together to defeat this virus. Listen to the doctors, nurses and members of your community who urge everyone to take preventative measures. Practice social distancing, wear a mask, get tested, and save the lives of the people you love.
Project Leaders: Avik Agarwal, Samika Agarwal, Jeremy Morton, Jake Ourman
Testimony Collectors: Jake Ourman, Samika Agarwal, Waverly Magnum
Video Editor: Avik Agarwal