In recent days, Instagram has launched a range of new features designed to protect teens who are using the platform. Today we revisit this episode of the Screenagers podcast where Dr. Ruston spoke with three teen girls from middle school, high school, and college about their experiences, both good and bad, with Instagram.

They discuss why they joined the platform, how they use it, and the types of content they see, including ads and influencer posts. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of social media, including issues of comparison, curated posts, and the prevalence of ads. In addition, they touch on issues of subliminal messaging and the risks and benefits of posting about one’s true emotional state. This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Time Code

00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

01:20 Meet the Teen Guests

02:31 First Impressions of Instagram

04:54 The Allure and Pitfalls of Instagram

09:16 Ads and Influencers: A Deep Dive

13:10 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

22:35 Likes, Comments, and Posting Etiquette

27:18 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, physician/filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston gives some parenting highlights from her new movie Screenagers: Elementary School Edition. Key topics include handling meltdowns during screen time transitions, promoting open communication around social media, and mitigating the negative impacts of violent media. Practical parenting strategies and the importance of active mediation are emphasized, alongside insights from child psychologist Lizz Dexter-Mazza, PsyD, and media researcher and psychologist Doug Gentile, PhD.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote

00:49 Meet Delaney Rustin and Screenagers

00:57 Overview of Screenagers Elementary School Edition

01:49 Parenting Solutions for Screen Time Meltdowns

02:08 Understanding and Managing Meltdowns

03:37 The Importance of Consistency

04:33 Seeking Help for Persistent Issues

04:52 Safety First: Encouraging Open Communication

07:31 Active Mediation vs. Co-Viewing

10:48 Motivational Interviewing with Teens

11:43 Conclusion and Additional Resources

There was JUUL. Now there is ZYN. Big Tobacco is continuing to make its business model addiction, and its customer base teens and young adults.

In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Dr. Robert Jackler, an expert on how Big Tobacco targets teens with slick and deceptive advertising and misleading products.

Dr. Jackler, a professor at Stanford, talks about ZYN, the small flavored nicotine pouches that are going viral on social media. Created as a so-called safer means of harm reduction for vapes and cigarettes, ZYN packs a powerful punch of nicotine, making them just as harmful.

Dr. Jackler, who conducted research on pouch nicotine for the World Health Organization, shares how ZYN is being deceptively marketed to teens, how they lead to nicotine addiction, and what parents and teens can do to help those who are hooked.

This episode is intended for adult and youth audiences.

Featured Expert

Dr. Robert Jackler

Research References

Stanford Research into The Impact of Tobacco Advertisin

Additional Links

Quit The Hit

Hope Lab

UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education

Truth Initiative: This Is Quitting

Time Code

00:00 The Rise of Nicotine Addiction

00:28 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast

00:45 Expert Insights with Dr. Robert Jackler

01:10 The Dangers of Nicotine Pouches

03:07 Tobacco Industry Tactics

06:16 Marketing Strategies Targeting Teens

09:14 Flavors and Their Appeal

14:16 Quitting Nicotine: Strategies and Support

17:42 Conclusion and Resources