Helping Teens Balance Digital Lives with Sarah Brooks | 181

Host: What are ways that adults can help teens balance their digital lives? We are back once again with Sarah Brooks—a friend of the show, longtime volunteer, and Teen Life board member. When we talk about digital media and teens, it can get dark and doom-and-gloom fast. So let’s start with the positives. From your perspective, what are some good things that social media and digital life bring to teens?

Sarah: I’ve been in the digital space for about 15 years, and when I first started, I had a long list of positives. Over time that list has gotten shorter. Even when I see positives, the negative side grows stronger. But yes, there are still a few.

Connection is huge, especially for kids who find it hard to connect face-to-face. A teen with a specific hobby or unique skills can find others around the world who share that interest without the pressure of in-person interaction. That will always be a positive. The downside is that we’re now so over-connected that we don’t know how to unplug.

Creativity is another benefit. Teens can create music, art, and content in ways that were impossible before. But many start to see themselves as a brand. They feel pressure to maintain a certain image and “top” their last post. Humans weren’t meant to have an aesthetic, and that constant pressure can take the fun out of being creative.

Host: It’s like how a fun hobby quickly turns into something you have to monetize.

Sarah: Exactly. We rarely do things just for fun anymore.

Host: On the flip side, what are the most concerning patterns you see with teens and digital life?

Sarah: The physiological and neurological addiction. The dopamine hit is real. When devices are taken away, many kids show actual withdrawal symptoms. We also have clear data now showing how constant screen time harms mental health.

Attention spans are shrinking. Teens are used to highlights and quick takes instead of deep engagement. And there’s a troubling desensitization. We can scroll past a violent video and then straight to a cookie recipe. We weren’t designed to carry the weight of the entire world in our pocket, but that’s what’s happening.

Another concern is how life itself becomes content. We shortchange real relationships because we’re busy sharing every moment online.

Host: So what can parents, mentors, and schools do to help?

Sarah: First, remember there’s no magic fix. Taking a phone away without addressing habits creates other problems. Kids need to be equipped to be bored and to live an “analog” life.

It starts with adults. Model what you want to see. Let kids watch you unplug. For example, I do “screen-free Fridays” where I put my phone away the entire day. Maybe that’s extreme, but even simple steps like leaving your phone in the car during family outings or keeping dinner a phone-free zone make an impact.

Invite teens into the conversation. Ask what a healthy screen rhythm looks like to them. When they help set boundaries, they’re more likely to follow them. In my home, my kids suggested limiting gaming to a few times a week depending on the weather—and because they chose it, they stick to it.

There are helpful tools, like apps that temporarily disable phones, but real connection matters more than any filter.

I actually have hope. Many teens are already aware of the downsides and are choosing flip phones or limiting social media. Technology is an incredible tool, but it should serve us, not the other way around.

Host: That’s a great reminder. We’re all still in the early years of figuring out how to live with this technology. Take it one day at a time, model balance, and involve teens in the process.

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Teen Life Podcast – Helping Teens Balance Their Digital Lives

Host: What are ways that adults can help teens balance their digital lives? We are back once again with Sarah Brooks—a friend of the show, longtime volunteer, and Teen Life board member. When we talk about digital media and teens, it can get dark and doom-and-gloom fast. So let’s start with the positives. From your perspective, what are some good things that social media and digital life bring to teens?

Sarah: I’ve been in the digital space for about 15 years, and when I first started, I had a long list of positives. Over time that list has gotten shorter. Even when I see positives, the negative side grows stronger. But yes, there are still a few.

Connection is huge, especially for kids who find it hard to connect face-to-face. A teen with a specific hobby or unique skills can find others around the world who share that interest without the pressure of in-person interaction. That will always be a positive. The downside is that we’re now so over-connected that we don’t know how to unplug.

Creativity is another benefit. Teens can create music, art, and content in ways that were impossible before. But many start to see themselves as a brand. They feel pressure to maintain a certain image and “top” their last post. Humans weren’t meant to have an aesthetic, and that constant pressure can take the fun out of being creative.

Host: It’s like how a fun hobby quickly turns into something you have to monetize.

Sarah: Exactly. We rarely do things just for fun anymore.

Host: On the flip side, what are the most concerning patterns you see with teens and digital life?

Sarah: The physiological and neurological addiction. The dopamine hit is real. When devices are taken away, many kids show actual withdrawal symptoms. We also have clear data now showing how constant screen time harms mental health.

Attention spans are shrinking. Teens are used to highlights and quick takes instead of deep engagement. And there’s a troubling desensitization. We can scroll past a violent video and then straight to a cookie recipe. We weren’t designed to carry the weight of the entire world in our pocket, but that’s what’s happening.

Another concern is how life itself becomes content. We shortchange real relationships because we’re busy sharing every moment online.

Host: So what can parents, mentors, and schools do to help?

Sarah: First, remember there’s no magic fix. Taking a phone away without addressing habits creates other problems. Kids need to be equipped to be bored and to live an “analog” life.

It starts with adults. Model what you want to see. Let kids watch you unplug. For example, I do “screen-free Fridays” where I put my phone away the entire day. Maybe that’s extreme, but even simple steps like leaving your phone in the car during family outings or keeping dinner a phone-free zone make an impact.

Invite teens into the conversation. Ask what a healthy screen rhythm looks like to them. When they help set boundaries, they’re more likely to follow them. In my home, my kids suggested limiting gaming to a few times a week depending on the weather—and because they chose it, they stick to it.

There are helpful tools, like apps that temporarily disable phones, but real connection matters more than any filter.

I actually have hope. Many teens are already aware of the downsides and are choosing flip phones or limiting social media. Technology is an incredible tool, but it should serve us, not the other way around.

Host: That’s a great reminder. We’re all still in the early years of figuring out how to live with this technology. Take it one day at a time, model balance, and involve teens in the process.

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to the Teen Life Podcast on your favorite platform or watch on YouTube. Have a question for a future episode? Email us at podcasts@teenlife.ngo
.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next time.