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The Ultimate Digital Parenthood Gift Guide
A note from Aura's Chief Medical Officer, DrScott As a parent, I love my kids more than anything. And I know you do, too. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard to be a parent sometimes! I think that's a pretty universal feeling around the world and even through time. If I had a way to transport myself back to the middle ages, I bet I'd find some parents to commiserate with (even though our parenting challenges would certainly be different!) This decade might be the hardest time ever to be a parent, though. According to an advisory issued by the Surgeon General , a whopping 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming (compared to 26% among other adults.) There's so much to worry about: online safety, offline safety, health, balancing remote school and remote work…the list goes on. And it gets even more difficult during the holidays! It feels like kids are talking about new tech every five minutes these days—and revising their gift lists just as fast. Heck, there's even an AI Santa Claus that can have a conversation with your kids. (Is that even safe? We're still trying to decide!) So we, in collaboration with several of our DigitalParenthood experts, wanted to do whatever we could to make your holiday season easier. As a parent, you need community, support, and resources to help you create safe online and offline environments for your kids. This gift guide serves as the latter—and our community of supportive parents and experts is always open to you at DigitalParenthood.com. Wishing you a happy, peaceful holiday season. Download your copy below ⬇️Ask Me Anything: TECHWISE with Dr. Scott Kollins
We’ve all heard the buzz about device use and social media impacting our kids' wellness and mental health. Despite the research and news reports, experts are still working to determine whether this digital world is helpful, harmful, or both. That’s why we’re launching a study to explore how kids' digital habits, including social media and online games, connect to their mental wellness, physical activity, and sleep. Hear more about this important research and how you can get involved by joining our event! To join the study, visit aura.com/techwise When: January 30, 2024, 1pm-2pm EST Where: RSVP to the remote live event here!What’s Keeping Me Up: Sextortion
The Scoop: Sextortion is a disturbing phenomenon that has escalated in the digital age, impacting countless young lives. It involves coercing individuals, often children, into providing explicit images or engaging in other sexual activities online, and then threatening exposure. Predators prey on the vulnerabilities of young people, using their fears and insecurities to manipulate them into compliance. According to the FBI, reports of financially motivated sextortion involving minors increased at least 20% from October 2022 to March 2023. The Big Picture: It’s not always a creepy online stranger upfront—often, these predators pose as friendly peers who just want to chat. As both a clinician and a father, the growing prevalence of this form of exploitation deeply troubles me. The science behind sextortion reveals a complex interplay of psychological manipulation and digital threats. Studies show that victims often experience severe emotional and psychological distress, which can have lasting effects on their mental health. Unfortunately, there are no foolproof ways to completely avoid becoming a target. Even if a teen refuses to send explicit images, predators can steal photos from social media and create fake explicit content with new technologies, like deepfakes, to use as leverage. My Advice: Have open and frequent conversations with your children about online safety from the moment they start using the internet. This should include age-appropriate discussions about sextortion. It's important to approach these talks without shame or judgment, focusing instead on educating your child about the risks of online interactions and image-sharing. ‘The Talk’ once centered around physical health, consent and relationships. Today, it also encompasses issues related to digital interactions, like sexting, online privacy, and the risks of exploitation and manipulation. Don’t wait to have it. If you or someone you know is being sexually exploited online, report it to the CyberTipline operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, or contact them directly at contactgethelp@ncmec.org or 1-800-THE-LOST. For international assistance, use the InHope hotline directory to find your local hotline.What's Keeping Me Up: The Roblox Report🎥
Hey all, Dr. Scott here! The media was abuzz this week with the news of a report released by short-selling investigative firm Hindenburg Research. The report claims that Roblox is a "pedophile hellscape for kids." As the father of two gamers, this concerns me, so I sat down with them to get their thoughts. Hear what we have to say at the video below, and sound off in the comments on what you think of the latest report. Will this change any rules you have with your kids as it relates to time spent on Roblox?
A warm welcome to our newest community members!
We’re thrilled to welcome our new members this week! Whether you're here to find support, share experiences, or learn new strategies for navigating the challenges of raising kids in the digital age, you've come to the right place. To get you started, here are a few tips and resources to help you make the most of our community: 📝 Introduce Yourself! We’d love to get to know you better. Share a bit about yourself and your family in the comments of this post: Where are you from? How many kids do you have and what are their ages? *Please make sure you follow our policies around protecting the privacy of minors by not sharing identifying details (full name, address, etc) or full face photos to ensure everyone's safety. Read our Community Guidelines here. What’s one thing you hope to gain from this community? 📚 Explore Our Resources Here are some must-read posts and resources to help you get started: Clinical Office Hours with kids and technology experts Dr. Scott and Dr. Jessica Ask an Expert your questions about navigating all things related to raising a connected generation Find articles related to cyberbullying, cyber crimes, internet safety and more We’re so glad to have you here. If you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out. Welcome to the Digital Parenthood community!How to Support Your Child If They’re Being Cyberbullied 🎥
Now that kids can access friends and their classmates from virtually anywhere, what do you do if bullies are behind the screen? In this week’s episode of the Digital Parenthood Digest, our experts discuss how to support your child if they’re being cyberbullied.
