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May 2025
43m 21s

Digital Heroin and the Battle for Our Ch...

Institute of Child Psychology
About this episode


What are screens really doing to our kids’ brains—and what can we do about it? In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, bestselling author of Glow Kids, to unpack the neurological, emotional, and social toll of growing up in a screen-saturated world. From the dopamine feedback loops of gaming and social media to the subtle ways technology reshapes attention, identity, and development, Dr. Kardaras doesn’t hold back. Whether your child is just starting out with tech or already deep in digital dependence, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and concrete strategies.


Dr. Kardaras is an Ivy League educated psychologist, one of the country’s foremost addiction and mental health experts and bestselling author.. A former clinical professor at Stony Brook Medicine, he’s developed treatment programs all over the country, has written for TIME Magazine, Scientific American, Salon and Psychology Today, and has appeared on Good Morning America, ABC's 20/20, CNN, the CBS Evening News, PBS, NPR, FOX & Friends and in Esquire and Vanity Fair. He lives in Sag Harbor, NY with his wife and twin sons. Find out more here


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"We would not give our kids keys to a car without preparation. Why should we do this with phones? "- Jessica Alexander

Every family should have a set of Jessica's incredible conversation cards: Raising Digital Citizens! Comprehensive and fun- the cards cover all of the essential conversations to have with your child before you hand over their first phone ( and many families continue to use the cards for long after too) ! Click here for more


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