How can I help my family and myself become tech-intentional?

How can I help my family and myself become tech-intentional?

From INSPINAR by Dr. Nidhi Gupta

February 13, 2026 · 25 min · Season 1 · Episode 35

About this episode

The episode discusses how families can become tech-intentional and manage screen time effectively.

1. What does it really mean to be tech-intentional ? 2. Why I do not rely on parental controls? 3. Practical ways parents can prevent screen-time meltdowns. 4. Are smartphones and smartwatches actually making kids safer? 5. The real risks of smartphones and social media. 6. When should kids get a phone? 7. What should parents know about tech use for school? About Emily Cherkin A former middle school English teacher and parent of two, Emily Cherkin, MEd., The Screentime Consultant, witnessed the simultaneous rise of technology use for school, and smartphone and social media use for kids. Today, Emily consults with parents, offers school presentations and professional development training, and writes about parenting and screentime to bring her tech-intentional approach to as many people as possible. Emily is also a co-founder of The Student Data Privacy Project, an activism group dedicated to pushing back on excessive EdTech and screens in schools. Emily's book "The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family" is an Amazon bestseller and available everywhere books are sold.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Nidhi Gupta

Guest: Emily Cherkin

Topics covered

  • tech-intentionality
  • parenting
  • screen time management
  • children and technology
  • smartphone safety
  • social media risks

Keywords

  • tech-intentional
  • parental controls
  • screen-time meltdowns
  • smartphones
  • social media risks
  • children's technology use
  • parenting advice

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Student Data Privacy Project

Books & works: The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family

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