331. Should Kids Have Smartphones? Rethinking Screens, Social Media, and Teens | Clare Morell, Author of The Tech Exit

331. Should Kids Have Smartphones? Rethinking Screens, Social Media, and Teens | Clare Morell, Author of The Tech Exit

From Simple Farmhouse Life by Lisa Bass

March 10, 2026 · 58 min · Episode 331

About this episode

In this episode, Clare Morell discusses the impact of smartphones and social media on children and offers practical advice for families on managing technology use.

Smartphones, social media, and interactive screens are something many parents today are thinking carefully about, especially when it comes to their kids. In this episode, I’m joined by Clare Morrell to talk about what the research shows regarding how these technologies affect developing brains and family life. We discuss practical ways families can approach technology differently, from trying a 30-day tech detox to delaying smartphones and modeling healthier phone habits as parents. If you’re looking for thoughtful perspective and practical ideas for navigating screens in your home, this conversation will be the encouragement you need! In this episode, we cover: - Why smartphones and social media apps are intentionally designed to capture kids’ time, attention, and data - The brain science behind dopamine hits and why interactive screens are uniquely addictive for children - Why even short amounts of screen time can affect kids’ mood, focus, and behavior throughout the day - The surprising limitations of parental controls and why they rarely give parents real oversight - Distinguishing between passive technology (like watching a movie) and highly stimulating interactive media…

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