S3 EP12 - SEL Summer Camp Week 2: Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of screens on middle school students and features an interview with developmental scientist Jason Kahn.

💜☂️ Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain | SEL Summer Camp Week 2 Why do kids seem glued to their phones? Why do texts, group chats, likes, and social media feel so important during middle school? And are screens really harming kids—or is the answer more complicated than that? In Week 2 of our SEL Summer Camp collaboration with Mightier , Suzanne Swain, EdS, LMSW sits down with developmental scientist Jason Kahn, PhD , co-founder of Mightier, to explore what brain science actually tells us about technology, screen time, dopamine, emotional regulation, social media, friendships, and adolescent development. Together, we discuss: 🧠 The middle school brain and dopamine 📱 Why social media feels so powerful 🍰 The “Chocolate Cake Theory” of technology 💬 Why kids see phones differently than adults ❤️ The importance of belonging during adolescence 🎮 Healthy technology habits and screen balance 🌱 Boredom, creativity, and imagination 🏕️ Family conversations that reduce conflict and build connection This episode helps parents, educators, counselors, and caregivers better understand how technology interacts with the developing adolescent…

People in this episode

Host: Suzanne Swain

Guest: Jason Kahn

Topics covered

• screens
• middle school
• social media
• developmental science
• dopamine
• parenting

Keywords

• screens
• middle school brain
• dopamine
• social media
• parenting
• SEL
• Mightier

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mightier, SEL Summer Camp

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