In a world that’s increasingly dominated by screens, social media, and digital distractions, our children are growing up facing challenges that didn’t exist just a generation ago. At the Kids Digital Health Hub, we’re committed to helping families understand these challenges — and most importantly — how to protect and support children as they grow up in a digital world.
In a recent episode of the Screen Guardians podcast, host Katie sat down with Kat Kaplan, a school counselor working primarily with fifth through eighth-grade students, to dig deep into the effects of digital exposure on children’s mental health.
Here’s what we learned from Kat — someone who is truly on the front lines of this growing issue.
Table of Contents
Meet Kat Kaplan: Helping Kids Navigate School & Screens
Kat began her career as a middle school teacher before earning her master’s in counseling psychology. With a diverse background spanning private practice, inpatient psychiatric care, and public schools, Kat brings a unique and informed perspective to her counseling work. She currently focuses on middle schoolers — a critical age for identity formation and emotional development.📞
The #1 Issue in Schools Today: Anxiety
Kat didn’t hesitate when asked about the most pressing issue she sees in students: anxiety. While pressures around academics and friendships are nothing new for tweens and teens, today’s kids are overwhelmed by a new kind of stressor — the internet.😰
What’s Driving Anxiety?
- Exposure to traumatic or inappropriate content: Shows, YouTube videos, and ads that aren’t age-appropriate can cause guilt, anxiety, or confusion.
- Constant comparison: Social media encourages kids to compare themselves to others — real or fictional — leading to self-doubt and negative body image.
- Desire for material things: Ads and influencer content create dissatisfaction and “fear of missing out.”
- Performance stress: Inability to escape from academic expectations, especially if screen time disrupts sleep or concentration.
As Kat puts it:
“The internet is limitless, and that means the problems are limitless.”
It’s Not Just Social Media
While apps like Instagram and Snapchat get most of the blame, Kat points out that platforms like Netflix and YouTube often portray unrealistic adult-like behavior in teen bodies, failing to reflect appropriate messaging for the middle school audience. This skewed content creates real confusion for young viewers trying to interpret the world around them.📺
What Does Anxiety Look Like in Kids?
💡 Anxiety doesn’t always look like what adults expect. Here’s how it often shows up:
In Younger Kids:
- Stomachaches or headaches, especially during certain subjects (like math)
- Visits to the nurse at the same time each day
- Difficulty sleeping
In Preteens & Teens:
- Boys more often display physical symptoms: sweaty palms, shaking, shallow breathing
- Girls often internalize: racing thoughts, self-doubt, comparing themselves to others
- Increased avoidance, irritability, or checking out from school and social dynamics
Supporting Kids Through Anxiety
Kat’s approach is simple but powerful: ask what the child needs in that moment.
- Do they want to vent?
- Do they need a distraction or break?
- Are they ready for strategies and solutions?
It’s about being present. Sometimes that means solving a problem. Other times, it means just doing a puzzle together to de-stress.🧠
The Hidden Culprit: Sleep & Screens
Kat emphasizes the huge impact of screen use on sleep. 🛌 Especially in ages 11–13, a teen’s natural melatonin production starts later at night. Combine that with blue light from devices, and it’s no wonder kids are saying, “I just can’t fall asleep.”
Screens in bedrooms = sleep disruption = increased anxiety.
Parents, take note: One of the best first steps to reduce anxiety and improve mental wellness is removing screens from bedrooms at night.
Look at the Whole Child
When a child comes to Kat with anxiety symptoms, she assesses them holistically:
- Are they sleeping?
- Are they eating regularly? 🍽️
- Do they have “their people”?
Social connection is powerful — when kids feel socially disconnected, anxiety almost always surfaces.
Exposure to Inappropriate Content Is Happening
The average age of first exposure to pornography is now 10 years old.📵
Let that sink in.
Much of it is unintentional — just a YouTube video or news pop-up. But the emotional impact? Very real.
“The question is no longer if your child will be exposed to pornography. It’s when.”
🧡 How to Talk About Pornography & Inappropriate Content
Kat encourages a proactive script:
“When” (not “if”) you see something inappropriate on your device, I want you to know — you can talk to me. You won’t be in trouble.”
Doing this reduces the shame — the primary emotion preventing kids from speaking up.
When a child has seen inappropriate content, stay calm. Approach with curiosity, not punishment.
Use open-ended questions:
- “Can you tell me about what you saw?”
- “Do you want my help, or do you just want to talk about it?”
Then, move into education:
- Explain why content like pornography is harmful.
- Talk about concepts like consent, mutual respect in relationships, and media vs. reality.
- Explain the science behind dopamine and addiction — especially how screens and pornography can hijack the brain’s reward center.
Related Article: Exposed: The Hidden Link Between Pornography and Sex Trafficking
📱 Devices Make Parenting Harder — Period.
Kat’s biggest piece of advice?
“When you introduce screens, the hard parts of parenting become harder.”
- More to monitor
- More conversations to initiate
- More exposure risks
Yes, devices allow connectivity and convenience — but it all comes at a cost.
👫 Social Impacts of Screens
Has your child complained that their friend is “boring” on a playdate now that they got a phone? You’re not alone. Kat says she hears this all the time.
Screens are changing the way kids engage with each other.
As parents, we need to:
- Encourage screen-free playdates
- Set expectations before visiting friends
- Collect phones at gatherings (with open communication to other parents!)
Be Smart About Online “Friends”
A simple but crucial tip: Review your child’s followers and contacts regularly.🔐
If they can’t say a full name and how they know the person in real life — that account doesn’t belong on their list. This is a simple, powerful way to reduce exposure to online predators.
Related Article: How to Shield Your Kids From Sextortion Risks Online
Final Thoughts for Parents
You are not alone.👨👩👧
Raising kids in the digital age is unprecedented — we’re all learning together. But this is what matters most:
Key Reminders:
- Delay devices as long as possible.
- Talk early and often about digital content and exposure.
- Remove shame from the conversation.
- Be curious, not reactive.
- Protect friendships and play. Childhood is not something we can redo.
🎙️ “Yes, screens stimulate. But at what cost?” — Kat Kaplan
📚 Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
- Good Pictures Bad Pictures (book)
- Screen Sanity (organization)
- Common Sense Media (media rating & education)
For more conversations like this, check out the Screen Guardians Podcast. Want to connect with Kat or ask a question? Send us a message here!
Let’s protect kids. Let’s restore childhood. Let’s be screen guardians — together.
Thank you for reading, and thank you, Kat Kaplan, for your courageous work with kids.
