In a world where 95% of teens own a smartphone and many are online “almost constantly,” how do we protect the health and innocence of our kids in today’s digital age?
In a compelling interview on the Lou Desmond & Company Show, Katie Longhauser—mom of three, founder of Screen Guardians, and leader at Kids Digital Health Hub—joined Dr. Currie Myers to discuss something every parent feels, but few talk about openly: the invisible dangers of raising kids with too much screen exposure and too little digital protection.
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👩👧👦 Katie’s Journey: From Personal Pain to Public Advocacy
Katie’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. After learning her twin sister was sexually abused by a coach—a reality that didn’t surface until years later—Katie’s life trajectory changed. What began as deep personal tragedy has since ignited a mission grounded in faith, healing, and advocacy.
She describes her entry into this work as “a call from God.” Now, through Kids Digital Health Hub and her podcast Screen Guardians, Katie is equipping parents with the tools, conversations, and mindset shifts needed to help keep kids safe, mentally healthy, and digitally aware in a screen-dominated world.
💡 Key Takeaways from the Interview
- We’re Just Getting Started: The digital world is still evolving. Parents don’t have to be tech geniuses, but they do need awareness and a proactive approach.
- Digital Habits = Health Habits: Katie draws a direct line between screen time and child mental health, boundary-setting, and even sleep quality.
- Parental Control Isn’t the Goal—Connection Is: Rather than relying solely on monitoring apps, Katie encourages consistent conversations, emotional presence, and modeling healthy digital behavior.
- Policy & Prevention Go Hand in Hand: Katie doesn’t stop at the home front—her work is also pushing for policy changes to better protect kids at the state level.
🛠 Practical Tools from Katie
Katie and her team at the Kids Digital Health Hub offer resources that go beyond screen limits—they empower parents to:
- Have effective, non-fear-based conversations with their kids about online safety.
- Recognize the warning signs of digital addiction or grooming.
- Replace digital time with meaningful offline alternatives that support family connection.
💬 Final Thoughts
Katie reminds us that we’re not powerless—far from it. By taking small, consistent actions, parents can reclaim control of their homes and bring joy, safety, and presence back into childhood.
As Katie says: “We’re raising digital citizens, yes—but first and foremost, we’re raising humans.”
📺 Catch the Interview: Listen or Read Full Interview with Katie Longhauser
