Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Technology has become an unavoidable part of modern life - but are we teaching children how to use it safely?
In this episode, Dr Ron Ehrlich speaks with physician and digital wellbeing researcher ๐๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ท๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฎ about the growing impact of smartphones, social media and AI on children's mental health, sleep, learning and family relationships.
Drawing from two decades in medicine and her own experience as a parent, Dr Setia explains why education - not fear - is the key to helping families build healthier digital habits. She shares practical strategies parents can start using today to strengthen family connections, improve sleep and guide children through an increasingly digital world.
Time Stamp:
00:00 โ The Hidden Dangers of Social Media
01:47 โ Why Dr Sajita Pivoted to Digital Wellbeing
07:06 โ Technology: The Greatest Parenting Challenge
08:10 โ Why Education Beats Banning
12:13 โ Screen Time, Sleep & Mental Health
16:50 โ Parents Must Model Healthy Habits
20:27 โ AI: From Attention Economy to Attachment Economy
24:58 โ Boys vs Girls: Different Digital Risks
27:15 โ Practical Advice for Parents
31:30 โ What Schools & Governments Should Do
35:07 โ One Small Change Every Family Can Make
37:15 โ Final Thoughts
โ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ:
Dr Sajita Setia is a physician with more than 20 years of medical experience and a researcher specialising in ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ดโ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป'๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต.
Based in New Zealand, she works at the intersection of medicine, implementation science and education, helping families understand the health impacts of digital technology while developing healthier relationships with screens.
Her work includes:
โ Digital wellbeing research
โ Parent coaching
โ School wellbeing programmes
โ Workshops for educators and families
โ Training educational organisations
โ Research collaborations with universities and schools in New Zealand, India and the United States
โ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐โ๐น๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ
โ๏ธ Why digital wellbeing deserves the same attention as physical health
โ๏ธ How excessive screen time affects children's sleep and behaviour
โ๏ธ The relationship between social media and anxiety, depression and self-harm
โ๏ธ Why educating children works better than simply banning devices
โ๏ธ How AI is changing children's critical thinking and emotional development
โ๏ธ The importance of modelling healthy digital habits as parents
โ๏ธ Practical ways to improve family connection in a digital world
โ๏ธ Why keeping devices out of bedrooms can improve sleep and wellbeing
โ๏ธ The differences between boys' and girls' technology use
โ๏ธ How schools and governments can better support families navigating technology challenges
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ & ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐
Explore More Health & Wellness Solutions:
โ Visit Dr. Ron Ehrlichโs Website: drronehrlich.com
โ Podcast Archives, Q&As, and Expert Resources
๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฟ๏ฝก ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต
๐ Website: (drronehrlich.com)
๐ Facebook: (facebook.com/Doctor.Ron.Ehrlich)
๐ธ Instagram: (@drronehrlich)
๐ฆ Twitter: (/doctor.ron.ehrlich)
๐ถ LinkedIn: (/dr-ron-ehrlich/)
โถ๏ธ YouTube: (@doctorronehrlich)
๐ฅ TikTok: (@drronehrlich)
๐ง Spotify: (https://shorturl.at/JqK9h)
๐ฝ Omny: (https://omny.fm/shows/unstress-with-dr-ron-ehrlich)
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ: ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ
โ Australia (amzn.to/3Ug4iCK)
โ US (amzn.to/3Nlx3vR)
โ UK (amzn.to/3WgPUMx)
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ
โ Join Here (bit.ly/3epjFcO)
โ More Info (bit.ly/3RIubcN)
๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐น๐น ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐:
โ Apple Podcasts: (podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/unstress-with-dr-ron-ehrlich/id13337959190)
โ All Episodes: ( drronehrlich.com/podcasts/)
โ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
๐ Join the ๐๐ฏ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ community and transform stress into strength. Access expert-led courses, curated podcasts, live Q&As, and more. Visit unstresshealth.com to start your journey today.
๐ง Listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who may be struggling.
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ: This podcast provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. This content is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice or as a substitute for care by a qualified medical practitioner. If you or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately qualified medical practitioner. Guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, experiences and conclusions.
#DigitalWellbeing #Parenting #MentalHealth #ChildDevelopment #ScreenTime #SocialMedia #AI #HealthyFamilies #DigitalHealth #FamilyWellbeing #SleepHealth #Children #UnstressHealth #DrRonEhrlich #DigitalNutrition
Tags:
Dr Sajita Setia, Digital, Digital Health, Children's Mental Health, Parenting, Social Media Addiction, Screen Time, AI and Children, Healthy Parenting, Family Health, Sleep, Digital Detox, Technology Addiction, Child Psychology, Family Connection, Digital Nutrition, Holistic Health, Mental Wellbeing
Technology has become an unavoidable part of modern life - but are we teaching children how to use it safely?
In this episode, Dr Ron Ehrlich speaks with physician and digital wellbeing researcher ๐๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ท๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฎ about the growing impact of smartphones, social media and AI on children's mental health, sleep, learning and family relationships.
Drawing from two decades in medicine and her own experience as a parent, Dr Setia explains why education - not fear - is the key to helping families build healthier digital habits. She shares practical strategies parents can start using today to strengthen family connections, improve sleep and guide children through an increasingly digital world.
Time Stamp:
00:00 โ The Hidden Dangers of Social Media
01:47 โ Why Dr Sajita Pivoted to Digital Wellbeing
07:06 โ Technology: The Greatest Parenting Challenge
08:10 โ Why Education Beats Banning
12:13 โ Screen Time, Sleep & Mental Health
16:50 โ Parents Must Model Healthy Habits
20:27 โ AI: From Attention Economy to Attachment Economy
24:58 โ Boys vs Girls: Different Digital Risks
27:15 โ Practical Advice for Parents
31:30 โ What Schools & Governments Should Do
35:07 โ One Small Change Every Family Can Make
37:15 โ Final Thoughts
โ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ:
Dr Sajita Setia is a physician with more than 20 years of medical experience and a researcher specialising in ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ดโ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป'๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต.
Based in New Zealand, she works at the intersection of medicine, implementation science and education, helping families understand the health impacts of digital technology while developing healthier relationships with screens.
Her work includes:
โ Digital wellbeing research
โ Parent coaching
โ School wellbeing programmes
โ Workshops for educators and families
โ Training educational organisations
โ Research collaborations with universities and schools in New Zealand, India and the United States
โ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐โ๐น๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ
โ๏ธ Why digital wellbeing deserves the same attention as physical health
โ๏ธ How excessive screen time affects children's sleep and behaviour
โ๏ธ The relationship between social media and anxiety, depression and self-harm
โ๏ธ Why educating children works better than simply banning devices
โ๏ธ How AI is changing children's critical thinking and emotional development
โ๏ธ The importance of modelling healthy digital habits as parents
โ๏ธ Practical ways to improve family connection in a digital world
โ๏ธ Why keeping devices out of bedrooms can improve sleep and wellbeing
โ๏ธ The differences between boys' and girls' technology use
โ๏ธ How schools and governments can better support families navigating technology challenges
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ & ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐
Explore More Health & Wellness Solutions:
โ Visit Dr. Ron Ehrlichโs Website: drronehrlich.com
โ Podcast Archives, Q&As, and Expert Resources
๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฟ๏ฝก ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต
๐ Website: (drronehrlich.com)
๐ Facebook: (facebook.com/Doctor.Ron.Ehrlich)
๐ธ Instagram: (@drronehrlich)
๐ฆ Twitter: (/doctor.ron.ehrlich)
๐ถ LinkedIn: (/dr-ron-ehrlich/)
โถ๏ธ YouTube: (@doctorronehrlich)
๐ฅ TikTok: (@drronehrlich)
๐ง Spotify: (https://shorturl.at/JqK9h)
๐ฝ Omny: (https://omny.fm/shows/unstress-with-dr-ron-ehrlich)
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ: ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ
โ Australia (amzn.to/3Ug4iCK)
โ US (amzn.to/3Nlx3vR)
โ UK (amzn.to/3WgPUMx)
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ
โ Join Here (bit.ly/3epjFcO)
โ More Info (bit.ly/3RIubcN)
๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐น๐น ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐:
โ Apple Podcasts: (podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/unstress-with-dr-ron-ehrlich/id13337959190)
โ All Episodes: ( drronehrlich.com/podcasts/)
โ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
๐ Join the ๐๐ฏ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ community and transform stress into strength. Access expert-led courses, curated podcasts, live Q&As, and more. Visit unstresshealth.com to start your journey today.
๐ง Listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who may be struggling.
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ: This podcast provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. This content is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice or as a substitute for care by a qualified medical practitioner. If you or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately qualified medical practitioner. Guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, experiences and conclusions.
#DigitalWellbeing #Parenting #MentalHealth #ChildDevelopment #ScreenTime #SocialMedia #AI #HealthyFamilies #DigitalHealth #FamilyWellbeing #SleepHealth #Children #UnstressHealth #DrRonEhrlich #DigitalNutrition
Tags:
Dr Sajita Setia, Digital, Digital Health, Children's Mental Health, Parenting, Social Media Addiction, Screen Time, AI and Children, Healthy Parenting, Family Health, Sleep, Digital Detox, Technology Addiction, Child Psychology, Family Connection, Digital Nutrition, Holistic Health, Mental Wellbeing
