Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
What if your child’s digital habits are informed with your own? Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester, explores the growing body of research examining how caregivers' digital behaviors — from excessive screen time and "sharenting" to online health misinformation — can shape children's mental health, development and long-term well-being.
The conversation examines how children model the digital behaviors they observe, why oversharing online can have lasting consequences, how social media algorithms influence parents' health decisions, and practical strategies families can use to build healthier relationships with technology.
Featuring:
Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
00:00 Introduction
00:36 How Parents' Screen Time Affects Children's Mental Health
03:05 What Is Sharenting—and Why Is It Risky?
06:55 The Hidden Dangers of Monetizing Kids Online
08:54 When Parents Are Always on Their Phones
10:44 Do Parents Model Screen Addiction?
11:43 How Social Media Shapes Parents' Health Decisions
15:03 Talking to Parents About Screen Time Without Shame
18:02 Warning Signs of Problematic Parent Phone Use
20:05 Combating Online Health Misinformation
21:17 How Common Are Sharenting and Parent Phone Addiction?
22:03 Simple Ways to Be More Present With Your Kids
23:42 What's Next for Research on Parents and Digital Media
25:32 Closing Thoughts
Thanks for listening to Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast. How do you go well beyond medicine in your own life or community? How do you celebrate it?
🎙️ Share your story or leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/NemoursWell...
Your message could be featured in a future episode.
🌐 Listen to more episodes and explore the podcast: nemourswellbeyond.org
📩 Sign up for our monthly newsletter for new episodes, stories, and updates: nemourswellbeyond.org/news
Follow Nemours Children’s Health:
Instagram: / nemours
X (Twitter): / nemours
Facebook: / nemours
LinkedIn: / nemours
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast explores children’s health, pediatric care, health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and health care innovation—from food security and community-based care to meeting families where they are with accessible health and wellness resources. We highlight the people and ideas shaping the future of pediatric health care and building the healthiest generations of children ever.
#WellBeyondMedicine #NemoursChildrensHealth #Pediatrics #ChildrensHealth #HealthEquity #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth
What if your child’s digital habits are informed with your own? Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester, explores the growing body of research examining how caregivers' digital behaviors — from excessive screen time and "sharenting" to online health misinformation — can shape children's mental health, development and long-term well-being.
The conversation examines how children model the digital behaviors they observe, why oversharing online can have lasting consequences, how social media algorithms influence parents' health decisions, and practical strategies families can use to build healthier relationships with technology.
Featuring:
Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
00:00 Introduction
00:36 How Parents' Screen Time Affects Children's Mental Health
03:05 What Is Sharenting—and Why Is It Risky?
06:55 The Hidden Dangers of Monetizing Kids Online
08:54 When Parents Are Always on Their Phones
10:44 Do Parents Model Screen Addiction?
11:43 How Social Media Shapes Parents' Health Decisions
15:03 Talking to Parents About Screen Time Without Shame
18:02 Warning Signs of Problematic Parent Phone Use
20:05 Combating Online Health Misinformation
21:17 How Common Are Sharenting and Parent Phone Addiction?
22:03 Simple Ways to Be More Present With Your Kids
23:42 What's Next for Research on Parents and Digital Media
25:32 Closing Thoughts
Thanks for listening to Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast. How do you go well beyond medicine in your own life or community? How do you celebrate it?
🎙️ Share your story or leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/NemoursWell...
Your message could be featured in a future episode.
🌐 Listen to more episodes and explore the podcast: nemourswellbeyond.org
📩 Sign up for our monthly newsletter for new episodes, stories, and updates: nemourswellbeyond.org/news
Follow Nemours Children’s Health:
Instagram: / nemours
X (Twitter): / nemours
Facebook: / nemours
LinkedIn: / nemours
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast explores children’s health, pediatric care, health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and health care innovation—from food security and community-based care to meeting families where they are with accessible health and wellness resources. We highlight the people and ideas shaping the future of pediatric health care and building the healthiest generations of children ever.
#WellBeyondMedicine #NemoursChildrensHealth #Pediatrics #ChildrensHealth #HealthEquity #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth
