Digital Resolutions and Recommendations

2025 Edition

2024 was a big year in digital parenting and safety. Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation was released. Several school districts around the world banned cell phones.

A few states have enacted legislation banning social media for its youngest users. Congress almost passed KOSA and significant steps towards a ban of TikTok were taken (there will be alot more in the news about this in the coming weeks).

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

As 2025 begins, I am thinking about all of this. And I am also thinking about what I, as a parent, should be doing. Maybe you are too. Today I share my personal digital parenting goals. Use them if they are helpful or do your own thing— either way if you are setting goals make them meaningful and achievable.

Below are my very practical, tactical, specific, Personal Digital Goals for 2025 plus a few other items worth flagging.

Me

• Reduce MY social media/smartphone time HOW? By using tools to set limits.

  • During the week, I’m going to use my Brick to lock down my phone during dinner and family time.

  • I am also looking into replacing my iPhone with the Wisephone.

• Get better sleep. HOW? More tools.

  • I am going to set those focus settings up to block all but the essentials starting at 9:30 (1 hour before my bedtime).

  • I will read instead of scrolling to wind down.

  • I might buy this reading light, and these cute bookmarks for motivation.

My Family

• Coach my middle schooler on texting HOW? By monitoring his texts and making sure he understands Texting Etiquette. My son has the Pinwheel phone which allows me to monitor his texts from my phone. I do this sometimes but I haven’t been consistent.

  • For in depth help managing texting look out for my digital course launching later this month!

  • If your kid has a smartphone consider purchasing a parent management app like the bark app for help with text monitoring)

• Reduce screen time for my kids. HOW? By offering alternatives. OMG We’ve tried this so many ways, but its time to evolve again. We did a lot of fun things as a family over break (board games, outdoor activities, family shows and video games). I want to make space for more of that. My plan is to talk about how we can do more of our “end of the day” relaxing together instead of retreating to separate screens. I’ll let you know how that goes.

  • What we’re playing (board games): Trio, Jamaica, Taco v Burrito, Uno No Mercy.

  • What we’re watching (TV Shows): The Young Sheldon (Max) and Penguin Town (Netflix), Beast Games (Amazon Prime).

  • What we’re playing (Video Games): Nintendo Sports (Switch)

  • PROTIP: Always check Common Sense Media for the most reliable reviews for movies, shows and video games!

• Build independence for my kids. HOW? Errands. And to do that I needed a few things to make walking or biking to the store possible.

  • I gave my older son this Lanyard for his phone.

  • I am considering this phone holder or this pouch for his bike.

  • My younger son has a Smartwatch. This is a good one.

  • For younger kids, and parents who don’t love the watches, try this two way communication device instead.

My Community

• Get the Wait Until 8th Pledge activated for my kids’ grades. I know I’m getting close with the other 6th grade parents in my town. My plan is to start on my younger son’s (4th grade) next. If you live in my town or if you don’t, and you feel strongly about waiting to give a smartphone until the end of Middle School, consider taking the pledge. Learn more here.

Worth Flagging

• Mentioned briefly above but worth (re-)flagging, if you’re looking for support managing Texting/Group Chat, Social Media and/or How to Choose a Phone/Smartwatch, my on-demand digital course can help! It walks you through how to decide and how to manage all 3 in the way that will work for YOUR family. Watch this space for presale information!

• The Supreme Court is supposed to review the TikTok ban on January 10th. If upheld its supposed to go into effect January 19th. President-elect Trump has written a letter urging the Supreme Court to hold off on a ruling so he can broker a deal that could allow TikTok to stay active in the US and satisfy foreign influence concerns. (read more here). Watch this space for updates as this story continues to unfold.

• Jonathan Haidt and Will Johnson’s Jan 4, New York Times Op-ed, “Gen Z Has Regrets.” A deep dive is on its way. In the meantime, the article here.