Smartphones, 'Screen' time and Sensibility: Science communication and debunking the fearmonger myths

Cyber Synapse Podcast

In todays timely episode we are talking "Unlocked" the REAL science of screens, smartphones and more with Professor Pete Etchells, a Science Communicator (a role he discusses in his book) who has been steeped in this domain for a very long time. His research is broad and deep and takes a sensible, I repeat sensible look at the world of what smartphones and devices and use really does show us over time. And yes, that newest 'ban' is discussed in depth as to where the practicalities and panic are being drawn from. To the haters his work is not underpinned by 'funded from big tech' which is a common retort to the work in the UK.This is longer than usual episode because we needed to take stock of the Chicken Little panic and reactive call to get rid of something that is an essential part of our lives, and how we can think about how to protect children from harms online, but... thinking sensibly and with research from a position from someone who has taken the time to deeply read the research and can describe what the findings really mean. We take a tour of the work Pete has been involved in from VVG to the current landscape and beyond with so much critical thinking in this conversation. I LOVED this chat and hope you do too, because we want our children to think critically about the content they see online... and that starts with us the adults!you can find Professor Pete here where you will find some great threads and thinking about this space on twitter/X : @ PeteEtchells and the same for IG