Parent Quick-Start Guide

Kids tune out when a conversation begins with 'be careful' or 'that's dangerous'. They lean in when a conversation begins with 'I'm curious what you think'. Try opening with wonder instead of worry.

• Ask what they've been watching, playing, or using - and listen for two full minutes before you say anything.
• Share something you noticed on your own feed today. Model that grown-ups think about this too.
• When they explain something you don't understand, ask them to teach you. They will remember that.

Small, casual openers. No right answers. Aim for one per day.

1. How does the app decide what to show you next?
2. If you searched for the same thing at a friend's house, do you think you'd see the same results?
3. Have you ever seen a video that felt like it wasn't real?
4. What's something you wish your phone knew about you - and what's something you'd rather it didn't?
5. If a computer had to decide who gets picked for a team, what should it look at? What should it never look at?

1. The Feed Swap - trade phones for five minutes (with permission) and describe what you notice about each other's feeds. Not the content, the pattern.
2. Two-Search Test - each family member searches for the same word on their own device. Compare the top three results. Discuss why they differ.
3. Spot the Nudge - during any 15 minutes of screen time, count how many times something (a notification, an auto-play, a recommendation) tries to keep you there.

• Ask before you post a photo of another person - including your own child.
• Pause before sharing anything that feels urgent, outrageous, or too perfect.
• Turn off one notification every week. Notice which ones you never miss.
• When you meet a new app, look for the settings page before you look for the main feature.
• Say the phrase "I am not sure this is real" out loud, in front of your kids, whenever you feel it. That single habit teaches critical thinking better than any lesson.

Most conversations can stay light. A few signals are worth paying closer attention to. You are not overreacting for noticing them.

• A sudden change in what your child watches, plays, or believes - especially if they get defensive when asked.
• Content that seems designed to make them feel worse about themselves.
• Any request from a stranger for a photo, video call, or personal information.
• Anything they seem afraid to show you.

A one-page agreement your family can fill in together. There are no wrong answers. Revisit it whenever something changes - a new app, a new school year, a new question.