Are Smartphones Destroying Childhood? We Want to Find Out

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In this powerful episode of the Forkin' Good Podcast, Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick sit down with Dr Samantha Marsh, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, and Vanessa McCarty, child psychotherapist and speaker for Smartphone Free Childhood New Zealand.

Together they unpack what the latest evidence says about smartphones, social media, gaming and children's mental health, while sharing practical advice every parent, grandparent and teacher can use.

We discuss:

• Why more experts are calling this a public health crisis
• The real impact of smartphones on childhood development
• Why so many teenagers wish they'd never had social media
• The warning signs parents shouldn't ignore
• Family rules that actually work
• Why delaying smartphones may be one of the best decisions you can make

This isn't about guilt.

It's about understanding what we now know and making informed decisions for the children we love.

If you're raising children in today's digital world, this conversation is essential listening.

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