For parents and caregivers in Marin.

Tweens and young teens don't need to go looking for content about vaping, drinking, or drugs - the algorithm brings it to them, even if they don’t have access to social media apps. Short-form video platforms and memes are surfacing substance-related content to young users at a scale most parents don't realize, often wrapped in humor, music, or "just being real" framing that makes it feel harmless. This digital landscape is shaping how kids see themselves and the world around them, often before they’re ready. In this presentation, we discuss:

• Current research on how technology mis-use is affecting today’s tweens & teens

• The developmental needs that are changing in middle school and what to protect in these pivotal years

• How algorithms are designed to keep youth engaged and why it pushes specific content specifically to them

• The type of content middle schoolers are actually exposed to and the messaging they are receiving

• Guardrails parents can implement to reduce risks on apps like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, WhatsApp and texting

• How to navigate conversations, boundaries, and check-ins with your middle schooler

• Creating community around shared tech norms to ease the pressure and support healthier digital habits for tweens
  
  Register here.
  
  Sponsored by Let's Talk