Is Social Media Designed to Hook Your Kids? A New Documentary Answers

Social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram are designed to keep kids scrolling, and for some families the cost of that design has been devastating. Carson Bride was just 16 when he was cyberbullied through anonymous apps built into Snapchat, and he died by suicide in 2020.

Kristin Bride, Carson’s mom, founded the Carson J. Bride Effect and has testified before Congress, while Trisha Prabhu built the anti-cyberbullying tool ReThink at age 13 and now runs ReThink Citizens, a nonprofit helping young people build a safer internet.

Host Titania Jordan, Bark’s Chief Parent Officer and bestselling author of two books on digital parenting, talks with both women, who appear in the new documentary Your Attention Please. You’ll hear what Meta’s recent settlement does and doesn’t fix, why the Kids Online Safety Act matters, and what the social media reckoning should teach us about AI chatbots. You’ll also find out whether the film is right for your teen (it’s rated 12 and up) and why so many young people say they want off social media but can’t.

Key insight: Neither guest has met a single young person who regrets getting social media later than they wanted it. Delaying is a win for parents and kids.

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Join the conversation in our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitw

See how Bark helps parents spot cyberbullying and other online dangers before they escalate: https://www.bark.us/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Stream Your Attention Please: https://info.bark.us/your-attention-please
• Learn more about the Social Reset: https://info.bark.us/social-reset
• Learn more about Carson's story and support the Carson J. Bride effect: https://info.bark.us/carson-bride-effect
• Learn more about ReThink Citizens: https://info.bark.us/rethink-citizen