3-Part Series of A Pediatrician's Perspective: Part 3: Role Models in the Digital Age: Guiding Teens to Healthy Influences

“With social media, influencers are now at the forefront of who our teens look up to. But how do we, as parents, help them discern which influencers are worthy of their admiration, especially in a world where AI can create perfect yet unrealistic personas?” Andrea Hecht raises this question in the final episode of the series “A Pediatrician's Perspective.” With Dr. Lisa Klein, they talk about the challenge of helping teens navigate a digital landscape where appearance often overshadows authenticity.

 

They explore the difference between influencers who push superficial values and those who stand for resilience, hard work, and real passion. Dr. Klein stresses the need of helping teens focus on role models who inspire through character and meaningful accomplishments—not just looks. How can parents initiate these conversations? Andrea and Dr. Klein offer helpful strategies for parents to help guide their teens toward influencers who will positively impact their development in the digital age by promoting open conversations and educating them to think critically about the content they consume.

 

Quotes

• “Let’s start by being excellent role models ourselves and being honest and vulnerable with our tweens and teens about how we have awesome, confident days, but also days where we’re feeling kind of insecure—and that’s okay. We’re not robots; we feel things. We’re not perfect. So, let’s be good role models by finding good role models for ourselves at our age, and then helping our kids find who could be good role models for them.” (03:19 | Dr. Lisa Klein) 
• “It starts with us, understanding that we need to make sure we are following proper role models. We all know we’re guilty of putting on a quick filter or taking a picture and then deleting it, but we need to have those conversations… Sometimes these kids don’t understand that the people they’re following aren’t necessarily targeting children or considering what those children might think of them.” (05:44 | Andrea Hecht)
• “It’s just good to follow people with passions, hobbies, and honesty. And yeah, the fun stuff is there too, as long as you stay in the mindset that, okay, I’ll take it for what it’s worth, but no one’s life is perfect, happy, and sunshine all the time.” (07:29 | Dr. Lisa Klein)
• “Be real, be raw, don't use filters to change your appearance. Filter who you follow, filter the information coming at you. Is it real? Is it fake?” (12:10 | Dr. Lisa Klein)

 

Links

Connect with Dr. Lisa Klein:

Website: https://www.turningteen.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turningteen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/turningteen

 

Resources: Follow Olympic Medalist Ilona Maher on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ilonamaher

 

Connect with your host, Andrea Hecht:

Connect with Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching

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