Safe Screens, Sound Minds — Real Talk About Kids and Social Media, Ep.33

In this powerful and practical episode of UNrattled, we’re diving deep into the urgent conversation every parent, caregiver, and educator needs to be having—how screen time and social media are impacting children’s mental health.

Joined by Amanda Lightsey of the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama and Jeff Davis from Fowler Davis 4 Change, we explore their groundbreaking statewide initiative, Safe Screen, Sound Minds. This free, evidence-based program offers mental health resources for parents, youth mental health workshops, and digital wellness tools designed to create safer, smarter screen habits for kids.

Together, we unpack the real effects of social media on teens, including increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem—especially when parental monitoring and support are missing. Backed by recent studies from Yale and the CDC, Jeff shares alarming data on how spending more than 3 hours a day online can double a child’s risk of poor mental health. But here’s the good news: reducing screen time by just 30 minutes a day can improve mental wellness by 35%.

This episode also addresses:

• The rise in sexting among teens
• How to close the educational gap between parents and technology
• Why parent-child communication about online behavior is the key to prevention
• How to make workshops interactive and accessible in schools, churches, and community centers
• And the surprising truth that many adults are just as addicted to their screens as kids

Amanda and Jeff’s approach isn’t about shame or blame—it’s about creating conversations, building trust, and offering tools that any family or community can use. Whether you’re a parent worried about TikTok, an educator navigating digital classrooms, or someone just wanting to protect kids in today’s screen-saturated world, this episode offers free, actionable solutions.

Plus, hear how these downloadable materials—including parent guides, lesson plans, and printable resources—are already being used across Alabama to reach over 20,000 youth, teens, and adults. Everything is copyright-free, easy to access, and created to be inclusive for any age group.

 

[00:01:00] Meet Amanda Lightsey and the mission of the Children’s Trust Fund

[00:01:52] Jeff Davis introduces Safe Screen, Sound Minds

[00:02:41] The role of social media in shaping youth mental health

[00:03:00] Conversations as prevention: how open dialogue keeps kids safer

[00:04:26] Why educating parents is just as important as educating kids

[00:05:06] The reality of adult phone addiction

[00:06:07] Workshop structure: what it looks like and how it works

[00:07:45] Real talk: Kids are already talking about this—are you?

[00:09:07] Creating safe spaces for uncomfortable conversations

[00:11:21] Mental health risks tied to screen time (with Yale study insights)

[00:13:42] The “3-hour mark” and why reducing 30 minutes matters

[00:14:56] Simple changes = big impact: what families can do today

[00:17:01] Free resources available to parents, schools, and communities

[00:18:21] Training kits that can reach over 20,000 people in Alabama

[00:20:15] What’s next: second rollout of Safe Screen, Sound Minds

If today’s conversation resonated with you, don’t forget to follow the UNrattled podcast wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode.

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