Persuasive Design, the Digital Child, and the Screen Time Industrial Complex: What Parents and Society Can Do to Restore Childhood

Dr. Jim Interviews Dr. Richard Freed

In this powerful episode, Dr. Jim sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Richard Freed, whose new book Better Than Real Life examines how persuasive design is reshaping childhood—and not for the better. Dr. Freed’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other major media outlets. And he’s also the author of the influential book Wired Child.

You’ll hear a personal story about Dr. Freed’s long-lost Harvard certificate. And you’ll learn about his roots in Silicon Valley—back when it was covered in orange groves (okay, maybe not that long ago) and chips meant Pringles. 

Dr. Freed pulls back the curtain on persuasive design and what Jim calls “attention fracking”—how screen-based platforms, powered by behavioral science, hijack kids’ attention and emotions for profit. He explores how Big Tech uses these tools to draw children into the multiverse of social media, video games, and streaming content—stealing them away from the real-world experiences they need to thrive.

Determined to speak truth to power, Dr. Freed exposes the science behind screen addiction and how it renders young minds vulnerable to manipulation. He makes the case for reclaiming a childhood centered on family, education, nature, and real human connection—not devices engineered for dependency.

This episode is essential listening for parents, educators, and anyone concerned with the future of childhood in the digital age.

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