One of The Cut’s parenting columnists and official friend-of-the-pod, Amil Niazi, joins us to talk about her recent essay on weaning her kids off YouTube. We’ve covered screen time, but this time we’re talking about algorithmic content. Is the algorithm as unavoidable as it feels to many of us? Or is it worth it for parents to push back — even when it makes for some awkward moments with other families — and try to hold out as long as they can? If your kids are already hooked on YouTube, like Amil’s were, is there a way to reign it in without a dreaded, endless household meltdown? And if you do manage to kick the algo out of your home, and come out as a non-YouTube family, is the grass really greener?
Plus, Sarah and Miranda on “life’s hack” (life’s ONE hack), the very corporeal fascinations of switching to menstrual cups, first periods, and what it feels like to finally be deeply learning about our menstrual cycles in our 40s.
* My Family’s YouTube Ban by Amil Niazi (The Cut)
* The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
* If Books Could Kill review of The Anxious Generation
* My Son’s Favorite Toy Is A Tampon by Sarah (Scary Mommy)
* Babeland
* Period: The Real Story of Menstruation by Kate Clancy
* 28-ish Days Later BBC Podcast
* Second Life by Amanda Hess (episode coming soon!)
* Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (Pew Research Report). “Roughly nine-in-ten teens say they use YouTube, making it the most widely used platform measured in our survey.”
* Meta (Facebook & Instagram & WhatsApp parent company) is not going to moderate content anymore.
If you like the work that we do here on Mother Of It All, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You support this work (thank you!) and will get access to super special content like subscriber-only episodes and even very awesome tote bags for founding members.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.