Parental Control

Practical strategies and tips to help raise and teach children in a digital-first world

In Parental Control: A Guide to Raising Balanced Kids in the Digital Era, Titania Jordan, a renowned internet and social media safety specialist, tackles the urgent dilemmas of modern parenting head-on. As technology increasingly engulfs the lives of our children, this book emerges as a beacon for those looking to guide, protect, and connect with them in meaningful ways.

Navigating the complex digital landscape, Jordan delves into the effects of social media and the internet on our kids. She uncovers the challenges of balancing screen time with real-life interactions and the erosion of offline social skills due to digital immersion. Yet, it's not all dire—Jordan's expert insights offer a pathway to turning potential digital pitfalls into educational opportunities.

The book will help you:

• Learn how to educate and empower the next generation to navigate the internet safely and responsibly
• Discover actionable advice on setting boundaries, fostering offline interactions, and promoting healthy digital habits.
• Benefit from the latest internet safety data, trends, and tips to keep your children protected in the digital age

Perfect for parents, educators, and caregivers, Parental Control is more than just a book. It's a roadmap to raising well-adjusted children in a technology-driven world. This guide provides the tools you need to ensure technology complements the lives of those you care about, rather than consuming them. If you're looking to navigate the challenges of modern-day parenting with confidence and create a safe, balanced digital environment for your children, then this book is for you.

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Why Me, Why Now? 1

Chapter 2 The Good Old Days 23

Chapter 3 Digital Transition 41

Chapter 4 Where We Are Now 69

Chapter 5 Digital Effects on the Brain 103

Chapter 6 Digital Effects on the Body 117

Chapter 7 Digital Effects on Mind/Spirit 129

Chapter 8 Solutions: So What Do We Do? 141

Chapter 9 Final Thoughts 163

Chapter 10 Q (and More Importantly, A) 169

Chapter 11 Glossary, Emoji, Acronym Translator 185

Chapter 12 Resources 199

Acknowledgments 203

About the Author 205

Index 207

TITANIA JORDAN is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, a company dedicated to keeping over 7 million children safer online. A leading voice in the fight to protect children and empower parents, she frequently appears in major media outlets to advocate for digital safety.

Many parents, teachers, and others responsible for children are overwhelmed by how quickly they seem to become consumed with technology and anxious about the impact of social media and the internet on their lives. How can you connect with those kids in a meaningful way before it’s “too late?” And how can you keep them safe from the more pernicious influences and dangers lurking behind the screens they stare into every day?

In Parental Control: A Guide to Raising Balanced Kids in the Digital Era, internet and social media safety specialist Titania Jordan delivers an essential playbook for adults seeking to educate and empower children—their own or someone else’s—to be responsible and safe digital citizens. The book helps explain the largely uncharted intersection of children, the internet, and social media, diving deep into the problems posed by excessive screen time, online safety concerns, and the erosion of offline social skills.

Jordan provides practical strategies to turn these tech and child-rearing challenges into opportunities. You’ll learn how to set effective boundaries, foster offline interactions, and cultivate digital literacy and etiquette in children. You’ll also discover accurate internet safety data, trends, and tips that you can implement in your own life to make the children you teach, raise, and love safer.

Perfect for parents, educators, and caregivers, Parental Control is an effective roadmap to raising well-adjusted children in a world with unique and novel obstacles to doing just that. It will also equip you with the tools you need to usher the next generation into a future where technology complements—and doesn’t consume—their lives.

Praise for Parental Control

“Parental Control by Titania Jordan is a must-read for any parent feeling the weight of today’s digital age. Titania’s insights have helped me approach online safety with my own kids as she goes beyond surface-level advice, offering real, actionable solutions to keep kids safe and balanced. Her deep dedication and experience shine through, making this book an invaluable guide for safeguarding the next generation.”
—DAWN HAWKINS, CEO, National Center on Sexual Exploitation

“Parental Control perfectly illustrates how parents can protect their children in our digital world.”
—JOHN PIZZURO, CEO, Raven

“Everyone is talking about tech problems. But with Titania, we have a wise, passionate, and loving mom, who pours out the practical path forward we so desperately need.”
—CHRIS MCKENNA, Founder, Protect Young Eyes

Help your children to embrace the digital world while keeping them safe

In today’s digital landscape, there are incredible opportunities for kids to use technology for good, whether for academic learning, building community connections, and more. But with such a variety of platforms and tools out there, it’s all too easy for kids to stumble into online danger zones.

Parental Control is the essential guide for parents, educators, and caregivers to help kids and teens responsibly navigate the digital world. Packed with practical strategies for managing screen time, enhancing online safety, and fostering real-world social skills, this book is the key to helping adults understand what kids may encounter on the web and social media and how to mitigate any risk of engaging with harmful content. Don’t miss out on this vital resource for navigating the digital age!

Praise for Parental Control

"Given the failure of Big Tech to provide appropriate guardrails to keep our kids safe online, it is up to us. We must be their 'parental controls,' which takes education, communication, and an open heart. Titania skillfully guides parents through this unprecedented time in Parental Control."
—Nicki Reisberg, host of Scrolling 2 Death Podcast

"Parental Control by Titania Jordan is an essential guide for parents navigating the complexities of raising children in this new age of social media. With inspiring courage, Ms. Jordan shares her personal experiences, offering invaluable insights into some of the severe social media-related risks and challenges that threaten our children while also destigmatizing some essential safety conversations for families. Parental Control provides practical strategies for maximizing safety and fostering open, supportive communication between parents and children. As the CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety, I know firsthand how vital this advice is for parents seeking to protect and empower their children, and Ms. Jordan's contributions have added much-needed clarity to the ongoing social media safety conversation. This book is a must-read for any parent committed to raising kids safely in today's social media age."
—Marc Berkman, CEO, Organization for Social Media Safety

"During a time when online safety is a universal concern for all parents, Titania Jordan delivers a must-have resource for every home. Timely, powerful and a must-read for families today."
—Rania Mankarious, MA, JD, CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston and author of The Online World, What You Think You Know and What You Don't

"Most guidance on social media, technology, and children, just causes parents to worry and feel helpless. Parental Control is different, delivered in a fact-based and empathetic way that only Titania Jordan—with her years of experience in this topic—can. Parental Control empowers parents with clear, evidence-based, and truly boots-on-the-ground actionable recommendations that restore a healthy perspective to our use of technology, put parents back in the driver seat, and allow our children to thrive."
—Dr. Darria Long, national bestselling author of Mom Hacks, Founder of No-Panic Parenting, Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee School of Health Sciences

"Parental Control by Titania Jordan is a must-read for any parent feeling the weight of today's digital age. Titania's insights have helped me approach online safety with my own kids as she goes beyond surface-level advice, offering real, actionable solutions to keep kids safe and balanced. Her deep dedication and experience shine through, making this book an invaluable guide for safeguarding the next generation."
—Dawn Hawkins, CEO, National Center on Sexual Exploitation

"Parental Control perfectly illustrates how parents can protect their children in our digital world."
—John Pizzuro, CEO, Raven