Official Bio

Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager and she lives with her family in Chicagoland. You can follow her on Substack and on Instagram @devorahheitnerphd.

Want to interview Devorah?

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Featured In:

Devorah in the Press Devorah on TV Articles by Devorah Radio and Podcasts

Areas of Expertise

Social media and mental health, Surgeon General’s Report on Social Media, Kids and Instagram, Roblox, Life 360, Digital Citizenship, Discord, TikTok, Online Safety, Fake News, Online Hate Speech and Bullying, Kids and Social Media, Tech Distractions, Edtech, Online Bullying Prevention, Digital Footprint, Internet Safety, Criteria for Choosing Apps and Games, Privacy, Digital Wellness, SEL, Digital Culture, School Tech Policies, Sexting, Instagram, Snapchat, Gaming, Minecraft, Online Gaming, Digital Etiquette

Featured Media

School-Related Apps Give Me Anxiety: School apps for parents, pros and cons.

Wirecutter Podcast

The Very Common, Very Harmful Thing Well-Meaning Parents Do

The hottest back-to-school accessory? A location sharing app

One-size-fits-all math homework may be more helpful than you think

Demonizing Social Media Isn’t the Answer to Online Safety, a New Book Argues

The Fight for Your Kids’ Brains Has Already Begun

Kids feel watched but not seen: How to help them navigate tracking apps, social media, sexting and more

An Age-By-Age Guide to Teaching Kids About Online Safety

WBEZ Anti-dopamine parenting’ could change your kids’ habits

Why Teens Say Location Sharing Is the Greatest—and the Worst

If your kid has a smartphone, is it OK to look through it? Why experts recommend that parents ‘disclose’ monitoring

How To Talk To Teens About Nudes And Online Safety

Cyberbullying affects almost half of American teens. Parents may be unaware.

Kids As Young As 8 Are Using Social Media More Than Ever, Study Finds

Instagram Adds Parental Controls For The First Time

Worried About Your Teen On Social Media? Here’s How To Help

California Protected Kids Online In A Way Every State Should Follow

Devorah in the Press

TikTok introduces tighter controls for kids and teens—but experts still have a warning for parents

TikTok Adds New Parental Control Features to Manage Teens’ Screen Time

Eduptopia: Helping Teens Navigate the Tricky World of Too Much Tech

You don’t need to surveil your kids to protect them on social media

In the age of ‘sharenting,’ can we balance the need for connection and our kids’ privacy?

The secret history of the teenager’s bedroom

How ‘sharenting’ boundaries on social media protect kids’ privacy and trust

Your Kid’s First Day Of School Pics Are Cute But Pose A Potential Problem

The do’s and don’ts of posting photos of your kid on social media

Limiting teens’ social media feels impossible. But we have to try.

States are Regulating Kids Social Media

So, Your Kid Wants to Be a YouTuber. Should You Let Them?

Kids as Young as 8 Are Using Social Media More Than Ever, Study Finds

“Why I started asking permission before sharing my kids’ photos on Facebook” by Heidi Stevens

Most Students Don’t Know When News Is Fake, Stanford Study Finds

Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive in Their Digital World

How to Make Screen Time Rules That Work for Your Family

Teaching Your Kids to Be Safe Online: A Hasty Primer:

Want to Cut Down Your Screen Time?

How to talk to teens about nudes and online safety

The underdiscussed upsides of screen time for kids

A Parent’s Guide to Social Media

Why Asking Your Kids Permission Might Not Be Enough

Talking Dolls May Spread Children’s Secrets

Here’s How You Can *Really* Tell If Your Kid Is Ready For Their Own Phone

Fact or Fallacy? The Impact of Screen Time

No camp for kids this summer?: How to entertain your children while you work from home

Worried About Your Teen on Social Media? Here’s How to Help.

8 Questions for Devorah Heitner

How can parents protect their children online?

Think Twice Before Posting Your Kids’ Photos Online, Here’s Why

Instagram Adds Parental Controls for the First Time

My Family Tested 20 Kid-Safe Phones

At Your Wit’s End With a Screen Obsessed Kid?

California Protected Kids Online In A Way Every State Should Follow

Kids as Young as 8 Are Using Social Media More Than Ever, Study Finds

Instagram Adds Parental Controls for the First Time

Devorah on TV

Selected Articles by Devorah

Here’s why your teen overshares online, and why that could be good

Rules for Social Media, Created by Kids

Kids pay the price for adults’ failures to act against racism

What parents should do instead of worrying that smartphones will ‘destroy’ their kids

Responding to Hate Speech and Bullying in the Digital Age

What to do when other parents have different technology rules

Help Digital Kids Build Social Emotional Skills

Engaging Parents With Tech Initiatives

Kids Don’t Always Love Technology

Put ‘Screen Time’ Debates to Rest by Making Kids Leaders

Helping Students Navigate the World of Texting

Should You Let Your Kid Get That App Here’s How to Set Boundaries During Social Distancing

Is Your Child Ready for a Phone: Look for These Independence Milestones

Five Ways to Transform Your Kids’ Screen Time

Remote learning exacerbates inequality. Here’s how we must support the most vulnerable kids

Helping Teenagers Learn to Repair Digital Mistakes

When the news intrudes: Helping kids make sense of the media

For Kids, ‘Doing School’ at Home Can Be Difficult. Some Ways That Parents and Teachers Can Help

Want to Learn About Teens and Their Connected Lives? Read Behind Their Screens and Watch Heartstopper

Radio and Podcasts

WBEZ Reset: The pros and cons of banning cell phones in Illinois schools

WBEZ Reset

Parents are finding new ways to monitor their kids. But some experts are concerned

The Current-CBC

Nir And Far: Business, Behaviour and the Brain with Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal Interview with Devorah Heitner - Nir And Far

Ed Surge

Can Kids Grow Up If They're Constantly Tracked and Monitored?

Under the Influence with Jo Piazza

Don't Spy On Your Kids' Phones with Dr. Devorah Heitner

Reimagining Love

Parenting in the Age of Screens with Dr. Devorah Heitner

Baltimore Public Radio WYPR On The Record

Nervous about letting your child use social media apps? Try mentoring, not monitoring

Flusterclux

Helping Your Kids Navigate Social Media's Traps with Devorah Heitner

Zen Parenting Radio

Growing Up in Public- A Conversation with Dr. Devorah Heitner

What Fresh Hell

Fresh Take: Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Public

The Puberty Podcast

Navigating Tech & Social Media with Devorah Heitner

KERA think

Does spying on your kids really protect them?

Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

How to raise kids well in a digital world with Devorah Heitner

Are You Ok? with Dr. Lucy McBride

Dr. Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Public

Sharon McMahon – Here’s Where It Gets Interesting

Coming of Age in a Digital World

Slate: Mom and Dad Are Fighting

If You Are Tracking Kids Should You Tell Them

Central Time Wisconsin Public Radio

How to parent a digital-age kid

Edit Your Life

Growing Up in Public

Voices of Your Village

Navigating Social Media, Reputation and Privacy with Teens

Psychologists Off The Clock

Growing Up in Public with Devorah Heitner

WBEZ Chicago – Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

What’s driving the U.S. teen mental health crisis and how adults can help

Spawned Podcast

Keeping Kids Healthy on Social Media with Dr. Devorah Heitner

We Should Talk About That Podcast

We Should Talk About Our Children's Privacy, the Internet, and Growing up in Public with Author, Devorah Heitner, PhD

Best of Both Worlds Podcast

Growing up in public with Devorah Heitner

But Why Kids: Why is Social Media so Addictive

Kids Podcast from Vermont Public Radio

Tilt Parenting

Online Safety, Internet “Rabbit Holes,” and Differently Wired Kids

WNYC – All of It with Allison Stewart

Screen-Free Summer

Brave Writer: Technology and Kids with Devorah Heitner

Technology and Kids with Devorah Heitner

1000 Hours Outside

Dealing with a Limitless Digital World When We Don't Have Limitless Time

Dr. Robyn

How to Talk To Your Kids About Being a Social Media Star

How To with Charles Duhigg a Slate Podcast

Acing Remote School: Why Screen Time Can Actually Be Good for Your Kids

Slate

Mom and Dad Are Fighting: The “Sad Laura Ashley Bat Mitzvah Dress” Edition

NPR Life Kit

5 Strategies For Coping With Screen-Obsessed Kids

WGN Radio: The Download

How can you help your child thrive in a digital world?

Lake Effect – WUWM

Should You Give Your Kid A Device For The Holidays? Maybe Not.

Radio New Zealand

Devorah Heitner - keeping digital natives safe

Charlotte Talks

Kids’ Screen Time Skyrockets During Pandemic, Tips For Finding Balance

WOSU Public Media: Tech Tuesday

Digital Natives, Wine Apps, and Video Games

No Guilt Mom

How to Tackle Screen Time This School Year with Devorah Heitner

BBC World Service

Many students ‘don’t know’ if the news is fake

Good Kids: Stay At Home Edition

How To Balance Screen Time While Kids Are Stuck at Home (with Devorah Heitner)

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