42. How Much Screen Time Should Kids Have with Dr. Susan Linn
“You are talking about a seven-year-old being addicted to something that was designed to manipulate her.”
That’s uncomfortable to hear. It’s also what this week’s DadicatedJoe guest, Dr. Susan Linn, said to me.
Screen addiction starts earlier than many parents are aware of, and at the same time, we have to acknowledge the real pressure families face. Because screens are everywhere, work demands are high, exhaustion is real, and drawing firm boundaries often feels harder than ever.
Excessive screen time is linked to attention issues, poor school performance, sleep disruption, and emotional regulation challenges, which is why I wanted to speak with an expert. Dr. Susan Linn has spent decades studying how media and Big Tech shape children’s behavior, attention, and values, and advocating for change. As a psychologist, writer, researcher, and Harvard lecturer, she explains how digital culture is designed to pull children into consumerism and brand loyalty, and how games and devices are built to create dependence for stimulation and soothing.
In this eye-opening episode, we unpack the truth behind educational claims, why ad-free does not automatically mean harmless, and how using screens as rewards can quietly increase their power. We also talk about practical screen time boundaries, what health guidelines actually recommend for babies and toddlers, and how parents can reduce screen dependence without constant battles.
In this episode, we explore:
How does excessive screen time affect a child's brain development?
What are the official screen time guidelines for babies and toddlers?
Is screen addiction real in young children?
Do educational apps actually help kids learn?
How can parents set healthy screen time boundaries in a tech-saturated world?
If screen time is already becoming a battle in your house, go watch my episode with Tucker Max on Raising Kids Without Screens. It’ll give you a very different lens on what’s actually possible.
Resources Mentioned
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Watch the Full Episode
Joe Carr is an entrepreneur, advocate, and passionate educator on fatherhood and partnership. Driven by a desire to provide high-quality, nutrient-dense baby food for his daughter Della, Joe and his wife founded Serenity Kids baby food brand after experiencing their own health transformations through clean eating. Now, alongside his work in revolutionizing baby nutrition, Joe is on a mission to help new dads navigate the transformational journey of fatherhood. Through his podcast and social media platform Dadicated Joe, he shares real, honest conversations about showing up for your children, supporting your partner, and embracing the identity shift that comes with becoming a dad.
👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/
About Dr. Susan Lin a psychologist, an author, and an award-winning ventriloquist, is a world-renowned expert on creative play, and the impact of tech and commercial marketing on children. She is Research Associate at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. A passionate advocate for children, Dr. Linn was Founding Director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (now called Fairplay) from 2000-2015.
She has lectured on the importance of creative play, the impact of tech, media, and marketing on children, and on puppetry as a therapeutic tool, Dr. Linn’s books have been praised in publications as diverse as The Wall Street Journal and Mother Jones. Her most recent book, Who’s Raising the Kids? Big Tech, Big Business and the Lives of Children received a rave review from The New York Times, which called it “engrossing and insightful.”
