Employee Mental Health Summit

How to Raise Mentally Healthy Kids: Smartphones, Social Media, and Youth Mental Health

Note: Includes resources to create a family media plan template and interactive portions.

Time: 1.5 hours, afternoon (Exact time TBD)

Description:
Algorithms, social media, and constant connectivity shape how kids see themselves, relate to others, and cope with stress. As today’s digital world increasingly influences youth mental health, parents are asking: When should my child get a phone? What kind? How much online access is too much?

Drawing on her background as a former owner of a digital marketing firm, AnneMoss Rogers helps parents understand how predatory algorithms zero in at vulnerable moments to keep kids scrolling. Informed by both current research and her lived experience as a mother who lost her son to suicide, this session offers practical, age-appropriate strategies for setting healthy boundaries, recognizing warning signs, and building resilience.

Takeaways:

  • What the data shows about social media and youth mental health — and what parents can do
  • How to set realistic tech boundaries and anticipate pushback
  • How to recognize typical angst versus cries for help
  • How to build a parent support network for accountability
  • Learn simple parenting strategies that strengthen coping skills and resilience