Advertise on podcast: Protect Our Kids With Kristi Bush

I want to start this episode a little differently, because I am angry. Not loud-and-reckless angry. Specific angry. There is a date on the calendar. December 3. The government has said it plans to stream a military execution live, for the whole internet to watch. I am not here to debate whether that should happen. Other people can fight about that. I am here because I have read everything I can find, and I have not seen one word about our children from the people organizing this. Not a plan. Not a warning. Not one sentence that says, “kids are online, and we thought about that.” Think about what a livestream becomes. Think about where your kids are. Somebody made a huge decision and forgot who is on the internet. Our kids are on the internet. So this episode is my warning, since nobody else seems to be giving one. We have almost two months.

What happens when an influencer stops simply sharing their life and starts shaping what we believe is normal? In this episode of Protect Our Kids, Kristi Bush explores the increasingly blurry line between curation, influence, and manipulation online and why understanding that distinction is especially important for children and teenagers whose ideas about identity, relationships, success, beauty, and “normal life” are still developing. This isn't about teaching kids that everyone online is fake. It's about teaching them how to think about what they're consuming. Kristi shares three practical tools...the Friction Test, Emotional Demand Check, and Consistency Test...that parents can use with their children to begin recognizing curated and manipulative content without lectures, fear, or banning social media. The goal isn't cynicism. It's discernment. And ultimately, it's helping our kids learn to trust their own judgment instead of handing it over to whoever is best at capturing their attention

Last episode we discussed how hard it is to teach a nervous system that is on fire. This episode we discuss how hard it is to parent a nervous system that is on fire. Parenting is hard. Challenging. Beautiful. And exhausting. Trying to parent a kid that has not had any rest, is constantly allowing noise from devices into their head space all while navigating hormones can feel impossible. We talk about why...and what we can do to support ourselves as parents and our kids. Just as important the conversation paves the way for better connections with out kids.

School starts back next month. It feels like summer went by at the speed of light. But for all of the "too quick" feelings...our kids still had expanded time on devices. Which means they are going to enter the classrooms with a nervous system that is on fire. In this episode we discuss what is happening to our students bodies and brains behind the screen. And then what can educators do to help throw a bit of water on the fire every morning before the day begins. www.knbcommunications.com

What happens when kids see too much, too soon, too often? In this episode, Kristi explores what she calls the "Digital Trauma Cycle"...a pattern she has observed for years while working with families, schools, and students navigating life online. Kids go online looking for connection. Along the way, they encounter content that can be confusing, disturbing, sexualized, violent, or emotionally overwhelming. When no one helps them process what they're seeing, something concerning can happen: they become desensitized. Over time, experiences that once would have felt shocking begin to feel normal. Kristi shares why this matters, how it shapes future generations, and why parents, counselors, educators, and trusted adults play such an important role in interrupting the cycle. If you've ever wondered why protecting kids online feels so important or why "they'll figure it out" may no longer be enough...this conversation is for you. In this episode you'll learn: • What the Digital Trauma Cycle is • Why kids seek connection online in the first place • How repeated exposure leads to desensitization • Why today's digital world is fundamentally different from the one we grew up in • How parents can become the "intervening piece" that helps break the cycle www.knbcommunications.com

In today's digital age, many of us have experienced that strange phenomenon of losing track of time while scrolling through social media. Have you ever found yourself deep in TikTok or Instagram, only to realize that hours have passed without you remembering what you even looked at? This feeling of being disconnected from reality is what I like to call "emotional anesthesia." In this post, we will dive into what emotional anesthesia means, how it affects our children, and what we can do to help them reconnect with their emotions. www.knbcommunications.com

We all know that fast food is not good for us. You would not serve your kid hamburgers, fries, ice cream and candy for every meal. That is what AI Slop is. Fast food for your child's brain. And it is showing up everywhere. Including the platforms that your child frequents daily. In this episode, I discuss the impact of AI-generated content, dubbed 'AI Slop,' on children’s media consumption. I explores how this low-quality, high-volume content affects young brains, the importance of parental vigilance, and advocates for policy changes to protect kids from AI manipulation.

In this episode of Protect Our Kids, Kristi Bush breaks down one of the most popular games in the world...Minecraft...and what parents should actually understand about it. From personal experience raising a Minecraft-loving kid to the latest updates in the game, Kristi walks parents through what Minecraft is, how it works, and where safety concerns can arise. She covers the two main versions of the game, the risks associated with public servers, and how online predators sometimes use gaming environments to contact children. Kristi also discusses recent legal conversations around gaming addiction and why these issues are becoming a growing focus for parents and lawmakers. But this episode isn’t about fear...it’s about awareness and guidance. Kristi shares practical strategies that helped her family navigate gaming safely, including setting boundaries, monitoring conversations, limiting servers, and maintaining open communication with kids. If your child plays Minecraft...or is asking to...this episode will help you understand what’s happening inside the game and how to support your child safely.

Are our kids truly addicted to their phones… or are we looking at something more nuanced? In this episode of Protect Our Kids, Kristi Bush dives into one of the biggest questions parents and professionals are asking right now—especially as social media companies face growing scrutiny: 👉 Is this addiction… or binge-style behavior? Kristi breaks down:• What science actually says about “addiction” vs. “problematic use”• Why many kids fall into a gray space—not fully addicted, but not fully in control• How social media design (algorithms, rewards, notifications) impacts behavior• Why focusing only on screen time is missing the bigger picture• What parents should really be paying attention to• Practical ways to create boundaries that actually work This is not a fear-based conversation. It’s a clarity-based one. Because the real question isn’t just:“Is my child addicted?” It’s: What role is this playing in my child’s life—and how do I lead them through it? www.knbcommunications.com

In this episode, Kristi Bush discusses the identity crisis faced by teens in the age of social media. She explores how social media fractures self-concept, the impact of parasocial relationships with influencers, and the dangers of performance-based identity. Kristi emphasizes the importance of authenticity in identity development and provides strategies for parents to support their teens in navigating these challenges. The conversation highlights the need for deeper discussions about identity and self-worth in a digital world. Takeaways Social media can fracture a teen's self-concept.Teens often present multiple versions of themselves online.Lower self-concept clarity leads to identity confusion.Parasocial relationships with influencers can be harmful.Teens feel pressured to present idealized versions of themselves.Engagement metrics can distort a teen's sense of worth.Authenticity is crucial for healthy identity development.Parents should focus on identity development over screen time limits.Encouraging offline experiences can help teens explore their identity.Open discussions about social media and authenticity are essential! www.knbcommunications.com

In this episode of Protect Our Kids, host Kristi Bush discusses the recent updates to Roblox, focusing on the new mandatory age verification for chatting, the ongoing safety concerns regarding inappropriate content and grooming, and the importance of parental involvement in monitoring children's online activities. Kristi emphasizes that while Roblox has implemented safety measures, active supervision and communication with children are essential to ensure their safety in the digital space. Takeaways Roblox has introduced mandatory age verification for chat features. Kids are finding ways to bypass age checks using parent selfies. There are serious global concerns about grooming on Roblox. Parental awareness and oversight are crucial for child safety. Roblox has built-in safety tools, but they require active parental involvement. Content filtering and reporting tools are available for parents. Parents should familiarize themselves with the app's settings and controls. Age-based protections are only effective if the child's age is accurate. Safety requires a combination of technology and parental supervision. Regular check-ins with children about their online experiences are essential.

This may be my most vulnerable and honest episode yet. I didn’t sit down intending to talk about the emotional climate of our world. But as a social worker, a mom, and someone who spends every day protecting kids — I couldn’t ignore what I was feeling anymore. The violence. The misinformation. The intensity. The instability. This isn’t a political episode. It’s a nervous system episode. A child development episode. A human episode. Our kids do not just absorb what’s on their screens. They absorb the emotional tone of the world around them. Their bodies are constantly asking: Am I safe? Are the adults okay? Can I trust what I’m seeing? In this episode, I share why this moment feels different to me, how cultural dysregulation shows up in kids, and why families matter more than ever as anchors of safety and regulation. If you’ve felt unsettled lately ...if your heart has felt heavy, protective, or quietly anxious ...this conversation is for you. www.knbcommunications.com

In this episode of Protect Our Kids, I do something a little different ...I use AI itself as a research tool and ask a big-picture question: How has the human race historically responded to new technology, and what does that mean for our kids right now? What came back was surprisingly clear and honestly, a little unsettling. Across history, when transformative technology enters society, we follow a familiar pattern: rapid adoption, cultural excitement, delayed safeguards, and vulnerable populations ... especially children ...being impacted first. Social media and AI are no exception, except for one critical difference: this technology is moving faster than anything we’ve ever seen before. We talk about: Why our nervous systems struggle to keep up with rapid tech change How society tends to regulate only after harm appears What “unstewarded technology” really means for families Why waiting for culture and policy to catch up may not be an option this time Most importantly, this episode is a call to stewardship — not fear. Technology itself isn’t the enemy, but leaving kids unprotected in the middle of massive innovation is not acceptable. If you’re a parent, educator, or professional who feels both hopeful and uneasy about where we’re headed, this conversation is for you. And I truly want to hear your thoughts ...because protecting kids in the digital age is not something any of us should be figuring out alone. www.knbcommunications.com

In this episode of Protect Our Kids, I do something a little different ...I use AI itself as a research tool and ask a big-picture question: How has the human race historically responded to new technology, and what does that mean for our kids right now? What came back was surprisingly clear and honestly, a little unsettling. Across history, when transformative technology enters society, we follow a familiar pattern: rapid adoption, cultural excitement, delayed safeguards, and vulnerable populations ... especially children ...being impacted first. Social media and AI are no exception, except for one critical difference: this technology is moving faster than anything we’ve ever seen before. We talk about: Why our nervous systems struggle to keep up with rapid tech change How society tends to regulate only after harm appears What “unstewarded technology” really means for families Why waiting for culture and policy to catch up may not be an option this time Most importantly, this episode is a call to stewardship ...not fear. Technology itself isn’t the enemy, but leaving kids unprotected in the middle of massive innovation is not acceptable. If you’re a parent, educator, or professional who feels both hopeful and uneasy about where we’re headed, this conversation is for you. And I truly want to hear your thoughts — because protecting kids in the digital age is not something any of us should be figuring out alone. www.knbcommunications.com

For years many professionals have been telling  parents that screen time is the problem. How many hours? What apps? Which games? What age is too young? While those questions matter, they miss the larger shift already underway. It is one I have been talking about for over a decade.  The greatest challenge parents will face in the coming years is not how much technology their children use…but who (or what) is shaping their thinking, emotions, and sense of self.  Emphasis on what… www.knbcommunications.com