After spending the early years of her youngest son’s life in and out of the hospital for his life-saving surgeries to fix congenital heart defects, DeLoach and her husband, Ryan Goodell, have more than earned a few stress-free years with their sons. The actress, who is starring in Hallmark’s upcoming romance film Home Turf, is a mom to 11-year-old Hudson and 7-year-old Bennett with Goodell.

While participating in SheKnows’ Parents Tell All video series, the actress opened up about how she’s finding joy in parenting her boys, how Bennett’s heart surgeries changed their family, and how she’s navigating the tween years.

SheKnows: What’s the biggest “win” you’ve had as a mom?

Nikki DeLoach: My oldest is at camp right now, and he wrote me a letter, so it says, “Dear Mom, I know I will be at home when you read this, but I love you so much. And I just wanted to say that when I get home, I might be a little sad to leave camp, but deep inside, I will feel like home with you, and you are the best thing that I will see on the last day when you pick me up. Love, Hudson.”

He didn’t write my husband one.

SK: What has been more challenging, tween years or toddler years?

ND: So far, my 11-year-old tells me everything, and when I mean everything, I mean everything. It’s been really fun just getting to know who he is and how his brain works and what he thinks and what makes him anxious or nervous. Girls, oh my goodness, how bodies are changing.

I would say toddler [were harder]. But I also had a very different toddler experience, because my now-7-year-old went through three heart surgeries when he was younger. So it’s hard to compare my experience to, I guess, what a typical parenting experience would be.

SK: How did your son’s heart issues impact your family’s bond?

ND: The heart surgeries and what we’ve gone through as a family has definitely brought us closer together. I mean, he had three heart surgeries in two years, and then when he was finally cleared and his heart was in a good place for him to actually not be in a bubble anymore, COVID happened, so then we had to go right back into our bubble.

It was really just the four of us and our animals for the longest time. And it changed my marriage, because for the longest time, I worked full-time and I did everything. At that point in time, it had to be, we both work full-time, and let’s split up these duties.

My husband got to know what I really carry on a daily basis, and then he was able to pick up some of that and carry the load.

SK: What do your kids think of what you do?

ND: My kids are actually really funny about what I do. They love coming to set.

My 7-year-old the other day, we were walking to cooking class, and he was like, “I want to be an actor.” And I was like, and “I was like, I’m gonna throw you some lines, okay?”

I threw him a line where he’s supposed to be sad, and he did it. Then I threw him a line where he’s supposed to be excited, and he did it. And I was like, “I’m terrified right now, because you’re actually really good at this.”

In fact, this last movie I did, which airs in the fall on Hallmark, they just came with me to set all day, and I have to say, they enjoyed every second of it.

Watch the full video above!

Several teens pointed to their jobs as a big marker of maturity. The responsibility of showing up, working alongside coworkers, and earning a paycheck makes them feel like they’re stepping into the adult world.

“Kind of putting in the grind, and being around older people at work really makes me feel like an adult,” one teen said about how their job at a local restaurant is a real introduction to the grown-up world. Another added: “I work in a job and [have] bigger responsibilities, like doing chores around the house and just helping out my parents.”

Others pointed to handling responsibilities at home. “Making my own breakfast, lunch, and dinner makes me feel like an adult,” one teen shared, while another explained, “My mom’s working, so I do my laundry, everything, by myself.” These daily acts of responsibility — cooking, cleaning, helping out when parents are busy — can feel like major steps into adulthood.

But while teens are busy proving they can handle life on their own, many feel like their parents don’t always see it. “Honestly, I think they overcomplicate it a little bit,” one teen said. “Sometimes they hover over us a little bit, and think that we can’t do stuff on our own, but we really can.”

Another frustration is the generational gap. One teen pointed out that while parents often insist they know what it’s like to be a teen, the truth is that growing up today is very different. “Especially with technology, I think that’s played a big role in how times have changed now compared to when they were kids,” explained one teen.

That difference in perspective shapes everything from how teens communicate to how they respond in certain situations. As one put it: “They might see some things differently as in how we’re supposed to react … because that’s not how we’ve grown up.” From the way teens learn and communicate to the way they see the world, this generation’s experiences aren’t a mirror of their parents’ — and teens want that to be acknowledged.

In the end, the message from teens is clear: adulting is about more than chores and jobs — it’s about the everyday independence of managing responsibilities, being trusted to figure things out, and being recognized for who they are now — not compared to who their parents were at the same age.

Cheetah print came up with mixed reviews. Olivia didn’t hesitate: “It’s been overdone.” Greta agreed, and Olivia doubled down: “Once it reaches, like, the 12-year-old demographic, then you gotta let it go.” Kaya was a bit more forgiving, saying it depends on the material, while Anaïs thought the frenzy had calmed down enough for her to enjoy it again. By the end, Olivia had moved on to a new animal print crush — zebra — and a determination to “make it a thing.” 

Bubble skirts got a much frostier reception, with all four teen girls giving the trend red flags (eek!). Greta admitted, “I’ve seen people look cute with them, but I would never buy it,” and Olivia didn’t hesitate to say the same. Kaya said the name alone “just reminds me of, like, the Victorian era,” and Anaïs simply wasn’t into how they looked.

Micro shorts, on the other hand, had way more fans, garnering green flags across the board. Kaya called them “very 2000s” and said she liked them; Anaïs thought they were cute and easy to style; Greta said she’d definitely buy a pair. When talk turned to where to shop, Greta mentioned Edikted, and Kaya pointed out new collections from Hollister and Aeropostale — both brands currently enjoying a Y2K-era resurgence. In fact, Hollister recently overtook Lululemon as the top apparel brand among upper-income teen girls, according to Piper Sandler’s Spring 2025 “Taking Stock With Teens” survey.

Like micro shorts, cowboy boots were an easy “buy” for everyone. Greta said, “I have a pair and I love them.” Olivia even has a sentimental pair: “My dark brown ones are my mom’s old Frye boots that she got when I was born … they’re vintage.” (Parents, let’s take a moment of silence for those of us old enough to have teens who refer to our own teenage style as “vintage.”) That mix of personal history and trend is right in line with teens’ current love for nostalgic, unique pieces — a big reason vintage shopping is booming, with ThredUp’s Resale Report predicting that the secondhand apparel market in the United States will reach $74 billion by 2029. 

When the topic turned to mixed-metal jewelry, it became clear Greta was ahead of the curve. “I have both silver and gold jewelry, and I kind of just started wearing them together ’cause I didn’t care that much, and then the trend started, and I think it’s cute,” she said. Olivia agreed, admitting Greta had been doing it long before most people she knows. A self-professed “hardcore gold girl,” Olivia only recently started mixing metals with her rings. Greta swears by vintage store finds — “It’s the best thing to have since it’s not basic” — and Olivia’s on the same page: “I like my jewelry to be very unique.” That hunt for individuality is a consistent theme in teen fashion right now, with the need to be “not basic” likely one of the main forces behind the uptick in thrifting.

From animal prints to accessories, our “Buy or Bye” game made one thing clear: trends may come and go, but the way teens make them their own — and call out what’s tired — is what really keeps fashion interesting.

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.

For Greta, the first taste of independence came when she was allowed to walk to school on her own. Sophie called getting her license a turning point: “I think around when I was 16, I probably felt like that was a big jump in my independence because I was able to drive … being able to get to places by yourself is a huge step forward.” Clive’s came in a different way: “I live in a rural area, so I started to be able to go to town and buy my own food and do my own stuff without my parents.”

Greta agreed that early on, independence was mainly anything that involved “not being with your parents,” while Clive pointed out that “if your parents don’t let you go out, ever, you kind of start to think it’s, like, a fun thing … [but] if you’re allowed to go out from a young age… you learn to handle yourself.”

Despite their increasing autonomy, the teens said, their parents still stifle it occasionally. Sophie said, “I feel super boxed in when I’m not on top of my own stuff — they get, like, very strict.” For Greta, it’s her screen time being monitored: “It wasn’t that high, but it was, like, mainly on social media.” Sophie revealed, “My mom was logged into my Instagram for so long … when I was maybe 13 or 14, I just made a Finsta [fake Instagram account] that she wasn’t logged into.”

Curfews were another thing — especially for the college students, who were navigating the territory of being independent at school, then returning home and back to the house rules. “I was pretty shocked that they were giving me curfews … all of a sudden I came home and they were like, ‘Oh, you have to be home at this time,’” reported Sophie. 

On location tracking, though — one area where you might expect the teens to protest — the group was surprisingly chill. “I don’t care,” said Clive. “I track my mom more than she tracks me.” Sophie agreed: “I actually do feel safer with them having it … just in case anything happens.” Greta admitted her mom is “very active on the tracking app,” and Sophie laughed about how it can “expose me with the time that I come home.”

College is a whole new frontier when it comes to independence, and Greta, heading into her senior year of high school, says when it comes to college she’s most nervous about “making friends and finding my people.”

“I was just so nervous about college in general,” Sophie related. “I was worried I wasn’t gonna make friends … but the second I got there, I realized I was really stressed for no reason. Like, I had the best time.” Therapy helped, she said: “Being able to talk about how you feel and have someone that you trust is really important … especially at school when your family’s not there.”

When it came to the hardest part of college life, Sophie said it was “being able to organize what is most urgent … I was always told kind of exactly what to do, and then when I got to college, I was, like, ‘Wait, there’s no instructions.’” For Ajani, it was time management: figuring out “when would be my time for work and studying … when would be my time for seeing my friends or going to the gym.”

The consensus? Independence is exciting, but it’s also a learning curve — one that teens are still navigating in real time. See everything they had to say about it in the video above.

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.

The answers varied, depending on the school. Some students described strict rules: “We have a phone box in the mornings — we turn it in and then we can’t get it back until the end of the day, not even for lunch,” one teen said. Another remembered having lockable Yondr pouches in middle school (and described them as “kind of overkill”). On the flip side, others said their schools were much more relaxed: “Just not being on it when the teacher’s lecturing you or talking … but if you finished all your work, my teachers don’t really care.”

Despite the different policies, most teens circled back to one reason they wanted their phones with them: safety. “A lot of school shootings have still been happening recently, and I feel like students should be able to have their phones in case of emergencies,” one student told me. Another put it simply: “Not only do I like having my phone, it’s also like a safety thing too. I would just feel a little more comfortable with it.” For some, it wasn’t just emergencies; it was also about staying in touch with family. “People need to communicate to family members. I know I talk to my mom all the time,” one teen said.

That doesn’t mean students dismiss the idea of limits. Several pointed out that putting phones away during class seems fair. “If it’s really that much of an issue, have students turn it in before class and get it back at the end,” one suggested. Teens were generally fine with not scrolling during lessons; what they resisted was being cut off from their phones entirely for hours at a time. “If the teacher doesn’t care, I might scroll on Pinterest or something like that,” one said. “But for the most part, I’m locked in.”

Of course, the question remains: do bans even work? Teens were quick to say no. “Sometimes we just don’t do it,” one student admitted about being asked to put their phone in a caddy. “That’s a way to get around it, I guess. Say you don’t have it.” Another explained that restrictions tend to encourage sneaky behavior. “If you have strict parents, you’re going to be a sneakier kid. I feel like that transfers over to school. Students will become more sneaky. Maybe they have like a backup phone or something.” And they reported seeing social media posts where students turn in fake phones or break open Yondr pouches just to get around the rules.

At the end of the day, most teens felt that banning cell phones in schools would do more harm than good. They believed students would just find a way to get around the rules anyway, whether that meant sneaking phones in or using a backup. They also pushed back against the idea that every student who brings a phone to school is only using it to scroll during class. For the most part, they didn’t mind putting their phones away during lessons; the discomfort came from not having access to them at all during the day.

In the end, distraction may be the problem, but for teens, taking away their phones entirely isn’t the solution. Phones give them a sense of security, a way to stay connected, and yes, sometimes a way to procrastinate. Their proposed compromise: Limitations that keep phones out of the way during lessons, without taking them completely out of students’ hands.

That’s one reason why Michele has partnered with Lysol for its HERE for Healthy Schools initiative, a program started in 2019 that promotes healthy habits at home and in classrooms. (The campaign, by the way, takes a hilarious swipe at that ridiculous rumor — you know the one — by having her read a book about “SOMO — Sick of Missing Out” — during story time in a classroom. Chef’s kiss.) With son Ever starting school in September, she wants to make sure he doesn’t miss out on any special moments throughout the year, she explains, while also adding that she’s genuinely a “huge fan” of the brand. “Even on the day I found out that I would be partnering up with Lysol, I had these disinfecting wipes in my purse at that very moment, and I took a picture to show everyone,” she says.

SheKnows chatted with Michele about the partnership, the preschool-to-K transition, how she and husband Zandy Reich, who got married in 2019, came up with their kids’ names, and which co-star she’d trust to babysit. Watch the video for the full SheKnows Parents Tell All interview!

That distinction came into sharp focus during a recent SHE Media-led conversation with members of the SheKnows Teen Council, in which SHE Media CEO Samantha Skey posed a simple but telling question: when it comes to certain influencers, “Is this person more of a trend driver or a trust driver?” In other words, is their influence built on lasting credibility — or are they just a flash in the pan?

The teens in the focus group didn’t hesitate to answer. They weren’t swayed by follower counts or celebrity status; instead, they kept coming back to connection, consistency, and whether an influencer actually feels real.

Alix Earle came up as a prime example of one of those “trust drivers.” She’s a 24-year-old TikTok sensation with over 7 million followers who rose to fame through her GRWM (“get ready with me”) videos; her candid discussions on vulnerable topics, and willingness to be an open book, have made her authenticity stand out among a sea of influencers just trying to … well, influence.

“She takes off the beauty filter, which a lot of influencers don’t do, and she’s like, ‘this is my breakout,’” said Olivia, 17, during SheKnows’ focus group. “She is one of the few influencers right now that, I think, is really focused on making sure that people know what she really looks like.”

Earle herself addressed this authenticity and how it connects her to her audience. “What I say can really resonate with girls … just the advice that I give, or those relatable moments that I talk about — my acne, or my mental health, or me being dropped by all the sororities, like those moments that truly impact people,” Earle told WSJ.Style earlier this summer. “To me, it feels maybe silly, or like I am oversharing online, but then I meet people in real life and sometimes they’ll come to me with tears in their eyes just saying how something I’ve said and shared has helped them, and that truly makes it all worth it.” 

That transparency — not just in skin care, but in self-presentation — builds a kind of credibility that can’t be faked. Engagement isn’t just about being visible, it’s about being vulnerable. As Tammy Gerrety, senior social and content director at PR and communications firm Herd MSL, put it: “Influencers who are openly sharing their struggles, insecurities, and true moments of chaos are attracting deeper engagement and loyalty.” She notes that curated “authenticity” is no longer enough; Gen Z wants actual imperfection, not staged relatability.

The trend is playing out across platforms. TikTok’s most resonant content includes unfiltered GRWMs, emotionally raw storytelling, and disclaimers like “this isn’t even paid for” — a response to Gen Z’s growing advertising fatigue. And why is that advertising fatigue growing? It’s simple: when it comes to Gen Z doesn’t like to be pandered to, and they know when someone is doing something for clicks or clout.

But authenticity isn’t the only thing that earns teens’ respect; expertise matters, too. When teens believe someone truly knows what they’re talking about, it adds a layer of credibility that performance or popularity can’t replicate. Still, that respect has limits — and only holds as long as the person stays in their lane. Of the often-controversial Elon Musk, one teen in the focus group observed, “I think he’s very reputable in, like, finance circles, and what he says about the stock market and products and investments.” But that trust doesn’t necessarily extend into politics or personal behavior: “I think once you get into, like, a political area, no one takes him seriously.” 

As our focus group proved, real confidence in a brand, product, or person doesn’t just materialize. It’s earned: slowly, imperfectly, and honestly. Trends might grab attention — but for teens, trust is what actually sticks.

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.

A report from Common Sense Media recently revealed that 72 percent of teens have used AI companions at least once, with more than half saying they use them regularly. About one-third admitted they’ve used AI for social interaction and emotional support — sometimes even instead of talking to real people. And in a recent poll of our own SheKnows Teen Council, 20 percent of teens said they’ve asked AI for personal advice.

To get a better sense of what this looks like IRL, we sat down with two 17-year-old Teen Council members, Olivia and Greta, to talk about the phenomenon of “AI therapy” — what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s so appealing.

“AI versus your therapist is definitely very different,” Greta said right off the bat. Olivia agreed, though she readily admits she’s not above a good vent session with a chatbot and has “whole conversations” with ChatGPT to discuss her problems; she likes that the platform remembers personal details she’s told it before, which can add context and insight to subsequent conversations.

While that level of recall might freak some people out, Olivia finds it kind of soothing.

“Everything we’ve told them, they actually store and they can, like, regurgitate that information to us. It’s actually really nice,” she said. She even uses the voice option, which allows you to talk out loud and hear a response — which makes the whole experience resemble therapy even more.

The rise of AI for emotional support has caught the attention of mental health professionals, too. Several months ago, Dr. Andrew Clark, a psychiatrist in Boston, decided to test out ten popular AI therapy-style platforms by posing as a teenager in crisis and shared his results with TIME magazine. Some bots were helpful(ish) — he noted ChatGPT’s “clinically appropriate phrasing” — but others? “Just creepy and potentially dangerous,” he told TIME. “It’s like a field of mushrooms — some of which are going to be poisonous and some nutritious.” 

Even Olivia and Greta, both of whom see the appeal, understand the limitations.

“AI therapy is just … it’s not real. I’m sure it’s not really helping. It’s like just talking to yourself basically,” Olivia said. “If it’s accessible, real therapy is the way to go.”

“It’s not good to rely on chatting for therapy or anything like that,” Greta agreed, adding that talking to an AI “therapist” is actually more like self-reflection.

Still, the nonjudgmental nature of talking to a bot can be weirdly freeing. Olivia likes being able to verbalize exactly what’s on her mind without the risk of anyone thinking she’s “crazy and delusional,” saying, “I just want to talk, and not have someone who has their own experiences inflating their perception of me.”

She says she talks to her ChatGPT a lot, but only when she’s stressed — mostly during the school year. Because, as she hilariously confesses, “I feel like if I was doing that when the sun was out, I would feel really embarrassed about my life.”

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.

A comedian known for his unfiltered stories and willingness to wade into controversy, Von may not seem like an obvious role model. And to be clear, most teens don’t see him that way either. But they do view him as something refreshing, someone who isn’t afraid to say the wrong thing in a world where so many are scared to say anything at all.

Do they view him as an influencer? Well, yes and no.

“He doesn’t influence me,” said Olivia, 17, “but he’s influencing society as a whole, just because the stuff he says is actually insane and he’s hilarious. It’s so popular. I think even if people aren’t agreeing with him, they’re still consuming it — like, I have probably lost brain cells listening to him, and I don’t agree, but it’s funny.”

“I don’t know if he’s influencing anybody,” said 16-year-old Connor, reflecting a common sentiment that Von’s appeal lies more in his delivery than his beliefs. “He just says a bunch of outrageous things and tells crazy stories. I feel like he’s not really changing people’s opinions.”

But Calder, 17, had a differing opinion. “[Von] can change people’s opinions if he wants, like if he really felt strong about something,” he countered. “And he says sensible things on his show, every once in a while. He’s actually kind of a sensible guy, when you dive deep into it. He definitely has influence over the people who watch his show.”

Clive, 16, echoed that sentiment, pointing to Von’s ability to present complex topics in a digestible way. “He can put concepts that are foreign to people in a very understandable way, you know? Like, if people are not that educated or something like that, he can say it in a funny way that’s easy to consume — but then there’s actual meaning to it, because he’s speaking to a lot of smart people on his show.”

Gary, 16, simply thinks Theo Von is hilarious. “Whatever he says, I die laughing whenever he comes across my feed,” he said. “And I feel like he’s encouraging people to actually say what they want to say and not censor themselves.”

That distinction matters. For many teens, Von isn’t shifting opinions or preaching any particular ideology … he’s just funny. His style may be chaotic and outrageous, but it’s also accessible. And though some of what he says may be problematic, his fearlessness is making Gen Z reevaluate cancel culture. 

“He’s less scared of cancel culture,” said Greta, 17. But when asked if they thought cancel culture was “over,” the teens were unanimous: not by a long shot. ​​“We pick and choose too much,” Olivia said, pointing out the inconsistency in how people are held accountable. Sophia, 16, agreed: “If these comedians can say stuff like this, and then other people get canceled for smaller stuff … There are just weird lines everywhere.”

That inconsistency feels especially stark for comedians like Theo Von, and the rules more flexible. “Comedy is so free,” said Olivia. “People think that what a comedian says is funny, and if an influencer were on live and said the same joke, it wouldn’t be received the same.”

She also pointed to the context comedians like Von often provide by including people of different backgrounds in the joke-telling process. “He’ll have an Asian person on the show or a Black person on the show, and he makes jokes about their race, and these people are laughing, so it doesn’t matter as much, you know? I mean, it’s like they’re enabling it a little bit while they’re on his show. So, it doesn’t feel like a serious environment. When you’re not interacting with someone … it just feels like you’re doing it to be offensive. Whereas these people feel like his friends, almost.” 

One thing was made clear during our Teen Council focus group: their own beliefs aside, Theo Von has a large impact on the Gen Z community, and they all recognize his cultural pull. Because he is so charismatic and funny, Gen Z is willing to overlook the controversial nature of his character. While some might be taken aback by his outward approach, it’s clear that Gen Z is getting tired of the overly-cautious framework of cancel culture and is embracing comedy without caution. As Olivia put it: “Cancel culture is kind of just dumb now.” 

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.

“We’re aware that being on our phone isn’t a good thing, and doing outdoor stuff is better. Talking with your friends is better,” said Clive, 16, a member of the SheKnows Teen Council. “But [putting the phone down] can be, like, difficult to do. So when you do it, you feel happy with yourself that you pushed yourself a little bit out of your comfort zone.”

That tension between what teens know is good for them in the long run and what’s actually convenient in the moment is at the heart of how they describe their smartphone’s role in their lives. It’s not all bad, but it’s definitely not helping.

According to a 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, nearly half of teens (45 percent) say social media affects the amount of sleep they get, and 40 percent say it disrupts their productivity. Both sleep and focus are cornerstones of well-being, especially during adolescence, when brains and bodies are still developing.

So when teens start intentionally doing things that don’t involve their phones, it’s not nostalgia; it’s strategy.

“Especially recently, I’ve been trying to get myself to do activities so I have a reason to not be on my phone,” said 17-year-old Sophia. “Because otherwise I’ll feel like, ‘Oh, I’m not doing anything, I might as well be on my phone.’”

And Sophia’s not alone; even younger kids are starting to self-regulate when it comes to screen time. The number of 12- to 15-year-olds who take breaks from smartphones, computers, and iPads has risen sharply — up 18 percent since 2022, to a total of 40 percent — according to research company GWI, based on a survey of 20,000 young people and their parents across 18 countries.

That kind of conscious redirection can make a big difference. “I like playing guitar, I like doing photography, just things that are fun and keep me off my phone as well,” said Olivia, 16, “because that’s never helpful — like, going on social media and seeing all the fun your friends are having when they’re away from you.”

That type of comparison spiral is a familiar one, especially for teen girls — who, per Pew’s findings, are more likely than boys to say social media hurts their mental health (25 percent vs. 14 percent), their confidence (20 percent vs. 10 percent), and their sleep (50 percent vs. 40 percent).

“I guess it’s creating sort of an epidemic,” said 19-year-old Ajani. “Because it’s just starting out at a way earlier age. So that’s allowing kids to start comparing themselves more and just be overall addicted.”

Still, most teens aren’t just scrolling passively. They’re noticing what the apps are doing to their moods, and many are taking active steps to protect their peace.

“When you’re feeling down, all you want to do is go on your phone,” said Greta, 17, “but it just makes everything so much worse. And so whatever it is to keep being busy, whether that’s hanging out with your family, your friends, doing something you love — like, I danced during the week during the school year — and that’s been a really great way for me to feel more grounded.”

According to Pew, about one in five teens say social media has hurt their mental health, and roughly the same number (22 percent) say it’s affected their grades. Meanwhile, 45 percent say they spend too much time on it, which is a noticeable jump from just 36 percent who said the same in 2022.

Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of the The Anxious Generation, pointed out that Millennials may have gone through their formative teen years with a flip phone and come out relatively unscathed. But Gen Z was the first generation to go through those years with a smartphone — and it’s done some serious damage. “If you went through puberty on a smartphone with a front-facing camera and Instagram and social media, and five hours a day of social media, nine hours a day of screen time, you are at much, much higher risk of being anxious and depressed. And you’re probably Gen Z,” he said during an event for NYU in Dialogue. 

According to our teens, that tracks. “There’s a lot more anxiety and everything because of our phones and social media,” said Calder, 17. “I think people are more open about it. I definitely do think that they have influence on people’s mental health negatively, for sure. A lot of people get super addicted to phones and are just, like, sadder.”

But parents, if we think teens are oblivious to all of this (or worse, indifferent), we’re not paying attention. They know what’s at stake, and they’re trying to navigate it in real time. And even if they haven’t figured it all out yet, they’re making intentional, incremental choices to stay grounded in a world that’s designed to keep them scrolling.

To hear our Teen Council’s unfiltered thoughts on the grip their phones have on them sometimes — and what they’re doing to loosen it — watch the video above.

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.