Family IT Guy Podcast

If You Use AI for Therapy Watch This

A growing number of adults and teens are using AI chatbots for therapy, emotional support, advice, and difficult conversations. Some people say it helps them feel less alone. Others are relying on it daily for mental health guidance.But there’s a major problem most people are missing:AI can sound caring, wise, and authoritative without actually understanding you, your situation, or the consequences of its advice.In this video, I break down:• Why people are turning to AI for therapy• The benefits people are experiencing• The serious risks parents need to understand• The privacy tradeoffs nobody talks about• The dangerous “human-like” illusion of AI• Why skepticism matters more than fear• The exact custom instructions I recommend using with AI systemsI also discuss the tragic case referenced in current litigation involving a teen and an AI chatbot, and what it reveals about the limitations of these systems.My goal is not panic or blind trust. It’s helping families understand what these tools are, where they help, where they fail, and how to use them responsibly.Read the full article and copy the custom AI instructions here:https://www.familyitguy.com/ai-therapy-custom-instructions.html#AI #MentalHealth #Parenting #ChatGPT #AITherapy #DigitalParenting #Technology #CyberSafety #OnlineSafety #FamilyITGuy

Why We Removed Phones From Our Bedrooms (And What Changed Immediately)

If you are trying to keep your kids safer online, this is where I would start: keep internet-connected devices out of bedrooms.Bedrooms should be calm places. Places for sleep, rest, conversation, quiet, and recovery.But phones, tablets, gaming systems, and social media feeds bring noise into that space — not just sound noise, but mental and emotional noise.In this video, I explain why removing devices from bedrooms has been one of the most impactful digital changes in our home, both for us as parents and for our kids.We talk about:• Why internet-connected bedrooms affect sleep and mental health • How phones quietly pull attention even when they are not being used • Why kids are more vulnerable online late at night • The connection between bedrooms, boundaries, and digital safety • Why parents need to model this behavior first • How our family handles phones, tablets, school devices, gaming systems, and smartwatches at nightOne of the biggest surprises for my wife and me was how different our bedroom felt the very first night we removed our phones. The room immediately felt calmer, quieter, and more connected.That same calm matters even more for kids.Our family rule is simple: Bedrooms are for rest. The internet sleeps somewhere else.If you want the chargers, alarm clocks, and other gear we use in our home, go to: https://www.familyitguy.com/no-internet-in-bedrooms.html#digitalparenting #internetsafety #parenting #screentime #familytech #onlineSafety #cybersecurity #mentalhealth #phones #socialmedia

How to Remove Hidden Data From Your Photos

Most people crop photos for aesthetics. Few realize that every photo can also contain hidden metadata.When you take a picture on your phone, it may include location data, timestamps, device information, camera details, and other digital markers that create a larger story over time.In this video, I break down a simple privacy habit that takes less than a minute but can reduce how much information you share online.You’ll learn how to:• Crop out identifying details in the background• Remove location metadata before posting• Adjust timestamps for added privacy when needed• Reduce the digital trail your photos create over timeOne photo may seem harmless, but years of uploaded images can reveal routines, locations, travel habits, and personal patterns.Perfect privacy online doesn’t exist, but small habits can make a meaningful difference.Before posting to social media, texting photos, or uploading images to AI tools, take a second look at what your photo may be sharing behind the scenes.Chapters:00:00 Why photo privacy matters00:25 What metadata is hidden in photos01:05 How to remove location data02:00 Why timestamps matter03:15 How companies connect photo data04:10 Simple privacy habits to use dailyKeywords:photo metadata, remove metadata from photos, digital privacy tips, online privacy, photo privacy settings, remove location from photos, hidden data in photos, smartphone privacy, metadata explained, internet privacy tips, AI photo privacy, cybersecurity tipsHashtags:#DigitalPrivacy #PhotoPrivacy #Metadata #CyberSafety #OnlineSafety #DataPrivacy #InternetSafety #TechTips #FamilyITGuy

How Predators Went From Playgrounds to Your Kid’s Phone

Mike Lemon investigates crimes against children for a living. He's done it for over 20 years. He trains 5,000 parents a year on what he's learned. He still built layered defenses for his own kids' devices, because he knows no child can handle a professional predator alone.We talked for almost 90 minutes. AI sextortion, how Snapchat was really designed, the evolution from physical predation to online operations, his family's actual phone contract, and a conversation framework I keep coming back to.0:00 Introduction 2:03 The man in the van 5:48 Computer forensics training 8:42 Physical abuse vs. online predation 11:41 The screams that stay with you 13:07 When predators face justice 20:03 Trust a predator to be a predator 23:09 From parks to phones 25:58 The "I'm Sorry" Scam 29:07 Sextortion at scale 35:24 Make your kids' accounts private 36:23 AI sextortion and Eli Hecock 40:07 The family contract 43:17 The whitelist approach 46:49 How Snapchat was really designed 56:16 Social media and suicide data 59:26 COPPA and enforcement 1:03:25 The one app for parents 1:09:59 Same side of the table 1:17:52 Every app is a new window 1:19:41 Advice for kidsDet. Mike Lemon | ICAC Detective, 20+ years | CyberSafeSchool.org https://www.cybersafeschool.org Family IT Guy: https://www.familyitguy.com iPhone Setup Guide: https://www.familyitguy.com/iphone-setup-guide

Meta to pay $375 million for knowingly putting children in danger on Facebook and Instagram.

A New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for knowingly putting children in danger on Facebook and Instagram. It's being called a historic win, but is it really a win for kids?In this video, I break down exactly what happened in court, what evidence the jury saw, and most importantly, what's coming next and why the proposed "solutions" may actually make things worse for your family.Chapters:0:00 — The $375M Meta Verdict0:45 — What Evidence the Jury Saw1:30 — 500,000 Cases a Day: Meta's Own Numbers2:15 — Who Actually Gets the Money3:00 — Why the Proposed "Solutions" Are a Problem4:15 — What Courts, Meta and Government Can't Fix5:00 — What YOU Can Do Right NowCourts won't fix this. Meta won't fix this. The government won't fix this.This is on us.Start here 👇📱 iPhone? Use Screen Time (free) (http://familyitguy.com/go/iphoneguide)📱 Android? Use Family Link (free) 📲 Want a phone built for families? Try the Bark Phone: https://www.familyitguy.com/go/barkwww.familyitguy.com

Age Verification Laws Won’t Protect Your Kids Online (Here’s What Will)

At least 20 states are pushing bills that claim to protect your kids online. I've read them. I testified against one in South Dakota.The problems they're trying to solve are real. The bills don't solve them.I'm Ben Gillenwater — dad, cybersecurity expert, 30 years in the field. In this video I break down exactly what these laws would actually do, why the last major child safety law passed in 1998 made things worse, and why the most powerful protection for your kid isn't in a state capitol. It's in your house.The two things that actually put your kid in danger online:→ Addictive algorithms engineered like slot machines→ Anonymous strangers who can reach your child through games, apps, and messagingOnline enticement reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children went from 186,000 in 2023 to over one million in 2025. Laws didn't stop that. And the ones being proposed won't either.Rules expire. Skills don't. That's what this channel is about.📱 Step-by-step iPhone safety guide: http://familyitguy.com/go/iphoneguide🔔 Subscribe for the full series📤 Send this to a parent who needs to hear it

What to Do When Your Kid Is Melting Down Over Screens

Dr. Carrie Mackensen is a clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience directing addiction and eating disorder treatment programs. She's raising two boys without iPads and is writing a book on parenting in the digital age.In Part 2 of our conversation, we dig into the places where parents actually get stuck: the meltdowns when you take devices away, how to tell if screens are the problem or just puberty, what device withdrawal really looks like (and how long it lasts by age), why Silicon Valley parents send their kids to screen-free schools, the alarming 40% drop in empathy among young people since 2000, and why saying no to screens might be the most loving thing you can do.This is a real conversation between two parents trying to figure this out. No judgment, no perfect answers — just honest experience from someone who's spent decades helping families navigate this.CHAPTERS: 0:00 Introduction 1:27 Assessing Device Impact vs Normal Development 6:32 Conscious Transitions and Being Present 11:36 Are You More Affected Than You Think? 14:31 Co-Regulation: The Breathing Exercise Story 18:53 You Can't Solve a Math Problem While Drowning 24:43 Device Withdrawal: What to Expect 30:11 Screen Time Boundaries by Age 35:38 Schools Using Devices as Babysitters 42:08 Practical Steps for Reducing Screen Time 46:23 The Gamification of Education 49:28 The Good News: Your Brain Can Rewire 51:31 Communication Without Screens 56:45 Road Rage and Digital Dehumanization 1:03:25 Screens Are Erasing Empathy 1:09:36 Gratitude as a Digital Antidote 1:12:13 The Worst Crisis Humanity Has Faced? 1:15:40 Saying No is an Act of Love 1:22:28 Whitelist vs Blacklist: Device Restrictions 1:27:18 One Change Every Parent Should Make 1:39:43 Closing ThoughtsFind Dr. Carrie at www.successfulparent.comFree Resources at www.familyitguy.com

Is Roblox Safe for Kids? Chris Hansen’s Investigation Explained

Is Roblox safe for kids? In this interview, Chris Hansen shares findings from his investigation into predators, grooming tactics, and why thousands of families have reported harm on the platform.Chris Hansen, who has exposed online predators for over two decades, explains how grooming works on modern platforms, why Roblox has become a growing concern for families, and what parents can do right now to reduce risk.This conversation breaks down the real tactics predators use, how children are targeted, and the specific steps families can take to protect kids without removing technology entirely.What parents will learn in this episode: • How predators identify and groom children on gaming platforms • Warning signs your child may be communicating with strangers • Why popular safety assumptions about Roblox can be misleading • The connection between online grooming and real-world exploitation • Practical rules every family can implement today • Where parents should and should not allow devicesTimestamps0:00 Is Roblox safe for kids?1:25 Chris Hansen’s history investigating predators5:28 How online grooming works12:57 Why Hansen began investigating Roblox28:44 Why Roblox declined on-camera questions31:32 A Roblox grooming case explained40:09 Sextortion and modern threats41:23 What parents can do right now50:31 Upcoming documentary releaseCHRIS HANSEN'S DOCUMENTARY "Taking Down Roblox" drops February 27 on True Blue: https://www.watchtrublu.comABOUT FAMILY IT GUY Ben Gillenwater is a 30-year cybersecurity expert (including NSA) helping parents protect their families online.GET MY iPHONE SAFETY GUIDE: https://www.familyitguy.com/iphone-setup-guide.htmlSUBSCRIBE for weekly digital safety content for parents.

”Screens Are a Drug.” How to Get Your Family Back with Mike McLeod

Mike McLeod is a speech-language pathologist and ADHD executive function specialist who has worked with over 500 families to eliminate screens since 2016. He hosts the ADHD Parenting Podcast and has two books that released in January 2026.In this conversation, we get into the hard stuff: why screen addiction looks identical to drug addiction, what the withdrawal period actually looks like when you take a phone away, what EdTech has done to education (and how to opt out of school Chromebooks), and why parents need to organize with other families instead of waiting for institutions to fix this.Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Mike's background in ADHD and executive functioning 3:05 - ADHD is really an executive functioning disorder 5:05 - The four pillars of executive functioning 9:55 - How screens stop brain development 12:25 - The youth mental health crisis 14:59 - Suicide rates tripled after the iPhone launched 18:31 - Getting a real ADHD evaluation 20:14 - Screens stole boredom from childhood 26:14 - Why parents keep screens in their kids' lives 29:48 - Four cognitive distortions parents tell themselves 33:40 - What phone withdrawal actually looks like 47:12 - You can't teach a kid to manage an addiction 53:04 - 500 families eliminated screens, zero regrets 58:55 - EdTech is destroying education 63:34 - Life at 18 with vs. without executive function 69:17 - The one thing every parent should do right nowIf you're a parent dealing with screen battles at home, you're not alone. Mike has seen this hundreds of times and it does get better: https://www.grownowadhd.com/about/Check out his new book: https://www.grownowadhd.com/grownow-book/Family IT Guy helps parents block harmful content, limit screen time, and prevent contact from strangers. Guides: www.familyitguy.com Subscribe for more conversations with experts who work directly with families.

Social Media on Trial: The Case Against Meta, YouTube, TikTok & Snapchat

For the first time, social media executives are being forced to answer to a jury for the impact their platforms have had on children.This trial in Los Angeles (MDL 3047) brings together claims from more than 2,000 families who allege that platform features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications, and reward systems were intentionally designed to encourage compulsive use in kids and teens.Evidence presented in court includes:• Internal memos comparing Instagram to a drug• Research showing vulnerable teens were especially at risk• Warnings about beauty filters contributing to body dysmorphia• Testimony distinguishing “clinical addiction” from “problematic use”• Allegations linking platform contact to exploitation, drug access, and suicideAt the center of the case is a critical question:Are these technology companies — or advertising companies built on capturing attention?Follow Nicki Petrossi of Scrolling to Death for ongoing courtroom coverage and analysis.To track the proceedings, search: MDL 3047