Overview

• On the June 27 episode of the “IMO” podcast, Michelle Obama urged parents to set clear rules and reminded them that their children are not their friends.
• Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explained that heavy social media and smartphone use rewires young brains by overstimulating dopamine, fueling addictive behavior.
• Obama warned that enforcing screen-time limits will cause “parental pain” but insisted that resilience now yields long-term benefits for children’s well-being.
• Haidt highlighted that many in Gen Z appreciate that their parents delayed smartphone and social media access, linking postponed exposure to better mental health.
• Countries including Australia and Norway are exploring new regulations to restrict children’s social media use in response to growing concerns about its impact.