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The Prevention Leaders Podcast

Helping Youth Thrive Online: Practical Guidance for Parents and Prevention Pros

49 min

Guest: Rikki Barton

Listen on Spotify

Summary

This episode of The Prevention Leaders Podcast explores the critical topic of youth, social media, and mental health. Dave Closson and guest Rikki Barton discuss the latest research on screen time, online risks, and the impact of device use, offering practical guidance for parents and prevention professionals. They provide solutions for navigating the digital world with awareness and intention, focusing on prevention science.

Key takeaways

  • Learn how to have meaningful conversations with youth about their online experiences.
  • Discover how parents and caregivers can model healthy digital habits for their children.
  • Understand how prevention professionals can apply the Strategic Prevention Framework to digital wellness initiatives.
  • Find resources and tools for building family media plans and creating positive online spaces.
  • Explore ways to engage youth as collaborators in shaping safe and supportive digital environments.
Show notes

In this powerful episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave Closson is joined by Rikki Barton, prevention strategist, national trainer, and founder of Onward Consulting, to explore one of today’s most pressing topics: youth, social media, and mental health.

Rikki shares her insights from training thousands of youth, parents, and prevention professionals across the country on how to navigate the digital world with awareness, intention, and prevention science. Together, they unpack the latest research on screen time, online risks like sextortion, the dopamine effect of algorithms, and the physical and mental toll of excessive device use.

But this conversation isn’t just about the risks, it’s about solutions.

You’ll learn:

  • How to have meaningful conversations with youth about their online experiences
  • What parents and caregivers can do to model healthy digital habits
  • How prevention professionals can apply the Strategic Prevention Framework to digital wellness
  • Resources and tools for building family media plans and creating positive online spaces
  • Ways to engage youth as collaborators in shaping safe, supportive digital environments


Whether you’re a parent, prevention leader, or passionate advocate for youth well-being, this episode is packed with actionable ideas and real-world examples you can use right away.


LINKS

  • https://www.onwardconsulting.biz/
  • https://www.facebook.com/onwardconsultingllc
  • http://www.linkedin.com/in/rikki-onward
  • https://www.instagram.com/onward_consulting/
  • https://www.daveclosson.com/links
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