The Dopamine Trap: Social Media, Kids, and the Movement We Need Now

What if the thing we reach for to relax is actually exhausting us—and quietly reshaping our kids’ brains along the way?

Social media is woven into nearly every part of modern life, but in this candid Spark Me conversation, Liz Graham and Michele Dempsey take a hard look at the unintended consequences of constant scrolling—for adults and kids. From dopamine hits and “bed rotting” to comparison culture and lost creativity, this episode pulls back the curtain on why so many of us feel worse the more connected we are.

Liz and Michele unpack how even grown adults struggle to self-regulate their screen time, and why that reality makes unrestricted access especially dangerous for developing brains. They explore how boredom, quiet, and presence—once natural parts of life—are being squeezed out, and what we lose when they disappear.

The conversation deepens with a powerful sidebar featuring Rachel Olszewski Conrad, who shares how she and her husband are already setting boundaries around technology for their young children. Together, they discuss parenting strategies, societal responsibility, and why this isn’t just a “parent problem,” but a cultural one.

This episode isn’t about shaming or fear—it’s about awareness, intention, and starting a movement toward healthier relationships with our phones, our kids, and ourselves.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why social media is engineered to deliver dopamine hits—and why that matters

• How boredom and quiet are essential for creativity, emotional regulation, and self-awareness

• Why kids’ developing brains are especially vulnerable to social media addiction

• The hidden emotional toll of comparison culture (even for adults)

• Why some platforms are uniquely dangerous for kids and teens

• Practical boundary-setting strategies for phones and screen time

• How modeling adult behavior shapes kids’ relationship with technology
  
  
• Why real change will require a societal—not just individual—shift

Resources

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036

• Bark – Parental monitoring and safety tools bark.us

• Common Sense Media – Research and guidance on kids & media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/parents-ultimate-guides/social-media

Keep Sparking

If this conversation resonated with you:

• Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a Spark Short

• Share this episode with a parent, educator, or friend navigating screen time struggles

• Leave a rating or review — it helps more women discover the show

• Tag us when you’re listening and tell us: What boundaries are you setting with social media—for yourself or your kids?