Federalist Radio Hour 'The Kylee Cast' feat. Clare Morell, Ep. 20: Stop Soothing Your Kid With A Digital Pacifier
Dec 4, 2025
Clare Morell, a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, dives into the pressing issue of children's relationship with technology. She argues that a smartphone-free childhood is not just ideal but achievable. Clare reveals the dangers of screens in classrooms, debunks the myth of parental controls, and compares screens to deadly digital fentanyl. She advocates for intentional family screen use and offers alternatives to traditional smartphones. Clare emphasizes the need for real human connections over digital ones to combat loneliness and addiction.
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Don't Rely On Screen-Time Limits
- Avoid relying on screen-time limits because addictive product design makes short limits ineffective.
- Treat interactive screens like highly addictive substances, not sugary treats, and limit exposure accordingly.
Apps Contain Hidden Portals To The Web
- Every app contains an in-app browser acting as a separate portal to the wider web.
- In-app browsers let kids access blocked sites like pornography without leaving the parent-approved app.
Dopamine Hits Replace Real Bonding
- Smartphones deliver repeated dopamine hits while blocking oxytocin-rich real-world bonding.
- Kids become lonelier despite constant online connection because screens can't create deep human bonds.
