Am I The Role Model My Children Deserve?

When My Kid Exposed My Screen Time Hypocrisy: Why Progress Beats Perfection in Taking Back Control From The Algorithm

👀 Confession Corner

Remember when I announced we are doing a boredom challenge?

Plot Twist: My kids crushed it. I didn’t.

While they had unstructured play, I was supposed to be reading the many (many) half read books. But instead, I’d sneak in “just a minute” to check email, jot down ideas, or scroll for “work”.

Classic parent move, right?

Then, my daughter hit me with: “Mom, what if you had a screen-free Sunday, like me?”

Ouch. A whole phone-free Sunday? Yeah, that’s not happening right now. I had a million excuses, and honestly, most of them were valid.

The truth? I need this challenge as much as they do. And I’m not being the role model I hoped I’d be.

But here’s what I think: It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress and honesty.

While I can’t do a whole phone-free day, I want to make and show progress, together, with my kids.

I really want to understand why it’s so hard to put my phone down. So, I did a bit of digging and found what we already suspect (and honestly fear).

AI isn’t just helping devices or apps grab our attention anymore. It’s learning to read our emotions. And… it’s getting scary good at it (here’s last week’s article about AI companion toys).

But let’s understand the godfather of tech addiction that’s already in our homes: algorithmic engagement.

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🤖AI Concept of the Week: Algorithmic Engagement

Algorithmic engagement is how applications learn what keeps us hooked. They track everything (how long you watch a video, how fast you scroll, what you like or share). Then, they use that data to show you more of what will keep you scrolling or watching or playing.

Every app does this: Instagram, Netflix, TikTok, even games your kids play. The goal is simple: keep you engaged as long as possible.

The more time you spend, the better they get a predicting what you’ll want to see next.

My Attempt of Illustrating The Cycle of Algorithmic Engagement Impact to Our Tech Use

💡Ways to Explain Algorithmic Engagement to Kids

Infographic of Potential Ways to Explain How Algorithmic Engagement Works and How It Impacts Our Tech Consumption

🧐Critical Questions for Parents:

• Is this persuasion or manipulation?
  Are these tools helping us discover new things, or just trying to keep us online longer?

• Who benefits from more screen time?
  Is the AI designed to support healthy use, or to get us (and our kids) hooked?

• How can we notice when we’re being nudged by algorithms and talk about it as a family? Remember, it’s not about getting it perfect every time. Even small conversations or imperfect boundaries are steps forward.

• What boundaries can we set to protect our attention and creativity? Progress might look like trying one new tech rule this week, or simply noticing when screens start to take over.

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🤔Why Pivot With Boredom?

I’m not going to make another case for boredom again. (Read my thoughts here)

Instead, I want to talk about why we’re focusing on better tech habits as a family. Let’s be real: “Do as I say, not as I do” never works especially with screens.

What works is figuring it out together, imperfectly.

Again, my goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress.

Simply aim to do a little better next time. So we can build small habit changes that last.

🔁The Tech Reset

“Rediscover boredom. Reclaim creativity. Reset together.”

Here’s three simple steps of how we’re making it work (without guilt trips or impossible rules):

1. The Honesty Audit

Pick any two days this week. Track your own screen time, right alongside your kids. Share the numbers (no shame, just curiosity). Ask:

• “What surprised you about our habits?”

• “Where do we make excuses?”

2. The Boredom Boost

Set aside just one hour for everyone (yes, even the adults) to be “bored”.

• No screens, no productivity.

• No excuses, no “but I need to…” exceptions

Need help getting started? I have free downloads with age-specific setups and sibling peacekeeping strategies (because let’s be honest, the complaints are real). Just reply or DM me.

3. Family Debrief

Make your reflection time fun and low-pressure! Try these conversation starters after your boredom hour or tech pause:

• “What was the weirdest thing you did when you were bored today?”

• “Did you invent something new? or just invent a new way to annoy your sibling?”

• “If you could make up a new family rule for boredom time, what would it be?”

• “Who was the boredom MVP? (Most creative, most chill, most likely to sneak a snack…)”

• “What surprised you about yourself or someone else today?”

No judgment, just curiosity and laughs!

This is what my 6-year-old created during one of our boredom hour: A ball with a face that she said is “me when I’m thinking”

Sometimes the magic happens in the most unexpected ways.

🖼️ Quick-Glance: Tech Reset Steps

Want an easy way to remember? Download and share our infographic. Let’s do this. imperfectly, together.

Infographic on The Three Steps of The Family Tech Rest

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💪Parent-Powered AI News

Mississippi Expands AI Education for Families and Future Workers

• Mississippi has partnered with tech giant Nvidia to bring AI education to (at least) 10,000 people through community colleges, universities, and technical schools statewide. This initiative emphasizes hands-on learning and aims to make AI education accessible to all, including underserved and rural communities.

• This means growing opportunities for underserved areas to learn AI skills. It’s a chance for young people to understand the technology behind the AI applications or output we interact with.

Vatican Hosts Global Leaders to Discuss AI and Ethics

• Pope Francis recently gathered tech leaders and experts at the Vatican to discuss the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence. The meeting focused on how AI should be developed and used responsibly, with special attention to human dignity, privacy, and the impact on families and children

• If this shows one thing, it’s that ethical AI design, use, and impact should become more mainstream. Consider reviewing our THINK about AI framework to help with these questions.

State AI Regulations Are Moving Along Despite the Proposed Decade Moratorium

• Texas: The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) has been signed into law and will take effect January 1, 2026. The law bans harmful uses of AI and sets new standards for responsible AI deployment.

• California: While California recently introduced SB 243 (protecting children from predatory chatbots) and SB 420 (the California Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights), Governor Newsom just released a comprehensive AI policy report in June 2025, highlighting the need for clear guidelines and safeguards as AI becomes more integrated into daily life.

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✌️The AI Parenting Reality

Here’s what I know: Every time we model mindless scrolling, we’re teaching our kids that AI-powered feeds deserve more attention than they do, even when we don’t mean to.

This week, we’re taking back one hour of our attention.

Not to be the perfect parents or prove a point. But simply to be present. To show our kids (and ourselves) what it feels like when we’re not pulled in ten directions by notifications.

What might your family discover in that hour? Maybe a conversation that actually finishes. Maybe the relief we feel when we don’t need to check our phone.

If that resonates, try your Family Tech Reset this week. Even 30 minutes counts.

I’d love to hear what you discover, especially the small moments that often surprises us.

-Dhani