Raising Kids in a Post-Social-Media World

Raising Kids in a Post-Social-Media World

Author: Dr Justin Coulson December 11, 2025 Duration: 23:53

This week, Australia made global headlines — and parents everywhere felt it. Justin shares the emotional, history-making moment inside Kirribilli House as the new social-media age laws rolled out, the families whose stories shaped the legislation, and why this shift matters more than most people realise. Plus: the behind-the-scenes chaos of a family holiday that turned into a resilience masterclass. A powerful mix of emotion, insight, and laugh-so-you-don’t-cry parenting moments.

KEY POINTS

  • Inside the Kirribilli House event announcing Australia’s new age restrictions for social media.
  • The heartbreaking parent stories that pushed lawmakers to act — and why the room was filled with tears.
  • A rare moment of political unity that left Justin with goosebumps.
  • What this new law actually means for teens, parents, and tech platforms in the months ahead.
  • A family holiday disaster (expired passports, food poisoning, meltdowns, gale-force winds)… turned into a resilience-building win.
  • Why doing hard, screen-free things is the secret ingredient to family connection.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"This isn’t about politics. This is about our kids." — Prime Minister Albanese

RESOURCES MENTIONED

  • Heads Up Alliance
  • Let Them Be Kids campaign
  • Go Rail Trail (Queenstown)

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

  1. Talk to your teen about Australia’s new age rules and what they mean for your family.
  2. Watch how platforms respond over the next few months — enforcement will evolve.
  3. Create screen-incompatible moments: activities that pull kids away from devices naturally.
  4. Normalise hard things — help your kids practise choosing helpful thoughts when challenges arise.

Lean into connection: shared struggle (and shared laughter) builds family closeness faster than comfort ever will.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Finding a clear path through the chaos of family life can feel overwhelming. Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families steps into that space with grounded, relatable conversations. Hosted by parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie, this podcast feels like a honest chat with friends who truly understand the daily grind. Together, they draw from their own life raising six daughters, offering a common-sense perspective that resonates with parents everywhere. The discussions move beyond theory, focusing on practical strategies you can apply immediately to navigate common challenges and strengthen your relationships at home. Each episode aims to cut through the noise of conflicting advice, providing thoughtful insights that address real-world situations with empathy and evidence-based wisdom. Tuning into this podcast is like finding a moment of calm reflection in a busy week, a resource for building a more connected and joyful family culture. It’s a place where the complexities of parenting, culture, and society are explored through the lens of everyday experience, making the journey feel a little less solitary and a lot more manageable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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