Reading and Writing Skills in the Age of AI with Naomi Baron, PhD

Reading and Writing Skills in the Age of AI with Naomi Baron, PhD

Author: Children and Screens July 16, 2025 Duration: 55:22
How are screen-based reading and writing, along with the growing use of generative AI by youth, shaping children’s development of foundational literacy skills? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry explores these nuanced questions with Dr. Naomi Baron, Professor Emerita of Linguistics at American University and a leading expert on reading and writing with technology. Dr. Baron outlines how reading and writing look differently on screens versus print, and what students think about th...

How do screens really shape the minds, bodies, and daily lives of young people? Screen Deep, from the nonprofit Children and Screens, moves beyond simple headlines and fear-based narratives to explore that complex reality. Host Kris Perry engages in thoughtful, detailed conversations with top researchers, pediatricians, and psychologists, unpacking the nuanced effects of digital media on child and adolescent development. Each episode focuses on a specific angle-whether it's the impact on sleep, attention, physical fitness, social skills, or mental well-being-grounding every discussion in current science and practical evidence. This isn't about prescribing a single solution but about understanding the multifaceted relationship kids have with technology. The podcast provides parents, educators, and anyone invested in youth with a clearer, more balanced perspective, translating academic studies into relatable insights. You'll hear experts explain not just the potential risks, but also the realities of digital engagement, offering grounded strategies for fostering healthy habits in a connected age. Tune in for a deeper, more informed dialogue that helps navigate the pressing questions of raising kids in a digital world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 32

Screen Deep
Podcast Episodes
The Costs of Youth Attachment to AI Companions with Pilyoung Kim, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
AI “friends” and companions are increasingly providing children and adolescents with social interactions and perceived “relationships,” despite being a technology that itself has no need for empathy or emotional reciproc…
Does AI Help Students Learn? With Adam Dubé, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:18
Schools are increasingly deploying AI-powered technologies in classrooms that promise to revolutionize education, yet there is growing concern over the risks to children and adolescents’ learning by doing so. What do chi…
Is My Child Ready for a Smartphone? With Adam Pletter, PsyD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:09
A child’s first smartphone is a modern "rite of passage" and today's parents face a challenging decision – when is the right time? Peer pressure and fear of missing out loom heavily, yet there are significant risks to in…
Phones in Schools?  What the Research Says with Abe Flanigan, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:41
Should phones be allowed in the classroom? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry talks with Dr. Abraham Flanigan, an associate professor of educational psychology at Georgia Southern University about what phone…