Kids, Screens, and AI...Who's in Charge? Interview with Dr. Ed Levy, MIT Health Primary Care

Screen time battles. The first smartphone. Social media. And now... AI?!? Isn't parenting complicated enough already? In this episode of Office Hours, Pediatric Primary Care Provider Edward Levy, MD, talks about screen time limits, smartphones, parental controls, and the newest parenting challenge: artificial intelligence. What happens when kids turn to chatbots for homework help, advice, or even companionship? Ed shares practical advice, research, and some reassuring reminders for parents trying to keep up ever-changing tech. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction: Raising kids in a digital world 2:00 Why screen time is so hard to manage 5:08 Does the type of screen matter? 5:52 The AAP's 5 Cs of Media Use 8:49 When kids push back against limits 10:29 When should kids get their first smartphone? 11:36 Alternatives to smartphones and parental controls 13:16 Setting boundaries 15:46 AI, schoolwork, and learning 17:02 AI and teen relationships 19:28 Guiding kids through AI use 20:58 Preparing teens for independence 22:54 Recommended resources and research 25:13 Ed's most important advice for parents 28:40 Closing RESOURCES MENTIONED Parenting guidance American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www.healthychildren.org The 5 Cs of Media Use: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli... Family Media Plan: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli... Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Research and authors Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/ Jean Twenge, researcher on technology and generational change: https://www.jeantwenge.com/ Peter Gray, psychologist and advocate for independent play: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/co... Chaim Omer, psychologist known for his work on parental presence AI and Teen Identity Formation, Cindy H. Liu and Tiffany Yip, Pediatrics (2026): https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2026-076609 Have a question for Office Hours? Submit it at https://health.mit.edu/thrive