Emily Oster Says Digital-Age Parenting Can Be Anxiety-Provoking; Urges Parents to Explore AI Tools and Focus on Home

Oster pointed to two messages parents might take from coverage of AI: that there is a 10% chance it will kill everyone, and that it is incredibly dangerous for teens. She said today's parents, along with everyone else, have to navigate a regular onslaught of doomsday coverage about the dangers of new and existing technology. For a parent, she said, 'That is a very anxiety provoking experience.'

When new online platforms begin to spread and the internet weighs in, Oster recommends that parents first get informed. She said there is value for parents in exploring some of these tools. The goal does not have to be to make a decision about how a child should use them, but to get a first-hand understanding of what the platforms are. Parents might discover they are not as scary as they seem, or they may remain concerned but better understand what boundaries should be. She said parents then come into the conversation feeling more empowered.

Oster also urged parents to take control of the spaces where they have greater influence: the home. She described 'a stable home environment with parents who love them, who are supporting them' as the thing parents control. She added that parents probably spend too little time investing in what they control relative to worrying about what is happening outside.

CNBC reported that the American Psychological Association supports the idea that home life plays a key role in a child's upbringing. A home that is warm, open and includes appropriate limits is associated with higher self-esteem and better school performance, among other outcomes, according to the APA.

At home, Oster said parents should focus on love and support as well as the parameters they can set, such as no screens or phones overnight. When they need encouragement, she said, they should remember how important that foundation is for when they send a child out into the world.