Wired Child Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age
“Dr. Freed has crafted something here that is sensible, impeccably researched, fairly presented and most of all a message of hope.”
“This is an amazing book! A superb piece of scholarship and writing.”
“[Wired Child] answers the question of why Steve Jobs limited his children’s access to and use of technology.”
“Every parent needs to read this book…. Get it. You might get mad, and that may be a good thing.”
“A highly readable, timely, and much-needed resource for parents and anyone who cares about children’s health and well-being.”
“An important book! Freed’s insights spark a critical conversation on InfoTech myths and how kids can benefit from wise use of technology.”
“Get this book! This book is well researched and is illustrated by real clinical cases. If you care about your kids and family, this book is a must read!”
A practical guide to building your child’s bond with family and fostering school success amid the allure of digital screens
Kids’ obsessive use of video games, social media, and texting is eclipsing their connections with family and school—the two most important contributors to their well-being. The result: a generation of kids who suffer from soaring rates of emotional and academic problems, with many falling prey to an epidemic of video game and internet addictions.
In Wired Child, learn why a bevy of social media friends won’t keep teens from feeling empty inside and turning to cutting for relief. See how our kids have become smartphone experts who struggle in reading, math, and the other educational basics that colleges consider in deciding admissions. And discover how many “child-friendly” technologies are depriving kids of joy in the real world, putting them at risk for device addictions.
Wired Child gives you the confidence and skills you need to safely navigate your children through a rapidly shifting media landscape. Dr. Freed offers concrete parenting strategies that will help you create the strong family kids need and encourage their school success. You’ll also learn how to protect kids from destructive tech addictions, and instead guide them to use technology productively as a positive force for their future. More about the book
Richard Freed, Ph.D., is a child and adolescent psychologist, author of the book Wired Child, and his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, on NPR, and CNBC. Dr. Freed is a leading expert on Silicon Valley’s use of persuasive design (psychological manipulation) in social media, video games, and online videos and how that affects children’s health. He wrote the first major media article on the subject; testified at the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee in favor of AB 2408, the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act (Cunningham and Wicks), which limits the industry’s use of addictive algorithms; co-wrote a recent journal article on the unethical use of persuasive design on children; and co-led a national campaign encouraging the American Psychological Association to condemn the unethical practice of psychologists employing persuasive design in consumer technologies used by kids. Dr. Freed is also an authority on the disproportionate hurtful effects of screen/tech use on children of color and those living in low-income families.
Dr. Freed speaks nationally to groups of parents, teachers, and health care providers. Receiving his professional training at Cambridge Hospital / Harvard Medical School and the California School of Professional Psychology, he is on the advisory boards of the Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay, Families Managing Media, and Wait Until 8th. Dr. Freed lives in Walnut Creek, California and is the father of two girls. Read full bio
Dr. Freed’s testimony in favor of AB 2408, the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act (Cunningham and Wicks), at the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee. The bill prevents social media companies from using algorithms that addict kids:
Appearance by Dr. Freed on CNBC (fast forward to the 2:10 mark when show starts):
Appearances by Dr. Freed on Fox2 Mornings on 2:
Dr. Freed at Oct, 2018 Kaiser Permanente-National Alliance on Mental Illness Conference
The Latest from Dr. Richard Freed's Blog
10/22 Dr. Freed speaks at the Youth4Youth Summit
12/29 Dr. Freed Quoted in NY Times on Unboxing Videos and Dopamine
Chavie Lieber's New York Times' article highlights the LOL Dolls toy phenomenon and I describe how unboxing videos impact kids' brains. Read more
10/15 Dr. Freed in NY Times on Blaming Tech Users for Their Obsessions
Nellie Bowles' New York Times' article reveals how those who have hooked us on tech are now claiming it's really our problem, with no real mention of its impact on children.
