As children’s mental health challenges surge, the link between excessive screen time and rising anxiety has never been more urgent. As a speaker for The Anxious Generation campaign, KATHERINE MARTINKO helps parents and educators navigate the digital landscape with a balanced, practical approach—one that isn’t anti-tech but prioritizes intentional and mindful technology use. Drawing from research and personal experience as a mother of three, she explains how screen exposure affects cognitive development, attention spans, and emotional resilience, offering real-world strategies to delay smartphone use, set screen boundaries without constant conflict, and foster independent play.

Martinko also tackles the social pressures children and parents face—from FOMO (“Everyone else has a phone!”) to the challenge of limiting screens in a hyper-connected world. Beyond individual choices, she emphasizes the collective responsibility of parents, educators, and policymakers to shift how digital media is integrated into childhood—ensuring it remains a tool rather than a dominant force in young lives. Through her engaging and research-backed insights, she empowers families to create a healthier, less anxious generation in an era of digital distraction.

Author KATHERINE MARTINKO draws on her own family's experience, plus interviews with digital minimalists, educators, and child development experts to bring back the magic of being a kid in Childhood Unplugged. Taking a calming, nonjudgmental approach, Martinko's talk is a lifeline for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone who questions the role of digital media and yearns for the young people in their life to experience the profound beauty and magic of childhood.