Digital Wellbeing & Raising Resilient Kids with Dr Sajita Setia

How do we raise healthy, resilient children in an age dominated by smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence?

In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr Ron Ehrlich is joined by Dr Sajita Setia, a physician, researcher and advocate for digital wellbeing. Together they explore the growing evidence linking excessive screen use with poor sleep, anxiety, depression, attention problems and declining family connection.

Rather than advocating fear or blanket bans, Dr Setia encourages parents, educators and policymakers to prioritise education, compassionate conversations and healthy digital boundaries. She explains how simple lifestyle changes - such as removing devices from bedrooms, modelling healthy behaviour and spending intentional screen-free family time - can dramatically improve children's wellbeing.

The discussion also explores AI, social media algorithms, gender differences in technology use, school responsibilities and practical steps every family can implement immediately.

◉ 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭:

Dr Sajita Setia is a physician with more than 20 years of medical experience and a researcher specialising in 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴❟ 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵.

Based in New Zealand, she works at the intersection of medicine, implementation science and education, helping families understand the health impacts of digital technology while developing healthier relationships with screens.

Her work includes:

Digital wellbeing research Parent coaching School wellbeing programmes Workshops for educators and families Training educational organisations Research collaborations with universities and schools in New Zealand, India and the United States ◉ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲

✔️ Why digital wellbeing deserves the same attention as physical health

✔️ How excessive screen time affects children's sleep and behaviour

✔️ The relationship between social media and anxiety, depression and self-harm