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Join Delaney Ruston, MD, a leading authority on parenting in the digital age and the filmmaker of the award-winning Screenagers movies, as she explores strategies for raising screen-wise and tech-balanced youth. Through interviews with researchers, thought leaders, and young people themselves, the Screenagers Podcast delivers the latest in science along with practical tips and important insights that parents will want to share with their kids and teens.

Nov 29, 2023

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston interviews journalist Dashka Slater about her new book, Accountable, where she writes about the true story of a social media account run by a small group of teens who posted racist memes. The account spread quickly and got edgier as it went. The book follows the account’s profound effect on the teens, friends, and high school. Dr. Ruston's interview with Slater dives into issues like what compels teens to do things they know are out of bounds, such as acts of racism, the difference between guilt and shame, and transformative justice. Slater discusses methods of communicating with children about preventing doing such acts, and Dr. Ruston provides strategies for them to use when they encounter friends who do, and shares advice for parents and teens on dealing with the repercussions of online racism and the complexities of forgiveness and empathy.

Here is a link to Dashka Slater’s website, where you can find a link to her book and much more.

Here is Slater’s Substack, where she has lesson plans, too.

 

00:04 Introduction and Overview

01:04 The Epidemic of Online Racism

01:43 Unveiling the Story of 'Accountable'

02:42 The Impact of Racist Online Activities

03:01 The Discovery and Consequences of the Racist Account

08:34 The Role of Video Games in Promoting Offensive Language

10:10 The Creation and Spread of the Racist Account

11:35 The Bystander Effect and Group Dynamics

18:52 The Impact on the Victims

21:38 Understanding Different Types of Justice

24:56 The Role of Restorative Justice in Schools

44:43 The Power of Forgiveness and Healing

47:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts