# 323 Are Parental Controls and Screen Time Limits Working: Interview with Claire Morrell
Are screen time limits really protecting your teen—or just giving you a false 
sense of security? And why do so many moms say, “My kid finally came back to themselves” after time away from their phone?
In this powerful conversation with Claire Morell, author of The Tech Exit, we explore the real impact of smartphones and social media on our kids and why conventional parenting tools like screen time limits and parental controls often fall short. Claire shares her journey from policymaker to parent advocate and breaks down why the tech industry’s promises to families aren’t adding up. Instead of surrendering to tech as inevitable, Claire offers a radically hopeful and doable alternative: the “tech exit”—a smartphone-free and social media-free childhood. Backed by research and stories from families who’ve successfully made this shift, she reframes tech resistance not as deprivation, but as a profound gift of presence, imagination, and resilience.
Takeaways
Many parents try to moderate tech with time limits and parental controls, but these tools are often ineffective and misleading. Claire explains that screens act on the brain like addictive drugs, meaning moderation isn’t enough. She introduces her FEAST framework—Find families, Educate, Adopt alternatives, Set rules, Trade screens for real life—as a roadmap for reclaiming childhood from digital overwhelm. The most hopeful message? It’s never too late. Even if your teen is already hooked, a 30-day digital detox can reset your child’s brain, mood, and creativity. With courage, community, and practical strategies, your family can exit the tech trap—and flourish.
Find out more at claremorell.substack.com
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