Outside the Screen Podcast

In this episode, Liz and Dany continue unpacking the arguments in the constitutional challenge to the Australian social media legislation - just in time for the hearing to start, which is this very day (well the day the episode dropped, anyway).Plus we start off with a discussion of the recent settlement where Meta promised to pay several billion dollars, and make some changes to the way that children’s accounts will operate … in the US, at least. Do let us know if we’re getting too law-nerdy, won’t you! With so much going on in the legal sphere, it’s really hard to resist. We rely on our trusted listeners to keep us on track.In between we have a review of a movie based on a much-loved Alison Lester book (and see the link below for more about this much-loved children’s author and illustrator).Show notesMeta settlement: MA-Meta Joint Status Report re Settlement: https://www.mass.gov/doc/meta-settlement/download; A landmark US deal could change social media forever | SBS News: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/landmark-social-media-deal-could-change-social-media-forever/3ml7ww1wp; Meta Settles Child Exploitation For $17.1B, Structural Remedies Too: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/417484/meta-settles-child-exploitation-for-171b-struct.html; What could Meta’s US settlement mean around the world – and what now for other claims against firm?: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/28/meta-facebook-us-lawsuit-settlement-world-impact; What does Meta’s US settlement on child safety mean for Europe?: https://www.opendemocracy.net/what-does-metas-us-settlement-on-child-safety-mean-for-europe/; Tech Talk with Jess Kelly: https://www.newstalk.com/news/meta-changes-us-2305929Review links: Magic Beach review: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/movies/magic-beach; Magic Beach availability in Australia: https://www.flicks.com.au/movie/magic-beach/; Alison Lester: https://alisonlester.com/ High Court challenge docs: Defendants’ submissions https://www.hcourt.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-09/Reddit-Cth_Def.pdf ; Rules passed under legislation: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00889/latest/textFind us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community.Heads Up AllianceA growing community of Australian families delaying social media and smartphones for their children· www.linktr.ee/theheadsupalliance· www.change.org/lessscreensmorelearning Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

Show notesIn keeping with our tradition of breaking with tradition, this month’s episode covers a single thing, in two parts. Liz and Dany have a good hard look at the High Court challenge to Australia’s social media minimum age legislation, specifically the submissions of the people who are bringing it, or the plaintiffs as we law nerds call them. You may have not known this, but Liz is a former constitutional law lecturer, so she is flexing some familiar muscles as she talks through the implied freedom of political communication, and how it might apply to this legislation.Stay tuned for a similar in-depth analysis of the defendants’ submissions, when they come out. It will be especially interesting to see what the eSafety Commissioner has to say about it all, considering she originally opposed the legislation anyway.But here, we unpack a range of different aspects to the argument about whether the law is proportionate to protecting children. What difference does it make if the law is ineffective? What will happen if the High Court finds the evidence of harm equivocal? It’s a little bit nerdy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not interesting!AND we are pleased to announce the return of our movie reviews. This time we hear all about the recent version of The Magic Faraway Tree. Did you love the books too? What did you think of the movie?Liz alludes in the show to the risk of parents being lulled into a false sense of security - if a movie is based on a favourite book from childhood, surely it’s going to be good for kids? All kids? Alas, movie-makers have an ability to darken any story …Thanks for listening, and please do with anybody who might interested. Plus, as always, we would be delighted if you wouldOne more thing: Children and Media Australia is participating in a community lottery. All proceeds from tickets sold in our name go to us, and there are some amazing prizes. If you want to be in it, have your debit card ready and click here. Thanks in advance.High Court challenge docs: Digital Freedom Project v Commonwealth https://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-judgments/cases/current/case-no-s1632025; Reddit v Commonwealth https://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-judgments/cases/current/case-no-s1662025Review links: The Magic Faraway Tree review: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/movies/magic-faraway-tree-the; availability in Australia: https://www.flicks.com.au/movie/the-magic-faraway-tree/Find us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let us know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA Facebook community.Heads Up AllianceA growing community of Australian families delaying social media and smartphones for their childrenwww.linktr.ee/theheadsupalliance www.change.org/lessscreensmorelearning Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

Hi all, Liz here. This month (yes, we will be monthly from now on) Dany and I have a go at a paper about what happens when parents ignore their teens to pay attention to devices. I was pleased to cover this, because as parents of teens (or even young adults), we probably all get phubbed way more than we would like. It’s only natural, then, to assume that the youngsters in our lives don’t mind when we do it to them. Not so, it turns out … We also get the benefit of my hard-hitting investigation (LOL) into recent developments in France over their parliament’s attempt to restrict children’s access to social media. You have probably seen that numerous countries are now getting in on the act, but the French Constitutional Court has recently weighed in and I thought it was worth looking at exactly what they said. (Well I would say that, wouldn’t I?)As for reviews, we are still figuring out what to do since Glenn isn’t reading them any more. Would love to hear from you with any feedback or suggestions.Enjoy listening, and talk to you next month!*Cover photo: winter plane tree near my houseDany and Liz would love to have your support - paid or unpaid, just knowing you want to stay connected to the podcast is greatly motivating for us! So please ...Show notesPhubbing paper: “Mommy, do you love your phone more than me?”: Parental device use and the adolescent-caregiver attachment bond https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1766665/fullZooming Out details: Raphaël Marchal, ‘Ban on social networks for under-15s: what is contained in the law that has just been definitively adopted’ https://lcp.fr/actualites/interdiction-des-reseaux-sociaux-aux-moins-de-15-ans-ce-que-contient-la-loi-qui-vient-d; La Chaine Parlementaire, ‘Social networks: why the Constitutional Council censured the ban for children under 15 years old’ https://lcp.fr/actualites/reseaux-sociaux-pourquoi-le-conseil-constitutionnel-a-censure-l-interdiction-pour-lesAlso mentioned: https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/inside-metas-global-playbook-for-fighting-child-safety-lawsFind us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community.Heads Up AllianceA growing community of Australian families delaying social media and smartphones for their childrenwww.linktr.ee/theheadsupalliancewww.change.org/lessscreensmorelearning Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

Outside the Screen Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Find us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia’s Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community.Heads Up Alliance (HUA)All contact details and other info here: https://linktr.ee/theheadsupallianceCover photo: pebbles on Aldinga Beach, South Australia, July 2026 Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

I have recently been corresponding with my Year 5 teacher - and when I was going to be visiting him,* for once in my life I was glad I’m a hoarder. This was because I still have my composition book from when I was in his class, back in the 70s. I thought he’d get a blast out of seeing it.Well I got a bit of a blast myself when I read the piece I’d written about ‘The Ideal School’. As a child I thought it would be great to have ‘a TV on every desk, and we would do our lessons through these’. I also thought there should be an intercom system in the classroom where you could dial up the person you wanted to speak to, and be connected.Imagine my astonishment when I learnt that a parents’ group in Australia has mounted a petition, 50+ years later, to get screens out of classrooms. The group in question being the one founded by our very own Dany, we get to have a good chat in this episode about the issues, and why you might want to become a signatory. (No pressure at all of course; as you know, we are all about informed decisions!)Meanwhile we also cover a recent report about sponsorship in the AFL and NRL (including an explanation of those initials for any overseas listeners), and we also, sadly, hear Glenn’s last review. (Any thoughts about how to bring reviews to you in future, let us know!)It’s been great fun getting used to working with Dany, and I hope you will agree that he brings a fresh, honest and thoughtful voice to the pod. Thanks for tuning in!By subscribing to Outside the Screen Podcast you are supporting Children and Media Australia, a national non-profit bringing an evidence-based lens to children’s rights as media users.*Cover photo shows flowers I gave my hosts Show notesFARE report: Alcohol and gambling sponsorship in Australian sport (2026) https://fare.org.au/state-of-play-alcohol-gambling-ads-afl-nrl/; see also ACMA decision on revised Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice: https://www.acma.gov.au/articles/2025-06/acma-decision-revised-commercial-television-industry-code-practiceThe Big Bad Fox and Other Tales review: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/movies/the-big-bad-fox-and-other-talesThe Big Bad Fox and Other Tales availability in Australia: https://www.flicks.com.au/movie/the-big-bad-fox-and-other-tales/Zooming Out details: Heads Up Alliance petition http://www.change.org/LessScreensMoreLearning; see also https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZN4cmqv5bzwnCFTbIbTSakWLGyVGhsDSX55T3SlN_MU/edit?usp=share_linkFind us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let us know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community.Heads Up Alliance (HUA)All contact details and other info here: https://linktr.ee/theheadsupalliance Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

(Cover image: a very pleasant walk on the beach at Surfer’s Paradise, last month)It’s a great pleasure to welcome our new co-host, Dany Elachi. Dany is the founder of the Heads Up Alliance, and a father 5 who is passionate about giving children the best possible upbringing, with minimal screen engagement. He will be able to keep us informed about what’s going on in the advocacy world, as well as bringing his well-informed insights to the usual range of subjects we discuss on the pod. Nice to have you aboard, Dany!We’re celebrating with new theme music and a new ‘whoosh’ (the technical term for the sound we play between segments) - why not celebrate yourself, by becoming a subscriber?Outside the Screen Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.This episode is a simple one for starters, where we just talk about one research report. But there is a lot in there, covering 4 different platforms and 86 different safety features that they had announced. Guess how many of these were in place and effective? Nah, don’t guess, just have a listen!We should note, however, that the platforms in question have responded to the report, and they aren’t in agreement with what it says. There is a link to a news article below, where you can get their perspective.We’ll be back in a month or so with an episode about screens in schools. Meanwhile we would love to have your comments on this one (or anything else, even any pleasant walks on the beach you’ve had recently).Show notesOur new co-host, Dany Elachi: https://linktr.ee/theheadsupallianceSafety features report: Lexie Matsumoto, Arturo Béjar, Abdulraheem Arar, Damon McCoy, & Laura Edelson, Broken, Buried or Missing: Anatomies of Failure (and Success) of Social Media Child Safety Features (Heat Initiative and Cybersafety Research Center, 2026) https://cybersafetyresearch.org/broken_buried_missing.pdfNews item: https://www.scrippsnews.com/science-and-tech/more-than-half-of-social-media-child-safety-features-arent-working-per-reportFind us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let us know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community, or add us on LinkedIn. Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

Hi Outsiders, finally I’ve been able to create a new episode! At first I wondered if I still had the skills, but fear not. I got through it.It’s been an interesting day today, because when I woke up this morning and checked my phone, there was a text from a producer at ABC News Radio, asking if they could interview me about the proposed changes to the social media minimum age (SMMA) legislation. Well I hadn’t heard about such changes, but that didn’t stop me! I boned up quickly, and did the interview here. Would love to have any feedback.In the course of that I came across the article that I discuss here in Paper Round. It’s by a team of 10, and the lead author is a postdoctoral fellow in public health at the University of Newcastle. From what I can see, the article - which aims to assess the impact of the SMMA legislation on younger teens’ social media use - has had quite some impact on the discussion. A lot of ‘See? I told you so’-type messages are flying around. So it was a great opportunity to do a bit of analysis of their approach and findings.In the course of the Paper Round segment I make reference to the demographic makeup of the participants, and promise to give further info here. So: NSW residents were 67% of participants, and are about 31% of all young Australians. Residents of major cities: 84% and 75%, respectively; and born in Australia: 94% and 79%. Interestingly, the authors say on these last two measures the participant group is ‘broadly consistent with national demographic patterns’.I then Zoom Out to give a bit of a history of attempts to reform the National Classification Scheme (NCS) for films, games and publications, culminating in a report about CMA’s submission to the most recent round of proposals. I will of course update you when there are any developments. Meanwhile there are plenty of links below, and I’m always happy to answer questions.Until then, happy listening, and don’t forget to hit subscribe, if you haven’t already, and spread the word! I’d love to have the encouragement :-DOutside the Screen Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show notesThe PaperCourtney Barnes et al, ‘Assessing early effects of Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age Act on adolescents’ social media use: observational study’ (2026) BMJ 393; doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2026-363695 (Published 24 June 2026) (or you can just click here)The government’s announcement of enhanced penalties and powers under the SMMA legislation: https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/media-release/stronger-powers-and-double-penalties-world-leading-social-media-lawThe Zoom* CMA submission on Mettlesome Report: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/assets/files/taking-action/cma-submission-on-classification-standards-may2026.pdf* CMA full explanation of age-based classifications proposal: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/taking-action/current-campaigns/classification* Mettlesome Report: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/update-modernise-and-harmonise-classification-guidelines-2025* Stevens Review: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/review-of-australian-classification-regulation--may2020.pdf* Australian Law Reform Commission report: https://www.alrc.gov.au/inquiry/national-classification-scheme-review/* All the rest of CMA’s submissions: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/taking-action/our-submissionsThe HousekeepingFind us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)Most importantly: the EOFY fundraiser is here: www.givenow.com.au/kbyg2. It’s open until 6 July. After that, you can still use our GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-CMAs-review-services-free. Any donation, large or small, is greatly appreciated, and as long as it’s at least $2, it’s also tax-deductible.You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community. Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

Hello there, listeners, it’s been a while! Funny how some time away can make you lose your mojo, so it takes a while to get back into the podcast production groove. Add to that a lousy cold (punishment for excellent overseas travel*) and a raised paver + hands in pockets equalling bruised ribs … definitely not a good idea to be podcasting while feeling sorry for self.Well there are my excuses, and here is my apology, to anybody who missed the pod over the last few months. It’s great to be back, and I hope this one is worth the wait.The paper is about gambling - specifically the connection between novel forms (like lootboxes) and the onset of problem gambling. It also looks at different kind of psychological conditions and how they might make some people vulnerable to developing a bad relationship with gambling. Nothing terribly surprising, as we so often find, but knowing the facts can confirm what we know about how to protect our children from risks: choose content carefully, give lots of emotional support, keep an eye on things, and keep the lines of communication open.Outside the Screen Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support Children and Media Australia, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Glenn gives us a review of Arctic Justice, an animated adventure where the baddy is a climate vandal Walrus. Recommended for 7 and up, and don’t forget, any time you want you can use the CMA website to find a review of any G or PG movie released in cinemas in the last 23 years, plus quite a few M ones. You can also search by age to find something just right for your child.Then I analyse a recent complaint report on an Australian ad for what they call an ‘occasional food’. What starts out as a complaint about bullying ends up as a finding about something quite different. You’ll hear my musings on the nature of the ad self-regulation system generally, as well as the particulars of the complaint, the advertiser’s response and the community panel’s findings. (By the way, as always, I don’t mention the name of the advertiser - see if you can guess! You can check by clicking on the link to the report, below.)Well it’s nice to know I haven’t completely forgotten to do this! Let me know what you think, about the episode or anything else, here:Show notesCanadian/US paper: Jeremie Richard and Serena King, ‘Annual Research Review: Emergence of problem gambling from childhood to emerging adulthood: a systematic review ‘ (2023) 64(4) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 645-88 doi:10.1111/jcpp.13713Arctic Justice review: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/movies/arctic-justiceArctic Justice availability in Australia: https://www.flicks.com.au/movie/arctic-justice/Zooming Out details: Complaint report https://adstandards.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/0321-24.pdf; AANA Codes https://aana.com.au/self-regulation/Find us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Know Before You Go movie review service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community.*Picture is of me at a wedding in Brittany. I know, I know. Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

Yes, I do still know how to make a podcast - what a relief. I was starting to wonder for a minute there. It’s a great pleasure to bring you this episode, and stop beating myself up for losing the rhythm.Paper Round is on an Australian article about socio-emotional development and screen use. Are children who spend a lot of time on screens more likely than others to act out, or to become withdrawn and disengaged? There are some very helpful findings here on causation - something to really savour!In the movie review segment, Glenn talks us through a film featuring one of my favourite actors, Paul Giamatti (whom you might have seen in The Holdovers, Billions, or John Adams). Or maybe you’re a fan of Frankie Muniz or Amanda Bynes … I don’t usually talk about the cast of the movies we review but this one is rather a cut above! More importantly, of course, 2002’s Big Fat Liar could be a lot of fun and spark some interesting conversations with your over-6 children.And then in Zooming Out, well, Dr Kim zooms back to the studio to talk about age-inappropriate games and the role he plays in supporting parents to hold the line against them.Tune in again soon for an episode covering gambling, food ads and social media, but meanwhile: hope you enjoy this one!Show notesVasconcellos et al paper: Roberta Pires Vasconcellos, Taren Sanders, Chris Lonsdale, Philip Parker, James Conigrave, Samantha Tang, Borja del Pozo Cruz, Stuart J. H. Biddle, Rachael Taylor, Christine Innes-Hughes, Katariina Salmela-Aro, Diego Vasconcellos, Katrina Wilhite, Ella Tremaine, Bridget Booker and Michael Noetel, ‘Electronic Screen Use and Children’s Socioemotional Problems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies’ (2025) 151 (5) Psychological Bulletin 513–43 https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000468Big Fat Liar review: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/movies/big-fat-liarBig Fat Liar availability in Australia: https://www.flicks.com.au/movie/big-fat-liar/Zooming Out details: Kim’s clinic website https://www.cgiclinic.com/; Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cgiclini/; Outcome of class action against Epic Games regarding in-game purchases: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/fortnite-refunds; and here’s an update on the reports about the ESRB and facial recognition: https://www.ign.com/articles/esrb-facial-age-recognition-tech-responseFind us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community. Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve been promising for a while to let you know what’s going on - and here is the news!As always I’d be delighted to hear from you, to be recommended to your friends and colleagues, etc etc. (I’m sure you know the drill.)And as always, I’m providing links so you can access some of the most useful info around, to support parents and families who are trying to find the best screen experiences.Watch out for the next full episode, coming soon!Meanwhile, find us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInSubstackApple PodcastsSpotifyOR search your favourite listening platform (let me know if it’s not there! – outsidethescreenpod[at]gmail.com)Children and Media Australia (CMA)You can find the Children and Media Australia Know Before You Go service via this link.Then, depending what you’re looking for, you can sort the list or search by title alphabetically, by age suitability, by classification or by date added. All of the reviews are prepared by people with training in child development, and they cover every G and PG title released in Australian cinemas since 2002, as well as selected M-rated movies and some pre-2002 ones that are available on streaming services.Or at this link, you can access Know Before You Load – reviews of game style apps and apps that may appeal to young children. These cover some extra things that are relevant to games, like data collection and gambling-like content.You might also like to sign up for our KBYG Weekly newsletter about the latest reviews, and join the CMA facebook community. Outside the Screen Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Outside the Screen Podcast at outsidethescreen.substack.com/subscribe