Parents vs. The Internet

Our children's mental health is under attack. From the age of 11, they're bombarded with information and messages via the smartphones in their pockets. Parents are struggling to protect them from the dangers of the digital world. Parents vs. The Internet is the Daily Mail's unmissable podcast, which asks what we can do to keep our young people safe and better protect their mental health. Hosted by the Daily Mail's Liz Hull and Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna Ghey tragically lost her life in an incident that was planned using the internet, this 10-part series explores what caregivers; teachers; and policymakers can do to support young people in leveraging technology for good, and to safeguard them from the bad.Launching September 30. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the inaugural episode of Parents vs. The Internet, Esther Ghey and the Mail’s Liz Hull are joined by Emma Mills. Emma Mills is the headteacher at Birchwood Community High School. Brianna Ghey, Esther’s daughter, attended Birchwood, until she tragically lost her life in a crime that was planned using the internet. Emma, Esther, and Liz discuss the challenges schools face in controlling smartphone and social media use among pupils, and what more needs to be done to protect children from online harm, including grooming and violent content. Esther also discusses Brianna’s own mental health struggles prior to her death, and the impact that her use of social media had on her and those around her.Hosts: Esther Ghey and Liz HullProducer: Max BowerEditor: Silas Gray Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Bella Soames Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parents vs. The Internet, Esther Ghey and the Mail’s Liz Hull are joined by Hannah Oertel, the founder of Delay Smartphones. Hannah, Esther and Liz discuss how smartphones prevent children from learning to socialise properly and from being emotionally equipped to deal with the world around them; why parents should be more worried about ‘stranger danger’ online than in the real world; and, why Hannah has told her children they won’t be getting a smartphone until they’re 21… Hosts: Esther Ghey and Liz Hull Producer: Max Bower Editor: Silas Gray Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Bella Soames Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parents vs. The Internet, Esther Ghey and the Mail’s Liz Hull are joined by Tanya Goodin, author of The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing, campaigner on tech ethics, and founder of the digital detox movement Timg to Log Off.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Parents vs. The Internet, Esther Ghey and the Mail’s Liz Hull are joined by Jaxon Feeley, an activist, who transitioned in 2021 – while serving as a prison officer. Jaxon has featured on a number of TV programmes, including Channel 4's BAFTA nominated Banged Up, and more recently won the latest season of Hunted. He believes school children should be taught mental resilience and to ignore trolls.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Esther and Liz chat to Mat Sears, the director of corporate affairs for EE. They discuss what mobile phone companies are doing to provide internet-safe phones for children, how social media forms need to tighten up age verification to stop kids accessing harmful content underage, and what Mat would ask the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to make a priority if he met with hm at Number 10. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Liz and Esther speak to Esther's late daughter Brianna's best friend Emily Holden. Emily shares her experiences of smartphone and social media addiction and mental health pressures, and why many kids themselves would actually welcome more help and regulation of the space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices