Group Chats: Friendship, Fallout and FOMO

We spend so much time talking about preventing things from going wrong online, but eventually something probably will. Your child might get hurt, hurt someone else, or find themselves somewhere in the messy middle. And when our hearts sink, it’s incredibly easy to react before we’ve understood the whole story. In this episode, I’m exploring what happens next. We’ll look at listening before judging, asking better questions, accountability without shame, meaningful consequences and why simply confiscating the phone can backfire. Most importantly, we’ll think about repair, because one difficult moment doesn’t define your child, and moving forwards together can strengthen the relationship rather than break it. Highlights: (04:35) - Before you react to the tip of the iceberg, make sure you understand what’s underneath it (09:02) - Don’t let one screenshot, group chat or mistake become your whole picture of your child (13:39) - Two little words that can completely change the conversation: “What else?” (17:49) - Understanding isn’t letting them off the hook, accountability and empathy can coexist (22:09) - Taking the phone away might feel like a consequence, but what is your child actually learning? (30:44) - When something goes wrong online, blaming the technology is only part of the story Connect with Laura: Book a Discovery Call Linkedin Website

Deepfakes have come a long way from paper fairies and hat pins. Today, a convincing fake can be created from an ordinary photo or a few seconds of someone’s voice, which means our children need more than a lesson in spotting dodgy hands and extra fingers. Those clues simply aren’t reliable anymore. In this episode, I’m looking at what deepfakes mean for children, from misinformation and voice scams to consent, bullying and sexual image abuse. I’ll also share my five Ps for navigating questionable content, plus practical ways to help children think critically, protect each other and, importantly, know they can always come to you when something goes wrong. Highlights: (05:10) - Forget counting fingers, why spotting a deepfake isn’t that simple anymore (10:04) - Plot twist: the fanciest fake isn’t necessarily the most convincing (15:11) - Why telling girls to disappear from online spaces is not a safety strategy (20:30) - Meet the five Ps: pause, place, proof, permission and protect (25:10) - That terrifying phone call might not be who you think it is (29:44) - Deepfake disaster? Here’s what to do without making things worse Connect with Laura: Book a Discovery Call Linkedin Website

Pornography is one of those parenting topics that can feel incredibly awkward to talk about, but staying silent doesn’t make it disappear. In this episode, I’m looking beyond the panic to explore what the evidence actually tells us about young people, pornography and the messages they may absorb from what they see online. We’ll talk about accidental exposure, consent, body image, healthy relationships and why curiosity isn’t something to shame. I’ll also share how these conversations can change as children grow, why filters alone aren’t enough, and how staying calm can help us become the trusted adults our children need. Highlights: (04:50) - Why one accidental image doesn’t define a child’s future (07:18) - The important difference between seeing porn, watching it and struggling with it (10:40) - The hidden relationship scripts pornography can teach (16:48) - What healthy intimacy and consent actually look like (19:38) - How the conversation needs to change as our children grow (25:42) - Why staying calm matters when your child has seen something Connect with Laura: Book a Discovery Call Linkedin Website

In this episode, I’m talking about what to do when your child comes across sexual, violent, hateful or otherwise disturbing content online. The instinct can be to ask what they searched for or why they kept watching, but today’s digital world is shaped by recommendation systems, autoplay, group chats and peer pressure too. We’ll look at how to separate intention from influence, respond without rushing into blame, and decide what boundaries need to change. I also share how your approach can evolve as children get older, while keeping safety, honesty and trust at the centre of the conversation. Highlights: (03:32) - Why it’s too simplistic to say a child simply “chose” harmful content (05:02) - The better questions to ask before jumping to blame (10:10) - Why today’s children can encounter inappropriate content without actively searching for it (15:00) - How your response should change as your child gets older (19:44) - The questions that help you understand what actually happened (24:36) - How to reset boundaries, repair trust and make things safer without shame Connect with Laura: Book a Discovery Call Linkedin Website

In this episode, I’m talking about the digital babysitter, that moment when handing over a screen feels less like a parenting choice and more like an emergency service. Screens can genuinely help us through busy, exhausting or downright chaotic moments, and I want to take some of the shame out of that. But I’m also looking at what happens when helpful screen use quietly becomes the automatic answer. We explore what our children actually need, what screens might be replacing, why stopping can cause such huge reactions, and how our own phone habits fit into the picture too. Highlights: (03:35) - What job are we actually asking the screen to do? (05:21) - Three ways to spot helpful use, necessary relief and default habits (09:51) - Why screen time alone doesn’t tell us the whole story (12:07) - What children miss when screens become the only way to calm down (15:05) - Why difficult transitions don’t automatically mean addiction (24:45) - A simple way to notice what’s really happening before the screen comes out Connect with Laura: Book a Discovery Call Linkedin Website