127: The Truth About Children’s Screen Time

Your child’s first addiction might come from their screen… not a substance. Most parents don’t know it. Most media companies won’t tell you. But the brain science is clear, overstimulating content changes the developing mind. Meet Daniel. It’s nearly 8 p.m. when he walks through the door, exhausted from back-to-back meetings and a demanding day. His three-year-old son, Leo, is sitting on the couch, eyes locked on a tablet as another video auto-plays. Daniel whispers, “Hey buddy,” but Leo doesn’t look up. A wave of guilt hits. He knows screens shouldn’t be raising his son, but he relies on them, ten minutes to answer an email, thirty minutes for a meeting, an hour just to decompress. Earlier that week, Leo’s teacher mentioned attention struggles. Now Daniel fears the long-term effects but doesn’t know how to break the cycle. Today, Jay sits down with Will Maurer, award-winning media executive, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Children’s Media Research and Reform Lab. Will is considered the father of children’s media reform, exposing how studios engineer content to hijack a child’s attention, and what parents can actually do instead. His mission: protect the developing brain, reduce shame, and give parents realistic, science-backed solutions in a world where screens aren’t going away. Notable Quotes “Stories like Daniel’s aren’t bad parenting, they’re symptoms of a broken system.” — Will Maurer  “If parents knew the neural effects of this content, they would make different choices.” — Will Maurer  “A child under two should be an active participant, not a hijacked viewer.” — Will Maurer About Our Guest Will Maurer is an award-winning media executive, researcher, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Children’s Media Research and Reform Lab. After discovering the hidden production techniques engineered to keep babies glued to screens, Will left the traditional media world to lead a movement for transparency, reform, and harm-reduction in early-childhood screen time. He now educates parents, policymakers, and creators on how to protect children’s developing brains with practical, compassionate, science-rooted strategies. Resources & Links Will Maurer Children’s Media Research and Reform Lab Website – https://www.cmrrl.org/ Website – https://linktr.ee/willmaurer LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/willmaurer YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@EarlyYearsMedia Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cmrrl.org Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/will.maurer/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@willreforms Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time Next Friday, Jay shares 10 of the best lessons he learned in 2025, wisdom pulled from keynote stages, workshops, coaching clients, and his own personal growth. On December 5th, you’ll hear lessons 10 through 6, and the following Friday, the top five. Then, as the year closes, Jay will help you map your goals for 2026 with clarity and intention. Don’t miss it.