Tech Addiction Experts

Tech Addiction Experts Practical digital parenting guidance from licensed therapist Chris Koniarczyk.

Digital Driver’s License course, free resources, and the Tech Addiction Experts podcast.
👉 techaddictionexperts.com/links At Tech Addiction Experts, we empower families to navigate the digital world collaboratively, fostering balanced habits and meaningful connections for a healthier, safer, and more harmonious tech-life balance.

If you’re in or near Town of Wake Forest, NC, come join me at the Mental Wellness Fair on September 26. I’ll be part of ...
09/07/2026

If you’re in or near Town of Wake Forest, NC, come join me at the Mental Wellness Fair on September 26. I’ll be part of a panel talking about kids, technology, and mental health.

09/07/2026

Talking with our kids about technology can end up turning into a wrestling match pretty quick.

For this podcast episode, I talked with Peter Rives, a therapist and motivational interviewing trainer, about how parents can use motivational interviewing to listen better, ask better questions, and keep conversations from immediately turning into an argument.

Listen to “Motivational Interviewing: Talking with Kids About Tech” at the link in my bio.


08/28/2026

Bringing this one back because parents need to hear it: parental controls can help, but they shouldn’t be your whole safety plan.

Kids will find workarounds. They’ll use friends’ phones, share screens, create new accounts, or come across things in ways you didn’t even think of. We can’t depend on blocking every possible way they might see harmful stuff online.

As parents we have to help our kids understand online risks and preparing them to make safer choices when we aren’t right there watching. That’s exactly why we’re creating the Digital Driver’s License.

The course isn’t available quite yet, but our free Family Tech Guide & Agreement can help you start some of those conversations now. It gives your family a way to talk through expectations, boundaries, what happens when a rule is broken, and how kids can come to you when something online feels wrong.

You can get it here: https://mailchi.mp/7e394e3a4cb2/family-tech-agreement

I don't think most parents are looking for another expert telling them to be afraid of technology.I think they're lookin...
08/06/2026

I don't think most parents are looking for another expert telling them to be afraid of technology.

I think they're looking for someone to help them know what to do.

That's why we created Digital Driver's License.

It's a therapist-led video course that families take together before kids get their first smartphone. Each lesson includes a short video, a quiz, and a family discussion to help families build the knowledge and skills they need to navigate social media, gaming, AI, scams, cyberbullying, and more.

Launching soon.

If smartphones are already part of your family's life, or you know they're coming soon, this course was created to help your family feel more prepared.

Link in the comments.

08/05/2026

One of the things that makes this topic so difficult is that, for many kids, it can become the first thing in their life that feels addictive.

They may feel ashamed.

They may feel out of control.

And they can feel like they can't tell their parents because they're afraid of getting in trouble or really embarrassed.

When kids don't feel like they can talk to a trusted adult, they'll often look somewhere else for answers. That may be an internet forum, social media, or influencers who don't have their best interests at heart.

As parents we have to make sure our kids know they never have to figure something like this out alone. No matter what they're struggling with, they need to know they can always come to you.

Follow Tech Addiction Experts for practical, therapist-backed guidance for raising kids in a digital world.

#1. Do you ever talk to AI just because you're bored or want someone to talk to? #2. Have you ever asked AI for advice ...
07/27/2026

#1. Do you ever talk to AI just because you're bored or want someone to talk to?

#2. Have you ever asked AI for advice about friends, school, dating, or something you didn't want to tell me?

#3. What do you actually like about talking to AI?

#4. Do any of your friends use AI like a friend?

#5. Has AI ever said something that made you uncomfortable or just felt... weird?

These questions can help you get a better understanding of how AI is already showing up in their life and keep the lines of communication open.

Have you asked your kids about AI companions yet? Did they seem to know more about the topic than you or less?

One of the biggest mistakes I see parents make is creating new screen time rules in the middle of an argument.Arguments ...
07/23/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see parents make is creating new screen time rules in the middle of an argument.

Arguments are a terrible time to solve problems.

Your kid is trying to get what they want.

You're trying to stop the behavior.

Neither of you is in the best mindset to create a long-term family plan.

Instead, have these conversations when everyone is calm. Explain why the rules exist, let your kid ask questions, and come up with the expectations together before they're ever tested.

It's a whole lot easier to point back to an agreement than to create a new rule in the middle of an argument.

I've had a lot of parents ask where to start with these conversations, so I put together a free Family Tech Agreement. If it would be helpful, you can grab it through the link in my bio.

07/20/2026

Most parents know they need to talk with their kids about social media, po*******hy, and online strangers but "AI companions" may not even be on their radar.

These aren’t simply tools kids use for homework. They can act like friends, therapists, boyfriends, or girlfriends. They’re always available, endlessly patient, and designed to keep the conversation going.

China recently enacted regulations intended to prevent these services from encouraging emotional dependence, addiction, and damage to real-life relationships. Several major companies responded by disabling their AI companion features.

Whatever you think about China’s approach, I think parents should pay attention to the concern behind it.

For a lonely, anxious, insecure, or socially struggling young person, an AI relationship could become incredibly easy to rely on.

Try asking:

“Do you ever use AI as someone to talk to, not just to get information?”

Don’t start with fear or judgment. Start with conversation and understand how AI is already showing up in their life.

Been a busy summer around here…Haven’t been posting much because we’ve been traveling, doing family stuff, and trying to...
06/24/2026

Been a busy summer around here…

Haven’t been posting much because we’ve been traveling, doing family stuff, and trying to limit my own screen time.

The good news is that work is still happening behind the scenes. Jason and his team at Uplifter Video are working hard on the Digital Driver’s License Course and I’m excited to share more about it soon.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. And take it as a win every time your kid does something not involving a screen!

It seems like most parents these days are feeling guilty anytime their kid is in front of a screen. I know I can feel th...
05/23/2026

It seems like most parents these days are feeling guilty anytime their kid is in front of a screen. I know I can feel that way too.

The news and social media is filled with "screens are ruining our children!" headlines. And while there is a lot of truth in the harms of screens on our children, it's not black and white.

Our current media ecosystem rewards clickbait headlines and hot takes that induce fear and anger. It doesn't reward nuance.

The truth is that it's complicated. Sometimes screens can be good and helpful. Sometimes they can be extremely detrimental and dangerous. The hard part is figuring out the nuance in your own home.

Amount of time is one factor to consider, but there are many other factors to consider when it comes to evaluating your child (or your) relationship with screens.

So take a deep breath and give yourself some grace when it comes to raising your child in a digital world. Not all screen time is absolutely ruining your child.

Follow along for expert advice that is based on the science and the evidence (as we understand it today). Not fear based click-bait.

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