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I think it would be a terrifying time to be the parent of a teenager, for many reasons.

The one we hear about most often is fentanyl, but there are other more common threats that are just as scary. They just don’t get the dramatic coverage on TV.

Like what, you ask? Like smart phones, I answer.

I’ve mentioned Fareed Zakaria’s Sunday morning program on CNN, called GPS: The Global Public Square, before. I never miss a week.

This past Sunday, Fareed had a special entitled Disconnected: Life In A Disruptive Digital Age. If you missed it, you can find the podcast audio HERE. Not quite as good as the TV version because of visuals and graphs and seeing the guests, but it will give you the important information you need.

The introduction of smart phones and the concomitant and dramatic rise in so many negatives involving the mental and physical health of our children will startle you.

It’s impossible to watch this program and not want to ban all those under the age of consent from using smartphones.

They have proven deadly in so many ways.

There is a growing movement to restrict their use during school hours, as this PSA advocates:

If you are the parent of a teen or pre-teen, I urge you to listen to the podcast (about 40 minutes), or watch the actual TV show about this subject.

Your child’s future may depend on it.