You saw my Substack about pinball? My follow-up about the kaleidoscope? That was inspired when I learned about Dr. Chris Ferguson’s work. I was hooked. I’m stoked he came to chat with me.

Chris is a psychologist, researcher, and author known for challenging cultural panics about media and youth. We touch on why every generation seems convinced the next one is doomed. From the “pinball bans” of the 1940s to today’s debates about social media and mental health, Chris has shown me a long history of adults blaming new technologies for society’s ills.

The conversation dives into what actually drives these moral panics: fear, nostalgia, and the mistaken belief that correlation equals causation. That’s the original sin for a researcher to commit, but it doesn’t change the fact that most legislation and bans relating to social media and kids these days are committing this. Chris explains how weak or misinterpreted data often fuels sweeping claims about video games, smartphones, and youth behavior. Good science actually tends to tell a calmer story. We explore how media narratives amplify anxiety, how policymakers respond to public pressure, and what happens when we mistake moral outrage for meaningful solutions.

Chris offers a hopeful, evidence-based reminder that young people are far more resilient than we’re led to believe, and that moral panics reveal more about adults than adolescent fragility. The episode closes with a thoughtful look at how parents, educators, and policymakers can keep perspective, foster agency, and focus on what actually helps kids thrive.

If you’re a parent, practitioner, or simply curious about why “kids these days” keep getting blamed for cultural shifts, this episode offers both insight and relief. It’s a funny, myth-busting conversation about media, morality, and the timeless cycle of panic that says more about us than about them.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit willdobud.substack.com