Saturday, August 9, 2025

Special Edition: Phones in School Debate – Policies, Impact & What’s Next

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Dozens of states are cracking down on student phone use — but is banning them completely the right call? Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital joins us to explain what teens really think about phone rules in schools, how strict policies can sometimes backfire, and what parents can do to help their kids build healthy digital habits. Plus — the research on phones, mental health, and how tech companies should (or shouldn’t) design for kids.

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Guest: Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter

Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter is a Program Administrator at the Digital Wellness Lab, where she supports the implementation of special projects, impact, content, and fundraising efforts. Brinleigh holds dual degrees in Gender Studies and Communications from the University of Southern California where she focused her studies on gender representation in children’s media. Brinleigh holds a Master’s in Education with a focus on Learning, Design, Innovation, and Technology, along with a concentration in Early Childhood Education, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Prior to joining the Digital Wellness Lab, Brinleigh worked across the technology and entertainment industries. She began her career in Los Angeles at William Morris Endeavor, went on to work in the Original Programming department at Disney Channel, and later spent time focusing on pro-social brand strategy development for brands such as Mattel, Dove, and Disney. Brinleigh later transitioned to the tech industry, moving to San Francisco to work for Google and YouTube for over eight years. A mother of two young children, Brinleigh has always been passionate about the impact of media and technology on youth, and sees an inspiring opportunity to bridge industry and academia to advance shared goals in creating a healthy online future for our youngest global citizens.

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