Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey

Ep 1292 | Ben Gillenwater | Cybersecurity Expert Reveals Shocking Truth About Parental Controls

Jan 23, 2026
Guest
Ben Gillenwater
Ben Gillenwater, the Family IT Guy and cybersecurity expert focused on kids’ online safety, breaks down dangerous trends in children’s media. He highlights bottomless feeds, AI manipulations, grooming via chats, social media-driven addiction, and extortion risks. Practical tips include whitelist parenting, no bedroom devices, and guarding attention as a precious resource.
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ANECDOTE

iPad Gift Became Nightmare Feed

  • Ben Gillenwater gave his five-year-old an iPad and discovered disturbing, addictive content within days.
  • He removed YouTube, switched to YouTube Kids, then discarded the iPad entirely after seeing lasting negative effects.
INSIGHT

Ad Companies Optimize For Attention

  • YouTube and Google are primarily advertising companies that optimize for attention, not child safety.
  • Their incentive to maximize watch time makes platforms inherently addictive for all ages, especially children.
ANECDOTE

Character Triggered Obsession At The Park

  • A park encounter showed how a single character (Huggy Wuggy) gripped his son and changed behavior toward other kids.
  • The character triggered obsession and nightmares that lasted years.
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