Life Kit: Parenting Hidden ways technology can influence your parenting decisions
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Jul 29, 2025 
Amanda Hess, a Critic at Large for the New York Times and author of 'Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age,' dives into the complex relationship between technology and parenting. She discusses how pregnancy tracking apps and smart baby monitors shape our experiences but may also create barriers between parents and their children. Hess critiques data-driven advertising's influence on parenting choices and highlights the emotional struggles that arise when navigating realistic expectations versus online portrayals of parenthood.
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Pregnancy Shapes Internet Relationship
- Amanda Hess shared how technology shaped her pregnancy experience in complex ways.
- She felt naive and overwhelmed by external pregnancy authorities and idealized images online.
Redefining Normal: Disability and Reality
- Disability is within the range of normal, not the idealized pregnancy internet fantasy.
- The real image of her son helped Amanda move from fear to acceptance and love.
Limit Online Parenting Info
- Be mindful about how much pregnancy and parenting information you consume online.
- Limit data input to what is actually helpful to avoid unnecessary anxiety or misinformation.