KQED's Forum ‘Second Life’ Looks at Parenting in an App-Obsessed World
May 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Amanda Hess, a New York Times culture critic and author of 'Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age,' shares her personal journey into parenthood marked by anxiety and digital reliance. She explores how technology reshapes expectations around pregnancy, critiques the idealized portrayals of motherhood, and discusses the ethical dilemmas surrounding prenatal testing. Hess humorously navigates the complexities of parenting in a digital world, emphasizing the need for community support amidst the pressures of tech-driven parenting.
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Google Search Sparks Anxiety
- Amanda Hess turned to Google after an ultrasound detected a possible problem with her baby.
- Instead of comfort, she found alarming misinformation and anxiety that shaped her pregnancy experience.
App Creates Baby Disconnection
- The pregnancy app Flow shows a hyper-realistic CGI baby detached from the pregnant body.
- This creates a surreal disconnection, making the baby seem unreal and remote inside the mother.
Male-led Femtech Influence
- Flo, a popular fertility app, was created by two cisgender men, not women.
- This male-led design influences how women's pregnancy experiences are mediated and surveilled through tech.