Fresh Air
Having A Child In The Digital Age
May 8, 2025
In this engaging conversation, journalist Amanda Hess, author of Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age, reveals the deep impact of technology on her experience of pregnancy after learning her child had an abnormality. Hess discusses the emotional rollercoaster of navigating pregnancy apps and online forums, while critiquing their unrealistic portrayals of motherhood. She also addresses the inequalities in access to reproductive technologies and the implications of surveillance in parenting, emphasizing the need for genuine human connections amidst digital chaos.
45:56
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Quick takeaways
- Amanda Hess discusses the intensified anxiety and guilt mothers face due to societal narratives and technological influences during pregnancy.
- The podcast highlights the ethical implications of advanced prenatal testing technologies and the societal stigmas surrounding disabilities in children.
Deep dives
The Impact of Technology on Pregnancy
The discussion highlights how technology permeates the experience of pregnancy and motherhood, impacting both expectations and perceptions. As Amanda Hess navigated her pregnancy, she found herself relying heavily on apps and online resources for information, which often portrayed idealized versions of pregnancy and motherhood. This reliance on technology intensified her feelings of anxiety and judgment, as she grappled with the fear that her health decisions could affect her unborn child. Ultimately, Hess questions the narratives constructed by these digital tools and how they shape maternal experiences amidst the challenges of modern parenting.
