Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin Is Social Media Harming Your Kids? What Every Parent Needs to Know with Cecilia Robinson
Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goals
In this episode of Lead On Purpose, I sit down with Cecilia Robinson, serial entrepreneur and Co chair of B416 (Before 16), to unpack what’s driving the youth mental health crisis and what parents can do about it.
- Why is anxiety rising so fast in young people?
- What happens when we over protect kids in the real world and under protect them online?
- How do you raise independent, resilient kids in a smartphone first world?
Cecilia shares the mission behind B416, the push to introduce a minimum age of 16 for social media, and the practical parenting principles she uses at home. We also get into her entrepreneurial journey across Au Pair Link, My Food Bag, and Tend, plus how she handles public criticism and stays grounded in the middle of high pressure seasons.
What we cover:
- Why B416 exists, what the movement is trying to change, and why social norming matters for parents and kids
- The biggest compliance issue schools face with phone free rules, and the parental habits that accidentally undermine them
- Cecilia’s approach to parenting for independence, including the TRICK framework and stretching kids with real responsibility
- How she thinks about building businesses, why execution beats ideas, and how problem spotting drives her ventures
- The emotional realities behind leadership, including navigating loss, staying steady under scrutiny, and choosing daily happiness
If you care about parenting, leadership, and protecting childhood in a digital world, this conversation will challenge how you think about screens, responsibility, and what kids actually need to thrive.
- Check out B416 here - https://b416.co.nz
- Connect with Cecilia on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-robinson-46722311/?originalSubdomain=nz
- Have a look at Cecilia's speaker profile here - https://www.celebrityspeakers.co.nz/speakers/cecilia-robinson
- If you’re interested in having me deliver a keynote or workshop for your team contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.com
Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.li
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Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goals
- If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.com