On the Media Having a Child in the Digital Age
22 snips
Jul 9, 2025 
Amanda Hess, author of 'Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age,' dives into the landscape of modern parenthood and technology. She discusses how apps and social media have transformed pregnancy, from empowerment tools to sources of anxiety. The conversation reveals the commodification of personal data and the emotional toll on expectant parents navigating health uncertainties. Hess also critiques the reliance on gadgets like the SNOO bassinet while emphasizing the need for communal support in a society often dismissive of caregiving.
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Emotional Internet During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy changes your relationship with the internet from casual to deeply emotional and invested.
- Superstition around documenting pregnancy experiences reveals emotional complexity beyond logical understanding.
Period Tracker App Shift
- The Flow period tracker app transforms from empowering to disciplinary during pregnancy.
- Its CGI fetus images create a false sense of seeing inside the womb, blending reproductive technology with gamification.
Surveillance Normalized in Pregnancy
- Period and pregnancy apps normalize the idea that external surveillance of the body is necessary and beneficial.
- This shapes cultural acceptance of datafication and control over reproductive health.
