The Opt-Out Family, with Erin Loechner

Erin Loechner had a million followers on social media. She was at the top of her game as an influencer when she realized that something was very wrong. Join me for a compelling conversation with Erin about why she decided to walk away from that career, and from social media altogether, to start a new life with her husband and kids as an Opt-Out Family. Her new book, The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't is an incredibly important new idea for families, parents, and grandparents.  From Amazon.com Discover a new and hopeful path forward as you consider your family's approach to social media, screen time, and technology. We've all heard the mind-boggling statistics about technology and social media use. The numbers don't lie; our obsession with smartphones and social media is slowly eroding the very essence of our homes and families. We see it. We feel it. We know it.So what do we do about it? Spoiler alert: Forget parental control apps, time limits, or reward charts. This revolutionary path takes us into the heart of the beast itself: the social media algorithm. Former social media influencer and trailblazer Erin Loechner has seen the perks and pitfalls of social media usage, and she knows how to hack the strategies of tech wizards and platform experts so you can borrow their billion-dollar playbook to engage your family in meaningful ways away from screens. The Opt-Out Family is packed with eye-opening research and startling insights, as well as practical encouragement and creative ideas to transform your family's relationship with today's ever-evolving technology. As a result, you will: Experience more quality time with your children that doesn't revolve around screens Create healthy habits as a family that will set your children up for success in the future Discover what your kids actually need from you, and learn how to delight and engage them better than a device can And, ultimately, establish true and lasting influence within your own four walls--and far beyond The Opt-Out Family unlocks a world where genuine connections flourish and technology takes a backseat. It's time to reclaim your home and build a tech-free family culture that's stronger than your Wi-Fi signal. Erin Loechner is the founder of global tech-free movement The Opt-Out Family. She is a former social media influencer who walked away from a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle—and is now teaching others how to do the same. Her cutting-edge work has been praised in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Huffington Post, as well as on the Today Show. When she’s not scrawling on her trusty steno pad, Erin, her husband, and their three kids spend their days chasing alpenglow, reading Kipling, and biking to town for more tortillas. Check out Erin's website here to find a ton of helpful resources, statistics, and other information if you're considering making the opt-out decision for your family as well. Five Ways You Can Support this show: Pray for us! Subscribe, like, and share it with your friends! (We even have a YouTube channel!) Leave reviews and comments wherever you listen to podcasts! You can become a paid partner of the podcast and get special bonus episodes and lots more content by clicking here.  Visit one of our affiliate partners and consider using their products (we use them every day): Improve your gut health, support your immune system, and protect your brain with Pique! Other Helpful Links: Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book! Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!All recent episodes with transcripts are available here! (00:01) - Introduction (01:27) - Erin's Journey (02:35) - Self-Brain Surgery School (29:42) - Effects on Children (31:29) - Modeling Behavior (33:22) - Opting Out Micro Decisions (35:29) - Reflections on Interview