We joke about "brain rot" content—the endless loops of Skibidi Toilet or those weirdly satisfying hydraulic press videos—but the real issue is the "echo chamber" effect.

When a 13-year-old starts seeing "corecore" videos or fitness influencers, the algorithm notices they lingered for three seconds longer on a video about "alpha males" or "body checking." Suddenly, their entire digital world is filtered through that lens. They start thinking everyone is obsessed with jawline exercises or that every girl their age is living in a beige minimalist apartment.

It skews their sense of "normal." If 90% of their feed is "Ohio" memes (internet-speak for "weird" or "chaotic"), they start to think the world is more chaotic than it actually is. Literacy is the antidote to this digital vertigo.

If you want to move past the "because I said so" phase of digital parenting, let the experts (and some really well-produced media) do the heavy lifting.

This is the gold standard for starting the conversation. It features the actual engineers who built the "Like" button explaining why they’re now afraid of what they created. It’s a bit dramatic, but for a 14-year-old who thinks they’re "immune" to advertising, it’s a massive wake-up call.

Host PJ Vogt answers questions like "Why are we all so angry on the internet?" in a way that feels like a conversation with a smart friend, not a lecture. It’s perfect for car rides with middle schoolers.

If your teen is into social justice or tech, this documentary explores how algorithms aren't just annoying—they can be biased. It’s a great way to show that "the code" isn't some objective god; it’s written by people with their own blind spots.

For the younger crowd (Ages 8-12), this gamified approach to digital citizenship is actually... not terrible? It covers the basics of "don't fall for the fake stuff" without being too cringey.

The best way to teach this is to treat it like a game. Here is how you and your teen can "hack" the FYP to make it work for you, not the other way around.

Most kids don't realize they have a "delete" button for their feed. On TikTok and Instagram, long-pressing a video and hitting "Not Interested" is like telling the over-eager assistant to shut up. The Challenge: Have your teen try to "train" their algorithm for 48 hours to only show them things that actually make them feel good (e.g., Minecraft builds, cooking hacks, or Bluey memes).

Algorithms love a silo. If you only follow people who agree with you, the feed becomes a mirror. The Strategy: Encourage them to follow at least three creators who have a completely different hobby or perspective (that is still safe/appropriate). If they love Fortnite, have them follow a pottery account. It breaks the "loop."

The algorithm heavily weights what you search for. If they’re stuck in a "sad-posting" loop, tell them to search for "uplifting news" or "science experiments" and click on a few videos. It’s like a palate cleanser for their digital diet.

Check out our guide on managing TikTok privacy and safety

At this age, they are often just getting their first taste of YouTube or Roblox.

They’re fully in the trenches of Snapchat and Instagram.

If you walk in and say, "Son, let us discuss the algorithmic manipulation of your dopamine receptors," he will rightfully roll his eyes so hard they might get stuck.

Instead, try these:

Learn more about the psychology of infinite scroll

We can't "block" the algorithm. It’s the air they breathe online. But we can teach them to be pilots instead of passengers. When a kid understands that the "For You" page isn't actually "for them"—it's for the platform's bottom line—they regain a sense of agency.

Teaching algorithm literacy isn't about restriction; it's about empowerment. It's about giving them the tools to say, "I see what you're doing there, and I'm not buying it."

Ask our chatbot for more ways to diversify your teen's digital diet