From Tech Conference to Tech Coach: Why I Help Moms Protect Their Kids from the Hidden Dangers of Screen Time

By Gena Peth, Screen Smart Moms

The Day Everything Changed

I still remember standing in a packed auditorium at a tech conference in Washington, D.C. A fishbowl on a vendor’s table caught my eye, and a small sign read, “Win the Newest iPad!”

Hours later, I heard my name over the loudspeaker: “Gena Peth! You’ve just won the newest iPad!” I was ecstatic. At the time, I worked in technology and had five kids of my own, plus two teenage stepsons. Like any busy mom, I dreamed of being more organized, more connected, more efficient.

The following weekend, I booked a room at a local hotel and spent hours setting it up with the Cozy app. I synced all our calendars, created shared grocery lists, added reminders, and even color-coded everyone’s schedules. I was so ready for this that I’d already ordered a wall mount to display it front and center in our kitchen.

That iPad was going to change everything, or so I thought.

When Technology Crossed a Line

Within days, what I saw as a “family organizer” turned into something else entirely. My teenage stepsons discovered how to access pornography through it. That device, something I had been so excited about, became a portal to content that began to shape, twist, and ultimately harm the minds of the people I loved most.

It didn’t stop there. Even our “safe” devices, old iPods, gaming systems, and flip phones, had hidden access points. I felt like I was playing digital whack-a-mole, trying to block every new loophole that appeared.

And the consequences were devastating. One stepson’s addiction grew so severe that he mirrored the content he was watching and was forced to face legal consequences at only 13 years old. Another struggled deeply with shame, compulsion, and the emotional aftermath.

At the same time, while I was married, I discovered that my husband also had a hidden pornography addiction and had been contacting younger women online, including people we knew personally. At one point, he was asked to step down as head coach of my younger son’s football team for sending inappropriate content to a single mom of one of the players. His behavior escalated until it eventually ended our marriage.

I was left heartbroken but also determined. I knew I had to protect my youngest son and find a new way forward, for him, for me, and for other families who were silently struggling just like ours.

The Turning Point: From Survival to Strategy

With over 25 years in the technology field, I began testing every solution available: router filters, app settings, layered parental controls, monitoring systems, and, most importantly, communication strategies that actually worked.

For my youngest son, I chose a different path. I focused on connection over control and protection over punishment. The results were life-changing. Today, he’s a young adult living independently, confident in his ability to manage technology, and equipped with strong digital habits.

That success fueled my purpose: if one family could come back from chaos, so could others.

I began helping other parents, first in my local community, then online. During COVID, my coaching reached moms across the U.S., Canada, the UK, and even Greece. What started as one mom trying to solve her family’s digital chaos became a growing movement of Screen Smart Moms determined to reclaim peace in their homes.

Why Screen Smart Moms Was Born

I recently rebranded my Too Much Screen Time business into Screen Smart Moms to reflect my deeper mission: empowering moms, not frightening them.

This isn’t about demonizing technology—it’s about mastering it.

The idea for Screen Smart Moms actually began in a very personal place. When my youngest son was preparing to move out and start his internship, I wanted to make sure he was genuinely ready to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly on his own. I started creating guides, checklists, and content to help him set up his own devices, secure his Wi-Fi, and manage his online habits independently.

What began as a personal project to help my son launch safely into the next stage of life quickly grew into something much bigger. I realized that every parent could benefit from the same kind of guidance and structure I was building for him. That process became the foundation for what is now Screen Smart Moms, a movement and resource hub that helps families master technology with confidence.

From there, the vision expanded even further. As I continued helping families protect their kids, I saw a growing need for a trusted, up-to-date source of digital safety content not just for young children and teens, but also for grandparents and elderly parents. That’s when the idea for Screen Smart Moms Magazine was born: a resource designed to keep families informed about the latest online risks, safety tools, and trends across all generations.

Because digital safety isn’t just a parenting issue, it’s a family issue.

That’s why I created my CPR Framework: Connect, Protect, Regulate to be a simple yet powerful roadmap for digital safety that actually works in real family life.

• Connect

  Screens can’t replace relationships. Real connection is your first line of defense. Kids open up when they feel seen and heard, not just monitored.

• Protect

  Set layered safeguards, not fear-based limits. Use filters, privacy settings, router controls, and app restrictions as the outer “walls” of your digital home, but make sure your child understands why those walls exist.

• Regulate

  Model healthy habits. Regulate your own screen time, build tech-free zones, and create family routines that make offline life just as fulfilling.

Over the years, I’ve helped hundreds of moms implement these layers, setting up devices safely, managing app permissions, using accountability tools, and building confidence in how they parent through technology.

They stop feeling intimidated by tech and start feeling empowered. These moms aren’t just surviving screen time anymore; they’re mastering it.

The Deeper Mission: What I See Every Day

I don’t share my story because it’s easy; it isn’t. I share it because it’s real.

I’ve seen what unfiltered, unlimited access to technology can do to kids, marriages, and entire families. But I’ve also seen what happens when parents take back control: peace returns, kids reconnect, and families heal.

In my work with families, I’ve seen everything from:

• Elementary kids exposed to adult content on school-issued devices

• Teens are spending up to 18 hours a day online, losing motivation, sleep, and purpose.

• Girls are pressured into sharing inappropriate photos through “trusted” friends or AI-powered chatbots.

• Boys desensitized by violent or sexualized content are struggling to form real relationships.

• Parents are paralyzed by guilt, unsure how to reestablish boundaries without losing trust

• Families devastated by suicide attempts, self-harm, or online exploitation that started with “just an app”

My coaching has led me into deep, confidential conversations with moms who are carrying unimaginable pain, those who’ve found out their child was sending explicit photos, chatting with strangers, or being blackmailed. I’ve sat with moms sobbing as they described self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or children dropping out of school, numbed by digital dependency. I’ve helped parents navigate reporting child exploitation and sextortion to the FBI, often walking them through that process step by step.

Compassion for All Families

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this: no family is immune, and every child deserves a chance to recover.

I have deep compassion not only for the moms whose children were victims of harmful content, but also for the moms whose children were influenced by it and made devastating choices that hurt others. Some of the most courageous women I’ve met are the ones parenting both pain and accountability at the same time.

Every family affected by digital harm, whether through addiction, exposure, or tragedy, needs understanding, tools, and hope. That’s why I show up for all of them.

Why I Coach Moms (and Not Just Manage Their Tech)

When I first started coaching, many parents expected quick fixes, an app, a filter, a setting. But I quickly realized the deeper issue: parents weren’t just missing tools; they were missing confidence.

That’s why my coaching goes beyond “tech setup.” I walk moms step-by-step through the emotional side of screen-time management, how to hold boundaries when it’s hard, how to rebuild trust, and how to stay strong when your child pushes back.

Because the truth is, tech safety isn’t a one-time setup; it’s a journey of leadership, love, and learning.

My Qualifications and Experience

I bring not only experience from my own life, but professional training to my work. I’m a Certified Transformational Trauma Coach and a Digital Wellness Coach, which allows me to help families navigate not just the technical side of screen safety but the emotional, neurological, and relational impact of screen addiction.

I’ve worked with families navigating major transitions, divorce, blended families, and children placed in inpatient treatment programs. I’ve supported parents raising children on the autism spectrum and those struggling with ADHD, anxiety, or impulsivity.

My personal story, and the hundreds of families I’ve supported, have shaped me into a coach who leads with empathy, structure, and accountability.

My Mission Today

My mission is simple but powerful:

To help moms stop fearing technology, start mastering it, and build homes where connection comes before clicks.

Through one-on-one coaching, online workshops, and the Screen Smart Moms community, I teach families how to create safe, connected, and confident digital households.

Technology isn’t going away, but neither is your ability to lead your family with wisdom and strength.

A Final Word to Moms

If you’re overwhelmed, I get it. I’ve been there, the confusion, the guilt, the feeling like you’re always one step behind. But here’s what I know for sure: you are not powerless.

Technology doesn’t have to divide your family. With the right tools, mindset, and support, it can actually bring you closer.

I’m Gena Peth, Screen Time Safety Coach and Chief Editor of Screen Smart Moms.

If you’re ready to take back control of screen time and restore peace in your home, visit toomuchscreentime.com and join the Screen Smart Moms community today.

Together, we’ll turn your family’s tech story into one of connection, confidence, and calm.

Key Takeaways for Moms

• You can’t outsource digital safety; your presence matters more than any parental control app.

• Teach your kids why you set boundaries, not just what they are.

• It’s never too late to reset your family’s tech habits.

• You don’t need to be a tech expert; you just need the right guide.

• Healing, reconnection, and safety start with awareness and compassion, for your kids and for yourself.
  

Join our live webinar with Gena Peth, Screen Smart Moms, to learn what really keeps kids safe online.
Reserve your spot today before it fills up!

Need Help today?

Learn to protect your kids online with confidence. Schedule a call and follow me on Facebook today.

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