When Matt and I got together to chat, our intention was to geek out about software startups and tech investing. I wanted to learn what VCs look for, how they evaluate opportunities, and how AI factors into the equation in a post-OpenAI world. But we ended up talking about something much more important: fatherhood and how to parent in the digital age, contending with the pressures of social media, screens, and smartphones.
As the original technology addict in the room, I’m glued to either my computer, smartphone, or tablet pretty much every minute of the day - so I am far from the role model I know I should be when it comes to screentime, but as the father of two boys and two girls (with his oldest now in his early twenties) - Matt has a perspective on managing technology in the family that really resonated with me.
So we pivoted and instead of getting into the nitty gritty of startups and what Venture Capitalists are looking for when they fund a startup, we spent much of our conversation on how to parent in the digital age. We also talk a bit about our journeys in tech, but as any good Harkness conversation, we started in one place and ended in another.
In some ways, despite the benefits of digital media and the ways it can bring us closer (like this podcast), for developing young brains a lot of parents see smartphones, screentime, and the addictive nature of social media as our generation’s “big tobacco”. Just as the tobacco companies knowingly put out a cancer-causing product, and even pushed it onto kids and teens, the social media companies are doing something similar. Social Media companies make money off technology addiction. They are rewarded for creating an addictive endorphin rush in their audience (our kids) and knowingly avoid guardrails, leaving families to figure it all out for themselves.
So, I hope this perspective helps anyone out there dealing with children and the challenge of smartphones, screentime, and social media — whether you’re a parent or you have young people in your life that you care for. Nobody has all the answers, but I want to thank Matt for sharing what he’s learned along the way. And for sharing his deep and loving experience as an all-around-amazing dad with us. We’ll get into tech investing next time :-).
I hope you enjoy watching and/or listening.
Cheers,
Veev
vivek@alumnipod.com
P.S. If you’re thinking of volunteering and/or coming onto the podcast, ping me :-)!
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