As a pediatrician, I know the start of a new school year can bring a mix of excitement and jitters for both kids and parents. It’s a time of fresh routines, new friendships and big transitions. It’s also an important opportunity to check in on our children’s mental and emotional well-being.
In my pediatric clinic in central Arkansas, I regularly meet teens who feel overwhelmed or withdrawn and parents who aren’t sure if their child’s changes in behavior are worth worrying about. We talk about sleep issues, school stress and stomach aches that don’t have a clear medical cause. These moments often open the door to deeper conversations, reminding us that kids these days are carrying more than we might realize.
Not every concern signals something serious, but many reflect a broader trend pediatricians are seeing nationally and in Arkansas. More kids are struggling with how they feel, how they cope and how they connect. One of the clearest influences is social media.
For many young people, social media is more than a digital distraction. It’s the lens they use to understand themselves, their peers and the world around them. Platforms designed to capture attention and fuel comparison have become the space where many kids spend much of their day. That constant exposure affects sleep, focus, confidence and mood. It’s a growing factor in the conversations we have every day in our clinics.
This isn’t just anecdotal. Pediatricians across the state are seeing the same trends: rising anxiety, concerns with growing societal pressures and a real need for better tools to help families manage it all.
The good news is that Arkansas is responding. In the 2025 legislative session, state leaders introduced legislation to make digital spaces safer for kids. I had the chance to testify in support of two of these. And in February, Gov. Sanders signed the “Bell to Bell No Cell” law, making Arkansas one of the first states to require phone-free school days. I was encouraged to see our state stepping forward where federal action has stalled.
Still, policy is only part of the solution when access to care remains a challenge for our state. Too many Arkansas families continue to face long waits for counseling. Some are turned away due to coverage limits or high out-of-pocket costs. And even when care is available, many parents feel unsure about where to begin.
That’s where trusted support matters. Pediatricians see these challenges every day, and as members of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, we’re working to close the gaps. From clinic visits to policy discussions, we’re advocating for systems that better support families and reflect the realities of raising children in today’s digital world. Between our shared mission of advancing safer tech policies and our deeply felt commitment to helping parents navigate taking care of their children, our goal is simple: to help every child in Arkansas grow up healthy, safe and supported.
Parenting right now isn’t easy. The pace of changing technology is fast. The pressure on kids is real. And the digital world they live in looks nothing like what most of us experienced growing up. But there are small steps parents can take today to make a real difference, like keeping devices out of bedrooms at night, taking breaks from screens together and talking regularly about what their child is seeing online and how it makes them feel.
If something feels off, trust your instincts. Start with a conversation. Your pediatrician is here to listen, to help and to walk through it with you. If you’re a policymaker, advocate or community leader, we hope you’ll keep this conversation going as the school year progresses and work with us to create the systems and safeguards Arkansas families need.
Our kids deserve that from all of us.
Meghan Repp, M.D., is a pediatrician and president of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.