Ash Said It® Daily

In a landmark interview on The Ash Said It Show, Jennifer Berger, the visionary Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Ready Set Screen, introduced a transformative solution to the modern parenting crisis: The Social Media Driver’s License. As a veteran teen advocate and Media Literacy Expert, Berger argues that in 2026, handing a child a smartphone without formal training is as hazardous as handing them car keys without a permit. With millions of young people receiving first-time devices daily, particularly during high-use periods like Spring Break, this first-of-its-kind certification program provides a vital framework for digital safety and emotional intelligence. The year 2026 marks a critical tipping point for digital wellness. While smartphones have existed for nearly 20 years, the current landscape of sophisticated algorithms and AI-driven content has made "self-teaching" a thing of the past. Berger highlights that the 10-14 age range is the absolute "critical window" for media literacy int