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The Baby Monitor Trap

2025/4/20
logo of podcast What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future
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The episode begins by discussing the backlash faced by parenting influencers Abby and Matt Howard for using a makeshift baby monitor on a cruise. The public's reaction ranged from concern about abduction to vague worries about unseen accidents, prompting the Howards to clarify their use of extended family supervision. The incident highlights the intense scrutiny parents face online and the lack of context often used in judgment.
  • Backlash against parenting influencers Abby and Matt Howard for using a makeshift baby monitor on a cruise.
  • Public concerns ranged from abduction to fire and other unspecified accidents.
  • Howards clarified that extended family was present, but many remained unconvinced.
  • The incident reveals the intense online scrutiny of parents and frequent lack of contextual information in judgments.

Shownotes Transcript

If setting up a baby monitor in the room with your sleeping kids doesn’t allow you to pop out and enjoy the cruise ship, what are they actually good for?

Guest: Stephanie Murray, writer for The Atlantic, the newsletter Family Stuff), who wrote “You’re on Vacation. You Leave Your Kid in Your Hotel Room With a Baby Monitor. What Could Go Wrong?)” for Slate.

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