Welcome to a brand-new series on Infinite Halls.

Every week, parents are flooded with headlines about technology, social media, AI, gaming, and screen time. The stories move fast. The opinions are loud. But what do these headlines actually mean for our families?

In Hot Takes, Arcadia sits down with a parenting or technology expert to react to some of the biggest news stories of the week—not to give quick answers, but to slow the conversation down. Together, they unpack what's being said, what's being overlooked, and what parents might want to think about before accepting the headline at face value.

For the very first episode, Arcadis is joined by my longtime friend and parenting expert Shalini Melwani, founder of Parenting Empowered and a Certified Gordon Parenting Effectiveness Training instructor. Shalini has spent years helping families strengthen relationships through connection rather than control, making her the perfect person to explore these stories with.

In this episode, they'll discuss:

• A new survey claiming that 40% of girls would rather skip a vacation than go somewhere without Wi-Fi.
• Australia's groundbreaking social media ban for children under 16—and whether government regulation is really the answer.
• New research showing that nine out of ten parents argue with their children about technology, and what those conflicts reveal about modern family life.

Rather than debating whether technology is "good" or "bad," we ask bigger questions:

• What is the real purpose of family vacations?
• Can laws replace conversations at home?
• How do we move from constant arguments about screens to healthier relationships with technology?

If you're looking for certainty, this may not be the episode for you.

But if you're looking for thoughtful conversation, nuanced perspectives, and practical reflection, pull up a chair. Come join the conversation.

About Shalini Melwani

Shalini Melwani is the founder of Parenting Empowered, a Certified Gordon Parenting Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) instructor, ADHD parent coach, and longtime parenting educator. Her work helps parents build stronger relationships with their children through empathy, communication, and connection rather than control.

Because when it comes to raising children in a digital world, the headlines are only the beginning. The real work happens at home.

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See you in the next Infinite Hall.