Loading...

PODCAST

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo

Schnelle Acevedo - Digital Literacy Expert + Content Creator

Schnelle Acevedo is the founder of Brooklyn Active Mama, one of NYC"s leading family lifestyle blogs with over 100,000 monthly visitors. She spent the past 14 years creating digital marketing campaigns for Disney, Netflix, Amazon, and P&G—learning exactly how algorithms, psychology, and data manipulation work from the inside.Now, as a certified digital literacy educator teaching workshops across NYC schools and libraries, she"s pulling back the curtain on the systems that content creators,

technology education for kids

All Episodes

00:12:42

NYC Just Changed the Rules on AI in Schools — Here's...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/09/25

New York City just announced a sweeping AI and screen time policy affecting nearly 600,000 public school students — and digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo breaks it all down. In this episode of Smart With Screens, Schnelle walks through what the policy actually says, what she genuinely supports, the honest questions she's still sitting with, and why restricting AI tools without teaching kids how AI works leaves a critical gap.She also shares what her AI literacy for educators program does to

en

00:12:47

Before They Meet You, They've Already Googled You.

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/07/15

Before a hiring manager calls you in for an interview, they've already Googled you. Before a college admissions officer reads your essay, they've already looked you up. Everything you've ever posted, commented, liked, or shared online is building a picture of who you are — and most people have no idea what that picture looks like. In this episode, NYC digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo breaks down what a digital footprint actually is, the real statistics on how employers and colleges are

en

00:13:22

Going Viral at What Cost — The Truth About Attention...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/05/13

Getting attention online feels incredible — especially when you're young and the whole internet is watching. But what happens when that feeling becomes something a child can't stop chasing? In this episode, NYC digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo breaks down the neuroscience behind attention addiction, why young content creators are especially vulnerable to the clout trap, and how the algorithm is engineered to keep pushing kids toward more extreme behavior for bigger reactions. This one is

en

00:13:34

She Never Looked Up — A Braiding Shop, a Child, and...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/04/27

What I saw in a Brooklyn braiding shop stopped me cold. A young girl, iPad in hand, scrolling through reels at a speed no adult could keep up with — gaming videos, Barbie clips, random sounds — jumping to the next one every ten seconds. She never looked up. In this episode, NYC digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo breaks down what that kind of mindless, high-speed scrolling actually does to a child's developing brain, what the research says about doom scrolling in kids under ten, and three

en

00:08:21

The Village Has to Show Up — What a Walk Across the...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/04/20

What does a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge have to do with digital literacy? More than you'd think. In this episode, NYC educator and BAM Digital Media founder Schnelle Acevedo shares what happened when she took her Girl Scout Brownie troop on a four-mile walk through Brooklyn — and the most honest conversation about technology she had all year came from the girls, not a lesson plan. If you believe schools alone can close the digital literacy gap, this one will challenge that. The village has to

en

00:15:04

From Consumers to Creators: Why Every Student Needs...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/04/13

"We tell kids: 'Stop spending so much time on your phone.' But what if we taught them to CREATE instead of just CONSUME?"Students spend hours watching TikToks, YouTube videos, and Instagram posts. They know every creator, every trend, every platform. But we're not teaching them how to actually create content—and that's a missed opportunity.In this episode, Schnelle makes the case for why every student from third grade through high school needs to learn digital content creation skills. Not as a

en

00:18:10

Five Strategies to Stop Doomscrolling (That Actually...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/04/03

"I picked up my phone to check one text. 45 minutes later, I was deep in Instagram Reels watching someone organize their pantry. For the third time."Schnelle admits what we all know: even the experts doomscroll.But here's the thing—you're not powerless. There are actual strategies that work. Not perfectly. Not every time. But they genuinely reduce scrolling.In this episode, Schnelle shares five practical strategies she uses to break the doomscroll cycle. These aren't theoretical tips from someone

en

00:17:31

How Screenshot Culture Is Fueling School Conflict

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/03/17

"Most schools treat digital conflict like a discipline problem. It's not. It's a skills gap."Classroom conflict is rising, but it's not starting in classrooms. It's starting on phones the night before. An argument at 9:30 PM walks into first period at 8:00 AM—no cool-down, no separation, no reset.This episode breaks down three digital behaviors driving school conflict:1. Screenshot Culture Students screenshot everything: private conversations, group chats, arguments. Screenshots get forwarded,

en

00:16:27

Can AI Write Your Essay? (And Should It?)

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/02/26

"My kid says, 'Mom, everyone in my class is using ChatGPT for their homework.' This is the conversation we need to have."AI isn't just a threat—it's a tool kids are already using. The question is: Are they using it ethically, or are they cheating with better technology?Schnelle breaks down four scenarios:Using AI to write entire essays? Plagiarism with extra steps. Cheating.Using AI to brainstorm ideas? Like talking to a tutor—ethical (with transparency).Using AI to edit your writing? Gray area. Is

en

00:11:55

2026 Digital Scams: The Call That Sounds Like Your...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/02/17

Online scams have evolved dramatically. This episode exposes the sophisticated AI-powered scams targeting families, seniors, teens, and professionals in 2026—and teaches you exactly how to protect yourself.Digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo breaks down seven scams happening right now using AI voice cloning, deepfake technology, and personalized psychological manipulation.Scams covered:AI voice cloning emergency calls (sounds exactly like your child)Deepfake video call fraud (fake boss, fake

en

00:15:14

Deepfakes! When You Can't Trust What You See Anymore

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/02/06

A few episodes ago, we talked about how social media algorithms work. But here's the thing: all of that assumes what you're seeing is real. And increasingly? It's not."Schnelle dives into deepfakes—AI-generated videos and images so convincing you cannot tell they're fake. This isn't future technology. This is happening now, and it's getting scarier by the month.What are deepfakes? Videos, images, or audio created using AI to make it look like someone said or did something they never actually did

en

00:12:32

When the Expert Feels Lost Too: Honest Talk About...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/02/02

Episode 6: When the Expert Feels Lost Too (Honest Talk About Parenting and Phones)"I need to be honest with you about something. I have 14 years of digital marketing experience. I teach digital literacy workshops across New York City. I know how algorithms work, the psychological tricks, the data collection practices. And I am still overwhelmed and scared as a parent."This is the most honest episode of the season. No expert tips from someone who has it all figured out. Just real talk from a mom who

en

00:09:39

Why One-Size-Fits-All Digital Rules Don't Work

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/01/23

Not all kids have the same relationship with technology—and blanket screen time rules are failing neurodivergent children.Digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo explores why individualized approaches matter for kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and other neurodivergent traits.Topics covered:Self-Regulation & Screen TimeWhy some kids naturally limit device use while others struggleHow ADHD affects dopamine regulation and makes algorithms more addictiveWhy "just put the phone down" doesn't work

en

00:09:38

Positive Digital Affirmations (And Why We Need Them)

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/01/16

"I know, I know—affirmations can feel a little... woo-woo. But hear me out."We spend hours every day consuming content designed to make us feel inadequate, anxious, and like we're missing out. Algorithms literally optimize for content that triggers emotional responses—often negative ones, because those drive more engagement.So what if we spent just a few minutes actively countering that messaging?This episode is different from the others. No deep dives into how technology works. No scary statistics

en

00:07:09

The Question That Stumped the Expert

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2026/01/09

What happens when a 15-year-old asks better questions than the digital literacy expert has answers for?Schnelle was interviewing with a teen council in Brooklyn—they were evaluating whether her workshops were right for their program. She was ready to impress them with her credentials, her insider knowledge, her 14 years in digital marketing.Then one young man asked: "Do you agree with the phone ban?"Simple question, right? Except it wasn't simple at all.Schnelle's mama heart screamed YES—ban the

en

00:13:43

How Social Media Algorithms Actually Work (And Why...

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2025/12/31

"I need to confess something embarrassing: I know how algorithms work. I've built campaigns using them. I teach people about them. And I still fall victim to them."In this episode, Schnelle breaks down exactly how social media algorithms decide what you see when you open Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Not in vague terms like "the algorithm is watching you" (which sounds creepy but doesn't actually help), but in concrete "here's what's happening right now" terms.She explains the four-step process

en

00:08:06

Why a Digital Marketer is Teaching Digital Literacy

Smart With Screens With Schnelle Acevedo ·

2025/12/31

Episode 1: Why a Digital Marketer is Teaching Digital Literacy"My job was to get you to click, to scroll, to buy. I was really good at it. Now I'm teaching you how it all works."For 14 years, Schnelle Acevedo created digital marketing campaigns designed to capture and hold your attention. She worked with Disney, Netflix, Amazon, P&G—learning every psychological trick, every algorithmic strategy, every data manipulation tactic that makes social media so hard to put down.Then she had kids. Became

en

17 results

Similar Podcasts

Lead With AI

Tamara Nall

Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

Metis Strategy

Asynchronous & Unreliable - Tech & AI Podcast

Anne Currie

Life and Technology with Charlie Brown

Tapt Media

Technically Creative by KoobrikLabs

Orlando Wood