Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World

National Bestseller | Essential Parenting Guide for the Digital Age

How do you raise confident, resilient kids when social media never sleeps? Growing Up in Public by Devorah Heitner, PhD, is the definitive guide for parents, educators, and caregivers navigating the challenges of technology, privacy, and digital identity in today’s always-connected world.

In this timely and eye-opening book, Heitner explores how tweens and teens are coming of age under the pressures of smartphones, viral posts, personal branding, and the constant risk of being “canceled.” Drawing on hundreds of interviews with kids, parents, and educators, she reveals how traditional monitoring and surveillance can backfire—and instead shows parents how to mentor kids toward authenticity, character, and healthy boundaries online.

“Essential reading . . . With empathy and insight, Devorah Heitner sheds light on how parents’ scrutiny and monitoring of teenagers can intensify the stress of growing up with social media.”
—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Why You’ll Love This Book

• Practical, research-backed strategies to help kids balance privacy and safety.

• Tools for teaching digital resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-confidence.

• Relatable stories from real families, schools, and communities.

• Guidance for parents who feel overwhelmed by apps, grades, digital footprints, and the pressure of constant visibility.

Instead of stressing about every “like” or online misstep, Growing Up in Public helps families shift focus from monitoring to mentoring. By prioritizing character over clicks, parents can empower Gen Z to discover who they really are—even in a world where everyone is watching.

Perfect for:

• Parents of tweens and teens navigating social media.

• Educators and counselors working with Gen Z.

• Anyone concerned about digital wellness, privacy, and raising kids in today’s connected culture.