About

Welcome to The Analog Family!

This is a newsletter devoted to becoming better parents (and humans) in a digital world. Every day, those of us raising children are faced with challenging situations and tough decisions about technology’s role in our loves, and all too often we feel overwhelmed, uninformed, and demoralized.

This newsletter wants to empower parents, educators, health care providers, and even adolescents themselves not to feel hopeless. It’s never too late to learn about the problems associated with excessive exposure to technology, to establish healthier lifestyle habits, to prioritize in-person interactions. I want readers to feel like there is something they can do to make a difference in their own lives, immediately.

Why Subscribe?

This is not a hobby. This is my job! I am a writer, first and foremost, and this is what I want to dedicate my time and effort to. After years of doing piecemeal contract work and freelance assignments, I would love nothing more than to have a steady writing income through this newsletter—and the more readers who pay to read and contribute to its success, the more I can publish and the more ambitious I can become.

I promise that I will not flood your inbox. Everything I write will be done to a high professional standard and will be worth of your attention. So, please consider paying for a subscription to show your ongoing support and belief in this project.

As a free subscriber, you will receive:

• Weekly posts about how to reclaim childhood from the digital deluge

As a paid subscriber, for only CAD$7/month or CAD$70/year, you will receive:

• All the same weekly posts as paid subscribers

• Access to the podcast (audio) versions of posts, read aloud by the author, sometimes with additional commentary

• Invitations to 2 group Zoom calls per year in which I will offer my gratitude for your financial support, share any updates, and answer questions (this is a new initiative, starting this fall 2026, so current paid subscribers will be informed of an upcoming meeting date)

Who Am I?

I am a public speaker and author of Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance (2023). My second book, Hold the Phone: How Parents Can Rescue Their Kids From Too Much Screen Time, comes out November 2026.

A speaker on behalf of Jonathan Haidt’s Anxious Generation campaign, I give talks internationally to audiences of all sizes and demographics about how to curb kids’ screen time. Please reach out if you’re looking for a speaker, either virtual or in person. More information on rates and availability here.

In monthly columns for Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper, I write about how to fight tech takeover and embrace independence. I make regular appearances on TV, radio stations, and podcasts.

I am a former senior editor at Dotdash Meredith (now People, Inc.) and Narrative Content Group, and worked for publications such as Martha Stewart and Allrecipes. A graduate of the University of Toronto, I live in rural Ontario, Canada, with my family.

Some examples of my media work:

• Podcast: AWE Digital Wellness

• TV: CTV The Social

• Podcast: Closer Look podcast.

• TV: CBC News The National (29:48)

• Podcast: Friendships, Phones, and the Problem of Distraction

• Podcast: How Parents Can Take Back Childhood

Contact Me:

Email: knmartinko[at]gmail[dot]com

Find me on LinkedIn

Please see my website for more information.