Amanda Hess’ new book Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age (Doubleday, 2025) examines the large role technology plays during modern pregnancies and motherhood.
Hess, a journalist and culture critic who had two kids in 2020 and 2022, experienced the torrent of targeted ads and online resources that come with pregnancy.
She writes about the image-conscious culture of “natural” childbirth and the marketing of products to alleviate parents’ anxiety.
She also explores how the internet presents information on pregnancy and babies as well as how apps and advertising algorithms personalize content.
Finally, Hess looks at the downside of “natural” birth and the freebirth movement online and how it’s tied to controlling narratives and imagery.
Overall, how do we make sense of the contradictions of the internet? How do we retain control over our bodies when corporations and the medical establishment have access to our most personal information?