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Why the California
Social Media Addiction
Trials Matter
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Kris Perry, Executive Director
The ongoing social media addiction trials in California are elevating awareness about the potential harms that persuasive design features in popular platforms can pose to children and teens. We owe it to families, and to the brave parents who have stepped forward, to ensure that this moment leads to meaningful, evidence-informed change.
| | | New research is beginning to explain how online environments shape children’s health and well-being. In episode 28 of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry speaks with Ran Barzilay, MD, PhD – lead author of a recent study on the age of smartphone ownership and child health risks – to explore the emerging concept of the “digital exposome.” | |  | | |
New Tip Sheet for Parents: AI Companions
and Adolescent Social Development
A growing number of adolescents are using AI chatbot tools as social companions. What could this mean for their developing social skills? Our latest tip sheet explores the risks of building attachments to AI “bots,” and what researchers are learning about how these tools may shape social development. It also offers practical tips to help parents encourage and support the development of critical real-world social skills.
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(Virtual Retreat) Character Matters: Values and Resilience in the Digital Age
Children and Screens will convene leading interdisciplinary experts for a virtual retreat focused on the intersection of youth character development and digital media. This invite-only gathering will bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world practice, and identify priorities for future science, education, and interventions to foster strength of character in our ever-evolving digital age.
| | Policy Voices spotlights leading policymakers, advocates, and experts shaping the future of children’s digital lives. In this issue, attorney and policy expert Thomas McBrien shares what drew him to platform governance, explains the role of Section 230 in today’s tech landscape, and explores how it could evolve to better serve the public. | | | | | | In March, the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) held a markup of several child online safety bills. While KOSA faces new challenges following its inclusion in the broader KIDS Act, the Senate passed COPPA 2.0 in a separate action. Meanwhile, state legislatures continue to introduce and advance technology-related legislation at a rapid pace, particularly addressing AI regulations and school smartphone policies. These developments are unfolding alongside a major trial against social media companies that continues to reveal new information about internal research and platform design decisions. | | How can families effectively use parental controls to monitor their children’s digital experiences without damaging trust or interfering with opportunities for children to build independence and digital skills? Join us for our next #AskTheExperts webinar, “The Smart Parent’s Guide to Parental Controls,” on Tuesday, March 31 from 12:00pm ET - 1:30pm ET. Building on our previous webinar on “Screen Smarts,” this session focuses on practical steps families can take to help children navigate increasing access to the digital world. | | | | | WEBINAR SHORT: Why Teens
Feel They Can't Look Away
from Their Phones | | | From the #AskTheExperts webinar “Friendship in the Screen Age: What is it, and How is it Changing?" In this webinar, Mitch Prinstein, PhD, ABPP (John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) explains how constant notifications, expectations to quickly respond to friends' posts, and fears of missing out online are creating "digital stress" for young people. | | | | | Your gift ensures that groundbreaking science doesn’t stay in the lab–it reaches families, educators, and decision-makers who need it most. By donating today, you’ll fuel future convenings, free educational resources, and collaborative research that drives real-word change. Every contribution strengthens our nonpartisan mission to safeguard children’s health and well-being in the digital age. Together, we can turn knowledge into action and build a healthier digital future for kids everywhere. | | | | |
