Tag Archives: social media

Dear Friends, Happy October! The best month, in my opinion—although are we tired of pumpkin spice yet? First things first: we were thrilled to see so many applications to our Well-Being by Design Fellowship. Thanks to all who have applied. We’ll be announcing our next cohort in December! Now, some recent highlights: We’re six months into the debate over Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation. Agree or disagree with the book’s choice of data, conclusions, and recommendations, its publication kicked…

In February 2019, a story titled “California newborn becomes first baby to be named an emoji” circulated widely on social media. The story claimed a mother had named her baby the emoji equivalent of “heart-eyes heart-eyes heart-eyes.” It was fake and could be recognized as such by either its content or its source: prettycoolsite.com. Still, this story was shared on social media thousands of times, and some of those who shared it were likely children. Most US elementary-school-aged children have…

Today’s parents and caregivers often find themselves caught between two powerful forces: on the one side, harrowing headlines about how social media harms kids, and on the other, kids’ vigorous lobbying for social media accounts. Not surprisingly, this leaves many adults feeling that they must choose between two terrible options. Should they refuse to give their tween or teen access to social media and, in so doing strain their relationship with their child while likely harming their kid’s peer connections?…

In this episode, Lucha Sotomayor, a representative from the UN’s Office of the Special Representative on Violence Against Children, discusses the importance of children’s participation in addressing and preventing violence. She shares insights into various forms of violence against children, including physical, psychological, and verbal violence, as well as harmful practices like child marriage and child labor. Lucha also highlights the need to create a world where children can live free from violence and emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by…

Trisha Prabhu, an innovator and anti-cyberbullying advocate, joins Laura and Jordan for a powerful discussion on combating digital harassment. Trisha shares insights from her journey as the creator of ReThink, a technology solution designed to detect and deter offensive language before it’s posted online. Together, they explore the current landscape of online bullying and the proactive steps being taken by her company and the tech industry to combat them. This transcript of the Into the Digital Future podcast has been…

Dr. Hina Talib, a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, joins Laura and Jordan for an enlightening discussion on raising teenagers in the digital age. They delve into the impact of technology on youth well-being, emphasizing the need for open conversations and listening. Dr. Talib highlights the importance of understanding individual experiences and fostering positive online communities. The conversation touches on age verification, content moderation, and the importance of sleep and movement. With valuable insights and practical advice, the discussion provides…

Join Laura and Jordan as they discuss online safety with Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s esteemed eSafety Commissioner. With her wealth of experience from tech giants like Microsoft, Twitter, and Adobe, Julie brings a unique perspective on internet safety measures and regulations. Learn about her journey leading the eSafety Commission since 2017 and the transformative strides they’ve made under the newly created global online safety regulators network. Together, they discuss the proactive strategies being implemented by the commission to safeguard Australians…

On Safer Internet Day on February 7, 2023, The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) and The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop hosted a webinar with adult and youth experts to discuss issues around well-being and technology. Michelle Ciulla Lipkin (NAMLE), Elizabeth Milovidov (LEGO), and Michael Preston (Joan Ganz Cooney Center) were joined by teens representing the Headstream Accelerator and #ICanHelp.

On September 14, 2022, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center was thrilled to co-host Building a Better Tech Future for Children with our colleagues at All Tech Is Human. Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, Senior Manager, Digital Child Safety at the LEGO Group, delivered a keynote address that inspired us all. She discussed the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project and the importance of designing digital media experiences with children’s well-being in mind.    David Ryan Polgar (All Tech is…

This transcript of the Into the Digital Future podcast provides has been edited for clarity. Please listen to the full episode here and learn more about the series here. Alicia is the Head of Kids and Families Strategy at YouTube, where she focuses on helping children and their parents and caregivers realize their rights to more safely learn, connect, and play online. She was previously the Public Policy Lead for Kids and Families at Google, where she worked on issues…