Student Athletes and Social Media post thumbnail

Student Athletes and Social Media

Specifically for student athletes, we cover the importance of digital reputations and provide numerous strategies for how they can represent themselves positively online.

A Teen’s View of Social Media in 2025 post thumbnail

A Teen’s View of Social Media in 2025

For our newest installment in our annual series, I’d like to introduce you to my sixteen year-old friend Elly as she sketches out the scene of modern digital life among adolescents these days. Consider this a boots-on-the-ground report covering some really relevant topics – how TikTok’s algorithm sometimes swings wildly, why Snapchat’s “private” stories require […]

The SAFEST Model: Streamlining EU Youth Online Safety Legislation post thumbnail

The SAFEST Model: Streamlining EU Youth Online Safety Legislation

Research demonstrates that social media offers young people significant benefits while simultaneously presenting notable risks. These services enable vital social connections, foster learning and skill development, provide safe spaces for identity exploration (especially crucial for underrepresented youth), and create opportunities for civic engagement and activism. However, these advantages are accompanied by a variety of potential […]

Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Online Safety Glossary post thumbnail

Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Online Safety Glossary

In our Glossary below, we define the terms you need to know in the realm of social media, cyberbullying, and online safety, so that you are increasingly informed about technological jargon as you work with the youth under your care.(You can also download a distributable PDF of our Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Technology Terms Glossary). […]

Social Media, Youth, and New Legislation: The Most Critical Components post thumbnail

Social Media, Youth, and New Legislation: The Most Critical Components

In my last piece, I discussed how some legislation in various US states has been proposed without careful consideration of the contributing factors of internalized and externalized harm among youth. More specifically, I expressed concern that the complexities surrounding why youth struggle emotionally and psychologically demand more than simplistic, largely unenforceable solutions. We recognize that […]

State Laws, Social Media Bans, and Youth: What Are We Doing? post thumbnail

State Laws, Social Media Bans, and Youth: What Are We Doing?

There has been a flurry of activity related to new legislation intending to make social media and gaming platforms safer and more accountable to upholding expected standards of trust, security, transparency, and privacy. These laws are being proposed because of continued concern of possible ill effects of popular platforms on the well-being of young people. […]

Takeaways from the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media post thumbnail

Takeaways from the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory earlier this year entitled “Social Media and Youth Mental Health.” In this public statement, Dr. Murthy summarizes the (limited and often methodologically shaky) research related to adolescents use of social media. His primary focus is on mental health, though other aspects of child wellbeing are also […]

A Teen’s View of Social Media in 2023 post thumbnail

A Teen’s View of Social Media in 2023

I met Amelia when speaking at a high school in Central Florida, and was struck by her wide-angle view on the impact of social media in her life, and in the lives of her peers. I thought our readers could learn a lot from her insights, and so I asked her to provide this year’s […]