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Fellow Travelers: Leah Plunkett, JD
Leah Plunkett, Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, discusses the critical importance of protecting digital privacy for kids, and how thoughtful design…
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Q1 2025 Roundup
Catch up on the Digital Wellness Lab’s Q1 2025 highlights, including new research, expert panels, and a look at how tech is shaping youth mental health.
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Teen Voices: Taanvi
Taanvi, a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council, is passionate about using her voice to transform isolation into connection, and to build online communities that support…
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Fellow Travelers: Carson Domey
Carson Domey, executive director at the Coalition for Student Wellbeing, speaks about the value of incorporating mental health education and digital literacy skills into K-12 education curricula.
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Fellow Travelers: Amanda Morin
Amanda Morin, author and neurodiversity consultant, provides guidance on how to band together as a digital village and make online spaces safe and supportive for everyone.
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Teen Voices: Tara
Tara, a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council, would like to see social media and technology designed with the end user in mind to better protect…
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Beyond the Headlines: What Kids Need in Today’s Digital World
As we release our 2024 Impact Report, our leadership shares a letter reflecting on the year’s conversations around youth wellbeing and interactive media, exploring the most effective ways to help…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Desiree Sierra-Velez, MD
Desiree Sierra-Velez, pediatric gastroenterologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, explains how technology and tools can help empower teens to take care of their health, an important step towards autonomy over their…
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Teen Voices: Jeremy
Jeremy, a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council, shares his perspective on the opportunities with technology, and developing a healthy relationship with the digital world.
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Fellow Travelers: Adele Taylor
Adele Taylor, Senior Manager, Youth Programs and Partnerships at NoFiltr, urges tech platforms to take a safety by design approach to building products.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Anna Kirillova, OD, MS, FAAO
Anna Kirillova, OD, MS, FAAO talks about the importance of teaching kids that the internet and media are tools for the world, but are not the world itself.
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Q4 2024 Roundup
Digital Wellness Lab’s Q4 highlights: New teen AI research, #InspiredInternet Pledge convening, and global digital wellbeing forums.
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Fellow Travelers: Jared Matas, EdD
Discover how OunceIT’s EdTech specialist Jared Matas, EdD empowers schools to use technology intentionally, fostering creativity, curiosity, and healthier digital habits.
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Striking a Balance: Cell Phone Culture in Schools
Our 2024-25 Student Advisory Council kicked off with a thought-provoking discussion on how cell phone policies in their schools impact learning, social connections, and daily life.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Christina VanderPluym, MD
Christina VanderPluym, MD, a cardiologist and mom, faces the same tech challenges as other parents and caregivers. She shares her thoughts on the importance of helping kids develop the skills…
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Key Takeaways from Our 2024 Pulse Survey on Teens and AI
These takeaways from our Pulse Survey on Teens and AI underline the importance of providing young people with the tools, education, and support they need to engage with AI-powered tools.
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Fellow Travelers: Larissa May
Larissa May founded #HalfTheStory after facing her own struggles with social media, and has spent the past nine years driving the rapidly growing global movement towards digital wellness.
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How to Watch Out for Bots, Hackers, and Scams
Josh, a member of the Lab’s 2023-24 Student Advisory Council, offers practical advice for identifying fake accounts to help teens, and the caregivers and adults in their lives stay safe…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Michael Tsappis, MD
Michael Tsappis, MD, Co-Director of the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders, shares some sound advice for parenting in the digital age.
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Fellow Travelers: Lena Slachmuijlder
Lena Slachmuijlder, a peacebuilder for over 30 years, shares her views on why and how tech companies should make their products healthier for young people.
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The Positive Side of Social Media
Danielle, a 2024 Summer Teen Advisor at the Digital Wellness Lab, created an evidence-backed poster illustrating the positive side of social media.
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Tips for Teens: Safely Navigating the Complexities of the Online World
Alexandra, a 2024 Summer Teen Advisor at the Digital Wellness Lab, offers insights and advice to help her fellow teens stay safe online.
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Q3 2024 Roundup
Q3 found us busy publishing reports, welcoming new team members, and sharing our research insights at events around the world, and close to home.
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A Youth Perspective on Navigating the Digital World
Pritika shares her thoughts on the complex online landscape, and makes the case that young people need a voice in the discourse, policy and decision-making surrounding the digital world.
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New Insights from the Pulse Survey on Adolescent Social Gaming
In this white paper, commissioned by the Ruderman Family Foundation, we provide fresh insights into the connections between gaming habits and loneliness.
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Online Gen-Z Slang: Should Parents Study Up?
Geo, a member of the Lab’s 2023-24 Student Advisory Council, offers insights on the evolving dynamics of slang and how teens feel when adults attempt to use it.
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What the Science Says: Smartphones in Schools
What the research tells us about smartphone use in schools, plus some thoughts for administrators as they work to determine what’s right for their schools and districts.
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Fellow Travelers: Michelle Ciulla Lipkin
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director at NAMLE, shares why making media literacy education highly valued and widely practiced as an essential life skill is personal.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Gino Mortillaro, MD
Gino Mortillaro, MD, exposes the downsides of using digital media to soothe an upset child, and shares his thoughts on making tech healthier for youth.
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Fellow Travelers: Antonia Holder
Antonia Holder, mom and tech company founder, shares her thoughts on the responsibility of parents and caregivers for their children’s digital wellness.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Frances Grimstad, MD, MS
Frances Grimstad, MD, MS believes we need to rethink how we interact with information and each other, and there is inherent value in slowing down and hitting pause.
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Inspired Internet Pledge: Year 1 Signatory and Advisor Activities
Inspired Internet Pledge: Year 1 Signatory and Advisor Activities
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Celebrating Year One of the Inspired Internet Pledge
The first year of our Inspired Internet Pledge has been a fruitful one, with 34 Signatories and Advisors signed on. Together, we’re making the internet a safer and healthier place…
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Fellow Travelers: Joshua Adams
Joshua Adams, Creative Director at Parent ProTech, shares two things tech companies can do to make their products healthier for kids, along with his thoughts for adults.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Tracy Richmond, MD, MPH
Tracy Richmond, MD, MPH shares her thoughts about social media and its impact on kids with eating disorders.
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Harnessing AI for Adolescents’ Personal Growth and Development
In this post, Oluwatomilola (Tomi) Idowu, a graduate research intern at the Lab in 2023-24, discusses the impact of AI on youth personal growth and development.
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Las 5 M del Bienestar Digital
La tecnología y los medios digitales son herramientas poderosas. Y así como no le daríamos a un niño una herramienta eléctrica sin antes enseñarle cómo usarla, debemos enseñarles a usar…
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Fellow Travelers: Alanna Powers
Alanna Powers, Research and Program Specialist at the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), shares her thoughts on making tech safer and healthier for kids.
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Q2 2024 Roundup
Q2 found the Digital Wellness Lab hard at work releasing new research, and convening stakeholders, including teens, to promote positive and healthy digital media experiences.
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Navigating Summertime #Screentime
Learn about the benefits of boredom and get age-appropriate tips to help you guide your child towards a healthy relationship with screens this summer and all year long.
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Conversations with Clinicians: David Urion, MD, FAAN
Neurologist David K. Urion, MD, FAAN shares his thoughts on why forcing your child to take a luddite approach to digital media never works, along with his strategies for helping…
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Where to Start: Mental Health Resources From Mental Health America
May is Mental Health Month and we’re sharing resources to help you take action toward protecting your mental health and overall wellbeing, and that of your loved ones.
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Teen Voices: Geo
Geo, a member of our 2023-24 Student Advisory Council, shares that when it comes to digital wellbeing and technology, the adult view that the absence of devices is optimal, is…
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Teen Voices: Sharon
Sharon, a member of our 2023-24 Student Advisory Council, shares what adults don’t understand about teens and the impact of social media on their lives, stressing that not all teens…
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Key Takeaways from Our 2024 Pulse Survey on Social Gaming
In our most recent Pulse Survey, Digital Gaming and Social Interaction, we asked over 1,400 adolescents about their social video game play.
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Are Cell Phone Bans in Schools the Answer?
This post includes our thoughts on cell phone bans and recommendations for how educators and families can think about setting norms around personal device use in their schools.
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Teen Voices: Brian Z.
Brian Z. is a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2023-24 Student Advisory Council. He has thought deeply about how to make the internet healthier for young people.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Deirdre Logan, PhD
Deirdre Logan, PhD, is a Pediatric Psychologist at Boston Children’s specializing in complex chronic pain management.
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Q1 2024 Roundup
From releasing new research to bringing together industry leaders, Q1 found us hard at work exploring the intersection of tech and youth wellbeing.
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Teen Voices: Bansi
Bansi, a member of our 2023-24 Student Advisory Council, shares her point of view on the opportunities and challenges with technology, and how this impacts youth mental health.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Peter Raffalli, MD
Peter Raffalli, MDAssistant Professor, Harvard Medical SchoolChild Neurologist, Boston Children’s HospitalDirector, Bullying and Cyberbullying Advocacy Collaborative Program, Boston Children’s Hospital What does a “day in the life” look like for…
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Teen Voices: Joshua
Joshua, a member of our 2023-24 Student Advisory Council, sheds light on how teens use technology and what parents and caregivers can do to help them adopt healthy habits.
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Teen Voices: Sydney W.
Sydney W. was a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2022-23 Student Advisory Council. They share their thoughts on what parents, tech and media companies, and policymakers need to know…
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Meet Allison Wolfe, our new Lab Coordinator
Our new Lab Coordinator, Allison Wolfe, is a lifelong learner excited about playing a part in the discoveries the Lab makes that can support the next generations’ decisions and needs…
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Teen Voices: Pritika K.
Pritika K. is a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2023-24 Student Advisory Council. She shares what she would like to see changed to make tech healthier for teens, and…
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Dr. Rich Highlights Lab Research in His New Book
Dr. Rich offers research-backed strategies for parents on how children’s screen media use can affect their physical, mental, and social health.
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Key Takeaways from Our 2024 Pulse Survey on Voice Assistants & GenAI
In this article, we share the key findings from our Pulse Survey: Use of Voice Assistants and Generative AI by Children And Families.
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Q4 2023 Roundup
We are proud of our efforts to advance digital wellness practices, and the last quarter of this year has been especially fulfilling. We’ve rounded up notable resources and press —…
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Announcing Early Signatories to the Inspired Internet Pledge
For immediate release: The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital announces the first cohort of signatories to the Inspired Internet Pledge for 2024
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Conversations with Clinicians: Susan Fitzgerald, RN, MSN, CPNP
I am a nurse practitioner, a primary care clinician, and the Director of Boston HAPPENS, the Adolescent and Young Adult HIV program at BCH.
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Meet Nicole Powell, the Lab’s new Clinical Research Specialist
I’m Nicole, and I’m thrilled to join the Digital Wellness Lab as a Clinical Research Specialist. With a background in child development and family relations, I’m currently pursuing a dual…
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Valuable Insights Gained at the Family Online Safety Institute Conference
Earlier this week, our team participated in the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) Annual Conference in Washington D.C., which focused on new frontiers in online safety. At this conference, FOSI…
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Meet Oluwatomilola Idowu, our new Graduate Research Intern
We’re excited to welcome Oluwatomilola (Tomi) Idowu, BSc to the Digital Wellness Lab as a Graduate Research Intern.
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Meet Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter, our new Program Administrator
We’re excited to welcome Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter to the Digital Wellness Lab as our new Program Administrator and thought we’d let her introduce herself in her own words. So without further…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Jason Fogler, PhD
Jason Fogler, PhD. Attending Psychologist, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital; LEND Director, Boston Children’s Hospital & the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston; Assistant Professor of…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Meredith Gansner, MD
Meredith Gansner, MD – Attending Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital – Instructor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
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Key Takeaways from Our 2024 Pulse Survey on the Nuance of Social Media Use
In our most recent Pulse Survey, we asked 1,505 young people between the ages of 15 and 22 about aspects of their social media use using a unique approach…
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4 Filters for Digital Wellness
We’ve created our 4 Filters for Digital Wellness to help kids and adults make healthy choices when it comes to their #screentime.
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Q2 Roundup 2023: Together, We’re Building a Healthier Internet
We are proud of our efforts to create a healthier digital ecosystem for kids and the last few months have been especially rewarding! We have been out sharing insights from…
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The 5 M’s of Digital Wellness
Just as we wouldn’t hand a child a power tool without first teaching them how to use it, we should teach our kids to use their devices in a positive,…
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Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
We are thrilled to report that research from our August 2022 Pulse Survey was cited in the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health released on…
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Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council Presents to Researchers and Industry Stakeholders
On Tuesday, May 16, the Digital Wellness Lab’s inaugural Student Advisory Council (SAC) of 10 high school students met over Zoom with an audience of 40 tech, media, healthcare, and…
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Announcing the Adolescent Media Project (AMP)
We are excited to announce the Adolescent Media Project (AMP), a collaborative study with Dr. Linda Charmaraman and the Youth, Media, & Wellbeing (YMW) Research Lab at Wellesley College!
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Q1 2023 Digital Wellness Roundup: News, Research, Guides & More
We’ve rounded up some notable articles, videos, and podcasts from the first three months of 2023 to provide an overview of some recent findings, recommendations, and trends concerning young people’s…
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Meet Kathy Cooney, CIMAID Clinical Social Worker
Earlier this year we welcomed Kathy Cooney, LICSW to the Digital Wellness Lab and Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID) team here at Boston Children’s Hospital.
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Sharenting: Understanding the Impact on Our Children’s Privacy and Well-being
Sharenting refers to parents sharing content about their children online. Sharenting is an easy, accessible way to share experiences and relate to other parents.
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Key Takeaways from Our 2023 Pulse Survey on Parental Mediation and Online Safety Features
The Digital Wellness Lab connects with adolescents regularly throughout the year using short Pulse Surveys to help us better understand their perspectives on “hot button” topics related to technology and…
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Benefits of Video Game Play: Content and Context Matter
Sam Schwamm’s academic and professional interests center on the relationship between interactive media (especially video games) and positive youth development.
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What’s Going With Us: A Guide for Parents from a Teen
Ibne Tamim is a senior at Manhattan Center For Science and Mathematics High School in New York City. Her passion and interest in behavioral and cognitive psychology…
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How You (and Your Kids) Can Feel Empowered by Social Media
All parents want the same thing: to raise their kids to be good humans. Part of that means learning what we can and passing that knowledge on to our kids.
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What the Pandemic Did to Us: My Experience and a Little Advice for Parents
I was a freshman in high school when COVID-19 first hit in the middle of March, 2020. Like every other student, I was more than happy not to have school…
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Intern Spotlight: Sam Schwamm
Meet our graduate research intern, Sam Schwamm! Sam is a second-year Master’s student in the Eliot-Pearson Child Study and Human Development program at Tufts University. He joined the Digital Wellness…
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Michael Carter, Ph.D, Adds to the Lab’s Expertise
Within his role as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Digital Wellness, Michael will work with the Lab to investigate ways to advance the design of interactive media for the health…
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Key Takeaways from Our 2022 Pulse Survey on Adolescent Media Use
Do you ever wonder what your teenager is thinking as they scroll through their phone or sit glued to their laptop? Parents have a lot of opinions about their kids’…
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Is Your Child’s Screen Use Damaging Their Eyes?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has proclaimed that August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, which is dedicated to preventing eye injuries and vision loss. Healthy vision is essential…
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What’s a Pulse Survey?
One of the ongoing challenges of researching media and technology is that the digital landscape changes rapidly, often outpacing the research. Pulse Surveys help us keep up. Pulse Surveys allow…
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Zoey Yue, Ph.D is Bringing New Insight to the Digital Wellness Lab
We’re excited to welcome Zhiying (Zoey) Yue, Ph.D., to the Digital Wellness Lab this summer as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Digital Wellness. Within her role, Zoey will be working…
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Ask the Experts: How do I model good digital media and tech habits for my kids?
How do I model good digital media and tech habits for my kids? As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Drawing from what we know from research, this…
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Get the Family Outdoors with Digital Tech to Celebrate National Health and Fitness Day
Every day is a good day to get your family outside and moving but today is National Family Health and Fitness Day, which is a fantastic excuse to put a…
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What To Do When… Your teen seems to prefer spending time online than with their family or “real world” friends
If it seems like your teen would rather spend time on their phone than with their family or even their IRL friends, you’re not alone. It’s normal for adolescents to…
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What To Do When… It’s time to move your young child away from a screen
For parents of young children who struggle to take away tablets or phones or to turn off beloved TV shows without inciting tantrums, we offer strategies and conversation starters to…
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What To Do When… You want to teach your child how to play games with rules
Interactive games support your child’s development of reading, communication, and math skills. They also offer a great opportunity to build your child’s social emotional competencies. We offer strategies for conversations…
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What To Do When… You discover a caregiver is using more media with your child than you’re comfortable with
It’s not uncommon for daycares, babysitters, and other caregivers to use media and screens to entertain children during the day. We offer strategies for parents who want to address their…
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Ask the Experts: Toddlers and Background Noise
In this installment of Ask the Mediatrician, we offer a parent of a toddler guidance regarding the impacts of background media — TV, music, etc. — on their child’s development.
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Ask the Experts: Teens, Photos, and Online Privacy
The Mediatrician offers a parent of a teenager strategies to support her daughter’s healthy and safe use of photo sharing on social media.
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Ask the Experts: Gradeschoolers and Video Games
In this installment of Ask the Mediatrician, we talk about strategies for supporting a school age child’s healthy use of video games.
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What To Do When… You’re not sure how to talk to your young child about media
It may feel awkward, but talking to babies and toddlers about media can help to build their communication and social emotional skills while developing their healthy engagement with technology and…
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What To Do When… You’re concerned your child is being cyberbullied
Studies indicate that 20-40% of children experience cyberbullying, with the prevalence higher for girls and LGBTQIA children. In this post, we provide suggestions for conversation starters to address your concerns…
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What To Do When… You see inappropriate content on your teen’s social media page
We offer strategies and conversation starters for parents who find inappropriate content — such as drug or alcohol use, hateful language, or sexually explicit photos — on their child’s social…
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Ask the Experts: Teens and Bingewatching and Doomscrolling
In this installment of Ask the Mediatrician, we offer a parent of a teenager strategies to help him break the mindless habit of staying up all night binge watching and…
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Ask the Experts: Middle Schoolers and R-Rated Movies
In this installment of Ask the Mediatrician, we offer a parent guidance for what to do when her middle-schooler is begging to see an R-rated movie all his friends have…