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What We Learned About How Teens Navigate Sex, Relationships, and Social Media
In our latest Pulse Survey, we asked 1,124 US teens ages 16 to 18 about the social norms they hold around sex and relationships, their sexual health literacy and access…
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More Than a Text—Why Digital Closeness Isn’t a Guarantee of Real-Life Safety
Read the latest Teen Voices feature by Student Advisory Council member Ayanna exploring the illusion of digital trust, the gray areas of youth relationship safety, and why online closeness shouldn’t…
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What Toy Story 5 Reveals About Childhood Today
In our new series Field Notes, the Digital Wellness Lab’s Nicole Powell shares her takeaways about Toy Story 5’s messages about play, screen time, and how children develop in today’s…
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You Locked the Phone, But Forgot to Unlock the Classroom
Read this powerful Teen Voices perspective by Student Advisory Council member Vihaan on school phone bans—as he makes the case that the political momentum to restrict digital spaces must be…
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The Line Between Human and AI
Read “The Line Between Human and AI,” a new Teen Voices script by Student Advisory Council member Zoya. Writing from a teen’s point of view, Zoya delivers a captivating look…
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Effects of Violent Media on Youth
In this Teen Voices blog post, teen writer Emmie explores how doomscrolling violent media leads to digital desensitization among youth and shares empathy-based and actionable strategies to help teens protect…
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The Highlight Reel vs. Real Life
In our latest Teen Voices blog, Student Advisory Council member Evans shares an honest look at navigating digital media, offering essential advice for parents, educators, and tech designers on building…
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Watch This If Your Screen Time is Over 2 Hours
In a new Teen Voices video “Watch This If Your Screen Time is Over 2 Hours,” Student Advisory Council member Jackson B. shares his teen-led perspective on screen time, algorithm…
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A Day, Doubled (with screen) (without)
Student Advisory Council member Emily H. presents her poem “a day, doubled” about how screens can affect the course of a day.
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The Digital Double-Edge: Navigating Connection and Comparison
Student Advisory Council member Arihant S. explores the “digital paradox” of social media, offering peer-to-peer strategies for navigating the tension between authentic online connection and the mental health toll of…
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Using AI to Augment, Not Replace Our Learning
Student Advisory Council member Willow examines the impact of AI on cognitive offloading in education—offering an evidence-backed 3-step framework to help students use AI for augmentation rather than as a…
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What We Learned About How Teens in Brazil, France, and the US Are Using AI
Concern about teens and AI tends to cluster around a few worst-case scenarios. Our latest Pulse Survey of nearly 2,850 teens across the U.S., Brazil, and France offers a more…
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How Students Can Integrate Artificial Intelligence and EdTech into their Learning Experience
Student Advisory Council member Azalea G. interviews Scroll by Choice CEO Riz Vazir to explore how families and schools can move beyond device bans toward a future of intentional technology…
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Amplifying Youth Voices: Young People Are the Experts on Their Own Digital Lives
Young people are the experts about their own digital lives. That insight defines this year’s Impact Report.
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Five Years of Following the Science
The Lab reflects on five years of independent research, youth partnership, industry collaboration, and what it means for the future of digital wellness.
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Managing Current Events Anxiety in a Digital Age
Bansi, an alumna of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council, gets in-depth about strategies for coping with the world and overwhelming news.
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Fellow Travelers: Dr. Aparna Samuel Balasundaram
Dr. Aparna Samuel Balasundaram, Global Head of Wellbeing and Resilience at AI & Immersive Operations, BPS, Wipro, shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Trust and Safety teams work to protect…
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Key Insights from Our Pulse Survey: What We Learned About How Teens Experience Belonging
Our new research reveals how today’s adolescents find support, friendship, and community, and why the “online vs. offline” debate misses the point.
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A Future Worth Spreading
Jeremy, a mentor for the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2025-2026 Student Advisory Council, uses a hot metaphor to explain the importance of media literacy and education when kids get new tech.
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AI in Early Childhood: Insights from a Cross-Sector Workshop
The Digital Wellness Lab convened 15 experts to examine guidance gaps for AI products designed for young children. Here’s what emerged – and what’s next.
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Q3 2025 Roundup
From new research on social-emotional learning to opening applications for our Student Advisory Council, here’s what the Digital Wellness Lab accomplished in Q3 2025.
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Can AI Fix the “Male Loneliness Epidemic”?
Authored by Abbie Schwartz Undergraduate Student Researcher with the Digital Wellness Lab What is the “Male Loneliness Epidemic?” The “male loneliness epidemic” refers to the growing concern that many boys…
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Inspired Internet Pledge: Q3 2025 Signatory and Advisor Activities
Explore Q3 ’25 highlights from the Lab’s Inspired Internet Pledge’s Signatories and Advisors working to create a safer and healthier digital ecosystem.
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Conversations with Clinicians: Najat Fadlallah, MD
Visiting scholar and pediatric fellow, Najat Fadlallah, MD advocates that healthy digital habits are about creating realistic structures that encourage active and purposeful engagement, while still leaving room for offline…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Kathlyn Elliott, PhD
Kathlyn Elliott, PhD shares more about her research, which explores how the risks of digital media vary by child, and how online spaces present both challenges and opportunities for building…
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Fellow Travelers: Sarah Rebick
Sarah Rebick, Director of the Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki, offers an educator’s perspective on achieving digital balance. She emphasizes the importance of intentionally limiting technology to encourage students to…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, PhD
Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, PhD shares her experience in breaking down communication barriers by translating complex academic information into accessible language to empower families and schools in navigating online spaces.
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Fellow Travelers: Kerry Crofton, PhD
Author Dr. Kerry Crofton offers a refreshing, action-oriented approach to digital wellness. It’s not about ditching tech, but about mindful engagement, creating healthier habits and fostering deeper connections with nature.
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The Missing Voices in School Phone Policy Debates
Authored by the Digital Wellness Lab and Young Futures in collaboration While summer break is in full gear for many students across the nation, one topic occupying educators’ and admins’…
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Leveraging Interactive Media to Foster Social-Emotional Learning for Youth
Digital media can do more than entertain—here’s how it can support youth wellbeing through embedded SEL.
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Q2 2025 Roundup
Catch up on Q2 2025 research, news, and resources from the Digital Wellness Lab, all designed to create a healthier digital world for kids and families.
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Fellow Travelers: Dr. Rachel Kowert
As the founder of Psychgeist, Dr. Rachel Kowert, reframes the conversation from negativity and parental guilt, and emphasizes that video games and all digital media can be tools for parents…
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Fellow Travelers: Laura Marciano, PhD
Dr. Laura Marciano, a research associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, understands the importance of teens’ unique experiences and makes direct conversation and engagement a crucial…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Sroyfah Srisunt, MD
Visiting pediatrician from Thailand, Dr. Sroyfah Srisunt, explains how children can thoughtfully navigate digital environments, safely navigate risks, learn from setbacks, and develop resilience in the digital world.
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Key Insights from our Pulse Survey – Fairness and Focus: Teens Weigh in on School Phone Policies
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: Ying Xu, PhD
Dr. Ying Xu, Assistant Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, shares more about her research on designing AI technologies that promote language and literacy development, and…
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Conversations with Clinicians: Hina Talib, MD
Teen health advocate Dr. Hina Talib encourages families to talk openly with their pediatricians about digital wellness as having these conversations can keep kids safe in all spaces.
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Teen Voices Shaping a Healthier Digital World: Highlights from the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council Presentations
The Digital Wellness Lab convened its 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council, a dynamic group of 17 high school students from around the United States, for their year-end presentations
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Inspired Internet Pledge: Q1 2025 Signatory and Advisor Activities
Explore Q1 ’25 highlights from the Lab’s Inspired Internet Pledge’s Signatories and Advisors working to create a safer and healthier digital ecosystem.
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Teen Voices: Yuki
Yuki, a member of the Digital Wellness Lab’s 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council, shares how balancing openness with guidance is crucial for fostering healthy digital habits for teens.
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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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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…