To our digital thriving community, Welcome to the third installment of our limited newsletter and video series, Three for Thriving, where we share some the latest news articles at the intersection of youth well-being and technology.
In this week’s Three for Thriving video recap, we’re spotlighting new findings on how AI chatbots may deepen loneliness, a closer look at how AI is upending the concept of academic integrity on college campuses, and fresh research showing that teens with mental health conditions experience social media very differently from their peers. It’s a powerful reminder that every teen experiences tech in their own way—and our support strategies need to reflect that. Our Co-Founder Dr. Emily Weinstein, alongside Gen Z mental health podcaster Sadie Sutton, shared her own thinking about understanding teens' experiences with tech this week on NBC. Tune in!
Our Three for Thriving video recap breaks down these trending stories—watch it here for more context. Read on for the full roundup of news stories from this past week that sparked our team's curiosity.
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ABC News | ABC News | Mike Levine, Pierre Thomas, and Lucien Bruggeman | FBI has opened 250 investigations tied to violent online network '764' that preys on teens, top official says ABC News reports that the FBI has launched over 250 investigations into the online network "764," which coerces teens into producing violent or explicit content. Authorities describe it as an ideologically extreme network that uses platforms like Roblox and Discord to target vulnerable children, with some victims as young as nine.
Axios | April Rubin | CEOs push AI and computer science as a grad requirement Axios’s April Rubin covers a push by over 200 CEOs advocating for mandatory AI and computer science education in high schools, aligning with federal efforts to prepare students—especially from underrepresented groups—for the evolving tech workforce.
BBC | India Pollock | Teen girls report more social media issues than boys BBC reports that a major survey in Wales found teen girls aged 13 to 15 are twice as likely as boys to report problems related to social media, including overuse and interpersonal conflict, with experts citing vulnerability to cyberbullying and social comparison as possible factors. The study, led by Public Health Wales and Cardiff University, has sparked calls for families to set digital boundaries and a forthcoming debate over banning smartphones in Welsh schools.
Bloomberg | Riley Griffin & Kurt Wagner | Instagram suggested ‘groomers’ connect with minors, FTC says Bloomberg reveals that a 2019 internal Meta report, presented in court by the FTC, shows Instagram’s algorithm suggested accounts of minors to users flagged as "groomers," raising concerns about child safety on the platform. The findings highlight major flaws in Meta’s content moderation and child protection efforts.
Education Week | Jennifer Vilcarino | Inside the schools bringing therapy directly to students In Education Week, Jennifer Vilcarino reports on how schools like St. Benedict’s Prep and San Francisco’s Wellness Centers are bringing therapy services directly to students to address rising mental health challenges, despite hurdles such as staffing shortages and funding cuts.
Government Technology | Abby Sourwine | Study shows equity gap in classroom tech for students with disabilities A report highlighted by Government Technology reveals that while campus-wide systems are generally accessible, many classroom-specific technologies still pose significant challenges for college students with disabilities, particularly those with visual or cognitive impairments. The study stresses the need for inclusive design and proactive faculty involvement to close these equity gaps.
The Guardian | Kim Willsher | Children under six should avoid screen time, French medical experts say According to The Guardian, French medical experts are urging a ban on screen time for children under six, citing serious risks to brain development and cognitive health. In a letter to the government, they argue that even so-called educational content harms attention, memory, and emotional growth, and call for greater focus on real-world play and learning.
The Guardian | Chad Marlow | Is your school spying on your child online? The Guardian reveals that student surveillance tools are now deeply embedded in U.S. schools, often monitoring kids’ digital activity with little evidence of effectiveness and raising concerns about privacy and self-censorship.
K-12 Dive | Anna Merod | $1B to support student mental health is gone. Schools fear what’s next. K-12 Dive reports on the recent news that the U.S. Department of Education has pulled $1 billion in school mental health grants, citing conflicts with Trump-era policy interpretations around race-focused language in applications. Educators, especially in rural areas, warn this decision threatens essential mental health services for students facing trauma and anxiety, with many districts scrambling to find replacement funding.
KQED | Rachael Myrow | How to talk with your kids about AI companion bots KQED advises that as children increasingly interact with AI companion bots, parents should engage in open conversations about how these tools work and the potential emotional and data-related risks involved.
Marketplace | Meghan McCarty Carino | Study finds extensive AI chatbot use can deepen feelings of loneliness A study by MIT Media Lab and OpenAI, reported by Marketplace, found that heavy AI chatbot use is linked to increased loneliness and emotional dependence, potentially discouraging real-world social interaction. Researchers warn that tools designed for connection may paradoxically deepen isolation, highlighting the need for more research and ethical guidelines.
Nature Human Behaviour | Luisa Fassi, Amanda M. Ferguson, Andrew K. Przybylski, Tamsin J. Ford & Amy Orben | Social media use in adolescents with and without mental health conditions A study in Nature Human Behaviour finds that adolescents with internalizing mental health conditions experience more harmful effects from social media use, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches in research and policy on youth digital habits.
Newsweek | Daniella Gray | Parents' phone use may harm kids' health and development Newsweek’sDaniella Gray highlights a JAMA Pediatrics meta-analysis linking parents’ phone use around young children to developmental setbacks, stressing the importance of mindful tech habits in fostering healthy parent-child interactions.
New York Magazine | James D. Walsh | Everyone is cheating their way through college New York Magazine highlights how generative AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming widespread in college, with students using them to cheat on assignments and exams, as seen with Columbia student Chungin “Roy” Lee who is profiled in the piece. The article paints a grim picture of a higher education system struggling to maintain integrity amid the rise of AI.
New York Magazine | John Herrman | Smartphones are finally getting expelled New York Magazine reports that New York's full-day smartphone bans in schools reflect a growing trend aimed at reducing distractions and protecting mental health, though critics question whether such policies truly benefit students.
The New York Times | Natasha Singer | Google plans to roll out its A.I. chatbot to children under 13 The New York Times reports that Google plans to roll out its Gemini AI chatbot to children under 13 via Family Link, sparking concern from child safety experts. Although Google promises safeguards and data protections, critics warn that young users may be misled or harmed by the technology, underscoring the ethical risks of targeting kids with AI.
The New York Times | The Learning Network | What students are saying about using A.I. for schoolwork In The New York Times, students share mixed views on using A.I. for schoolwork, with some praising its ability to enhance learning through tools like study guides, while others warn it may weaken critical thinking and encourage academic dishonesty. The Learning Network highlights a growing call among students and educators for clear guidance on the ethical use of A.I. in classrooms.
The Ringer | Julianna Ress | The eternal cycle of hating the next generation (Gen Z Edition) The Ringer's Julianna Ress critiques the recurring pattern of older generations vilifying youth, this time targeting Gen Z with stereotypes like being antisocial and uninterested in sex. The article argues that such judgments ignore factors like economic pressures, pandemic-era isolation, and shifts in digital culture, calling instead for a more empathetic and contextual understanding of Gen Z’s behavior.
WYPR | Tom Hall, Teria Rogers, Sam Bermas-Dawes | As local college seniors prepare to graduate, we ask one about the job market, AI in school and more WYPR explores the challenges faced by Goucher College senior Maryam Abdiruhman as she prepares to graduate, touching on the tough job market and the role of AI in education. She shares her thoughts on balancing academic integrity with the benefits of technology, reflecting broader trends local students face post-graduation.
A few words on our approach...
We track dozens of stories each week across youth mental health, AI in education, tech policy, and more. Then, we curate this newsletter to share the emerging trends, tensions, and ideas shaping the digital lives of young people. Inclusion of a story doesn’t mean it reflects our thinking—it means we think it’s worth understanding. This newsletter is all about capturing what we see across the landscape and surfacing the patterns that are shaping the conversation. While we use AI to help with organization and drafting, this newsletter is very much human made. And sometimes, humans make mistakes. If you catch one, let us know!
View email in browser. To our digital thriving community,Welcome to the ninth edition of Three for Thriving, our weekly video and newsletter series from the Center for Digital Thriving, where we share headlines at the intersection of youth well-being and technology. This week, we’re spotlighting: New research published in JAMA that reframes the screen time debate around patterns of use, not just hours logged Two very different stories about how AI chatbots are showing up in teen mental health...
View email in browser. To our digital thriving community,Welcome to the eighth edition of Three for Thriving, our weekly video and newsletter series from the Center for Digital Thriving, where we share headlines at the intersection of youth well-being and technology. In this week’s recap, we’re spotlighting a global analysis from the American Psychological Association that links screen use and emotional challenges in young kids, OpenAI’s ambitious effort to embed AI tools across college...
View email in browser. To our digital thriving community,Welcome to the seventh installment of our newsletter and video series, Three for Thriving, where we share some the latest news articles at the intersection of youth well-being and technology. In this week’s video recap, we’re spotlighting how narratives about adolescence are shifting— from Hollywood-crafted stories of rebellion to the self-produced content teens now create and consume on their phones. We also look at the rise of AI as...
