To our digital thriving community,​
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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 campuses, and new research showing that adolescents want to use AI responsibly—but often lack clear guidance on how.

At CDT, we’ve been thinking (and iterating!) out loud about teens and AI—especially in the classroom. That’s why we recently released our Youth Insights Memo on Gen AI, launched Graidients (a free tool for exploring AI boundaries), and are now thinking about how to apply an AI lens to the 8 educator mindshifts shared in our new professional development course.

Our Three for Thriving video recap breaks down some of the latest news stories in under three minutes. Watch it here, and read on for the full roundup of headlines that sparked our team’s curiosity.

You can also follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Bluesky. If someone forwarded this email, you can opt in here to have the next installment delivered direct to your inbox.

Three for Thriving - Week of June 9, 2025

Watch this week's Three for Thriving video spotlight or read on for more of this week’s stories.

Apple Newsroom | Apple expands tools to help parents protect kids and teens online​
Apple Newsroom reports that Apple is rolling out new features in iOS 26 and related platforms to help parents better manage their children's device use, including enhanced Child Account controls, the ability to share age ranges with apps while protecting privacy, expanded App Store age ratings, and improved parental oversight of communications— all with user privacy and safety at their core.

American Psychological Association | Staff | Screen time and emotional problems in kids: A vicious circle?​
The American Psychological Association reports that a sweeping meta-analysis of 117 studies and over 292,000 children worldwide found that excessive screen time and socio-emotional issues in kids reinforce each other, with particularly strong effects for older children, girls, and those engaged in gaming; researchers stress the need for balanced screen management and greater emotional support.​
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Bloomberg Opinion | Jessica Karl & Lisa Jarvis | #SkinnyTok Rebranded Eating Disorders Dangerously Fast​
​Bloomberg Opinion highlights how #SkinnyTok’s underlying messages persist on social media, with influencers repackaging eating disorders as wellness trends and moving vulnerable teens into private, often monetized groups where harmful advice spreads unchecked. Despite social platforms’ efforts to curb these trends, experts argue their actions remain insufficient amid evolving strategies and rising mistrust in medical institutions among Gen Z.

Daily Mail | Dan Woodland | Children could be banned from spending more than two hours on any one phone app and blocked from social media after 10pm in new anti-doomscrolling measures​
​Daily Mail reports that the UK government is considering limiting children’s use of any one phone app to two hours and banning social media access after 10pm or during school, in response to growing worries about the mental health effects of doomscrolling and excessive screen use. These proposed measures seek to address the struggles many teens face with self-regulating device time, especially given mounting evidence of screen time’s negative impact on wellbeing.

EdSurge | Maggie Hicks | AI Is Still an Unknown Country — and Teens Are Its PioneersEdSurge reports that most teens use AI infrequently, lack clear ethical guidelines, and are unsure how to navigate AI’s growing presence, especially in the classroom—highlighting the need for stronger digital literacy and support over bans. The piece cites a study from UC Irvine and Foundry10 which calls for better policies, educator involvement, and open family discussions as the best way forward for youth and AI.

EdSurge | Nadia Tamez-Robledo | From English to Automotive Class, Teachers Assign Projects to Combat AI Cheating
​EdSurge reports that teachers are increasingly turning to project-based assignments and in-class collaboration to combat AI-assisted cheating, aiming to foster genuine learning and ethical use of technology in the classroom.

Education Week | Lauraine Langreo | To Ban or Not to Ban? Two Experts Sound Off on School Cellphone Restrictions
​Education Week features a conversation between experts Emily Boddy (Smartphone Free Childhood U.S.) and Annette Campbell Anderson (Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools), revealing nuanced perspectives on whether cellphone bans foster independence and resilience or risk sidestepping crucial conversations about digital wellness, addiction, and the broader impact of cellphone use on youth mental health.

Education Week | Arianna Prothero | Teens Are Confident They Can Succeed in Class. Do Teachers Agree?​
​Education Week reveals a notable gap between students' high self-confidence and motivation in core academic subjects and their teachers' more skeptical perceptions, even as both groups agree on the high motivation of teachers themselves.

Fast Company | Frederic Bertley | Teaching AI isn’t enough—we need to teach wisdom, too​
Frederic Bertley, president and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry, argues in Fast Company that AI education initiatives must go beyond technical training to include critical thinking, ethics, and wisdom if society is to fully understand and manage the technology’s consequences.

Fast Company | Eve Upton-Clark | Gen Alpha side hustles: How kids are earning big online before they can even drive
​Fast Company reveals that members of Gen Alpha are increasingly turning their screen time into lucrative side hustles, with nearly half already earning online through ventures like reselling clothes or streaming games—often outpacing traditional teenage earnings and shifting cultural norms around work and financial independence.

Financial Times (FT) | Gregory Meyer & Rafe Uddin | Barbie-maker Mattel partners with OpenAI to make AI child’s play​
​Financial Times reveals that Mattel is collaborating with OpenAI to embed age-appropriate artificial intelligence into toys and games, promising safety, privacy, and innovation, though product details are still under wraps. The partnership follows a larger industry movement toward integrating generative AI into children’s products and upgrading company operations with advanced digital tools.

Futurism | Staff | Stanford Research Finds That "Therapist" Chatbots Are Encouraging Users' Schizophrenic Delusions and Suicidal Thoughts
​Futurism shares findings from Stanford researchers who warn that therapy-style chatbots often fail to offer safe responses to users in crisis, sometimes encouraging delusions or facilitating self-harm. The study (not yet peer reviewed) recommends stronger oversight and questions whether chatbots should serve as mental health substitutes, especially for vulnerable populations.

Futurity | Leigh Hataway | Your Teens’ Sleep Habits May Affect How Their Brains WorkFuturity shares research from the University of Georgia showing that poor sleep in teens disrupts key brain regions involved in decision-making and emotional control, heightening their risk for behavioral and mental health issues.

Gizmodo | AJ Dellinger | China Takes on Student Cheating by Shutting Off AI Nationwide During Exams​
​Gizmodo reports that popular AI chatbots were disabled or had major features blocked nationwide to prevent cheating during China’s all-important national college entrance exams. The measure was implemented to ensure exam integrity through strict technological and human proctoring.

KQED | Marlena Jackson-Retondo | Social Media, Earlier Puberty: How Parents Can Keep Up with Changing Environments
​KQED highlights data that shows girls are undergoing puberty earlier and using social media more than ever, exacerbating stress, peer conflict, and feelings of isolation. The piece emphasizes the importance of adult guidance, open conversations, and support to help them navigate these transitions.

Mashable | Christianna Silva | College professors don't know how to catch students cheating with AI​
​Mashable reports that as generative AI proliferates, college professors are struggling to detect and prove AI-assisted cheating due to unreliable detection tools and high false positive rates, particularly for non-native English speakers. With few clear policies in place, educators are experimenting with handwritten or oral tests while students admit to using AI for everything from legitimate help to blatant plagiarism, signaling that higher education must adapt structurally and culturally to this new era of academic integrity challenges.

The New York Times | Kashmir Hill | They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.​
​New York Times details how prolonged interactions with AI chatbots like ChatGPT have led some individuals into delusional spirals, validating conspiracy beliefs or mystical experiences that exacerbate real-world psychological distress and even violence. The article calls for greater regulation and user education as the risks of AI engagement become clearer.

The New York Times | Natasha Singer | Welcome to Campus. Here’s Your ChatGPT.
​The New York Times highlights how OpenAI is partnering with universities to provide students with personalized ChatGPT assistants for study help and career development, raising important questions about the potential impact on critical thinking and academic integrity. Some educators embrace these tools for their flexibility, but others worry about risks like privacy loss and over dependence on technology, noting that the long-term effects on student learning remain unclear.

Northwestern Medicine (Feinberg School of Medicine) | Melissa Rohman | Youth Anxiety and Depression Increasing, Study Finds​
A new national study covered by Northwestern Medicine (Feinberg School of Medicine) reveals a significant rise in anxiety and depression among American youth between 2016 and 2022, even as certain physical health conditions declined. The findings underscore a widening mental health crisis in children and adolescents, prompting calls for stronger collaboration between families, healthcare providers, and educators.

The 74 Million | Michael B. Horn | Artificial Intelligence in Education: Risks, Opportunities and What’s Next
​The 74 Million wraps up its podcast miniseries on AI in education by reflecting on AI’s potential to reshape learning, with hosts noting that foundational knowledge remains vital, transformative innovation will likely spring from nontraditional models, and curiosity will become an even more essential habit for navigating education in the age of AI.

Smithsonian Magazine | Natalia Fleischmann | ‘Hey, You Kids, Get on Our Lawn!’ Your Invitation to a Totally Teen Summer
​Smithsonian Magazine previews the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s “Totally Teen Summer,” where teens themselves will lead a vibrant, interactive celebration of youth culture—challenging stereotypes, showcasing diverse voices, and spotlighting teen creativity, activism, and mental health.

The Wall Street Journal | Julie Jargon | ‘Sextortion’ Scams Involving Apple Messages Ended in Tragedy for These Boys
​The Wall Street Journal details how scammers are using Apple’s Messages app to target teenage boys in “sextortion” schemes—often by posing as peers, manipulating trust, and demanding money under threat of sharing explicit images—with devastating consequences, including suicide. Experts and parents express deep concern over the lack of meaningful reporting tools and protections in messaging apps, and urge technology companies to implement stronger safeguards.

The Washington Post | Caitlin Gibson | New study shows social media use predicted future depression in tweens
​The Washington Post discusses a major three-year, longitudinal study led by Dr. Jason Nagata of UCSF and published in JAMA Network Open, which found that increased social media use among preteens predicts higher rates of future depression—highlighting that age restrictions are often ineffective and identifying sleep disruption and cyberbullying as key contributing factors for kids' mental health struggles.

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!

The Center for Digital Thriving is a research and innovation center based at Project Zero at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Our mission is to create knowledge and research-based resources that help people – especially youth – thrive in a tech-filled world.

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