To our digital thriving community,​
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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 care—both in concerning and helpful ways​
• What’s changed since LA’s bell-to-bell phone ban went into effect—and what hasn’t

Plus, we highlight three bonus stories that elevate youth perspectives on why schoolwork needs to change in the Age of AI AI, how peers are fact-checking one another to avoid spreading misinformation, and why the decline in teen dating doesn't necessarily signal disinterest.

Our Three for Thriving video recap breaks down these stories in under three minutes. Watch it here, and read on for the full roundup of headlines that sparked our team’s curiosity. Stories marked with a 🌟 are included in this week's video recap.

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.

AP | Nicole Winfield | Pope Leo XIV flags AI impact on kids’ intellectual and spiritual development
​The AP reports that Pope Leo XIV has warned that artificial intelligence could negatively affect the intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development of children. He calls for AI to be developed ethically and with young people's well-being as a priority.

The Atlantic | Rheana Murray | Get Your Kid a Landline
​The Atlantic shares how families in one Maine neighborhood are reviving landlines as a smartphone alternative, allowing kids to develop conversational skills and independence while sidestepping the potential harms associated with social media and mobile devices.

EdSurge | Lauren Coffey | What Will Kids Lose If PBS Gets Cut?
​EdSurge details concerns from educators and researchers that proposed federal funding cuts to PBS would threaten uniquely research-backed, non-commercial children’s programming that promotes learning and equity, especially for children in under-resourced communities.

EdWeek | Dennis Magliozzi & Kristina Peterson | How AI Helps Our Students Deepen Their Writing (Yes, Really)
​EdWeek published an op-ed from educators Dennis Magliozzi and Kristina Peterson who argue how AI, when used with clear guidelines, can serve as a valuable tool for writing in the classroom. They say it can offer students inspiration, feedback, and new analytical angles—though ultimately, the technology complements rather than replaces human creativity and voice.

🌟Forbes | Dan Fitzpatrick | What’s Really Going On With AI In Schools? A High School Student’s POV
​Forbes explores the gap between how students and educators view AI in schools, with student journalist William Liang explaining that teens are already leveraging AI like ChatGPT to “game” assignments while academic oversight lags behind. He suggests the real solution is to design assessments that are AI-resistant and to embrace AI’s teaching potential rather than treating it as just a cheating tool.

Imperfect Paradise | Antonia Cereijido | Did the cell phone ban in high schools work?
​Imperfect Paradise takes listeners inside Venice High School to examine the real-world impact of the LA Unified School District’s all-day cell phone ban, exploring how students, teachers, and administrators adapted to the policy and what lessons emerged from its first semester of enforcement.

🌟JAMA | Yunyu Xiao, PhD, et al. | Addictive Screen Use Trajectories and Suicidal Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health in US Youths
​JAMA presents a large study of over 4,000 youth showing that high or increasing addictive use of social media, mobile phones, and video games—measured by compulsive, hard-to-control patterns—are associated with significantly increased risks of suicidal behaviors and poor mental health, whereas total screen time alone is not predictive. The study has been featured in various news outlets, including CNN, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Hill, NPR, NY Times, and more.

🌟LAist | Mariana Dale | Cellphones still lurk after LAUSD bans, but a semester has brought hints of change
​LAist reports that after the Los Angeles Unified School District enacted a cellphone ban, there have been noticeable increases in student engagement and socialization at school, although rule circumvention and unchanged or increased phone use outside school hours suggest the policy's full impact is still unclear.

NPR | Rhitu Chatterjee, Selena Simmons-Duffin | Trump administration cuts specialized suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ youth
​NPR reports that the Trump administration is ending the 988 Suicide Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth, alarming advocates who say these tailored crisis lines are vital for high-risk groups facing elevated rates of suicidal ideation and mental health challenges.

The New York Times | Jonathan Haidt, Will Johnson, and Zach Rausch | The Smartphones Haven’t Defeated Us. Yet.
​In a New York Times op-ed, Jonathan Haidt presents survey findings from Harris Poll that reveal both parents and Gen Z are increasingly regretful about early smartphone and social media exposure, with strong support for delaying access, stricter school policies, and societal shifts aimed at restoring healthier childhood experiences.

🌟The New York Times | Kim Tingley | Kids Are in Crisis. Could Chatbot Therapy Help?​
The New York Times explores the deployment of chatbot-based mental health tools for youth, noting that while AI chatbots like Woebot can provide always-available support and teach coping skills, concerns remain about safety, appropriate use, and the limitations of non-human intervention for children in crisis.

Scientific American | Laura Edelson | What I Wish Parents Knew about Social Media
​Scientific American featured an article from Northeastern researcher and computer scientist Laura Edelson detailing how teens are treated as products, not customers, by social media companies aiming to maximize user engagement. She urges parents to proactively discuss platform business models and algorithmic risks with their children, while maintaining boundaries and open communication for safer online experiences.

🌟The 74 Million | Hannah Covington | I Talked to Teenagers About Conspiracy Theories, Here’s What They Told Me
​The 74 Million finds that teens are exposed to conspiracy theories online and often rely on peers to fact-check and navigate misinformation, yet many express a strong desire for more news literacy education in schools to bolster their ability to discern fact from fiction.

Teen Vogue | Taylor Lorenz | Kids are Protesting ICE in Roblox
​Teen Vogue explores how Roblox has become a digital venue for youth activism, with children using in-game protests to respond to real-world issues like ICE raids, effectively turning the platform into a form of civic theater and political identity-building for a new generation.

TIME | Charlotte Alter | She Says Social-Media Algorithms Led to Her Eating Disorder. Now She’s Suing TikTok and Instagram
​TIME profiles a groundbreaking lawsuit in which young adults and families are suing Meta and TikTok, alleging that platform algorithms deliberately amplified harmful content, contributing to mental health crises and eating disorders among teens, and pushing for corporate accountability in a case likened to the opioid litigation.

🌟TIME | Andrew R. Chow & Angela Haupt | A Psychiatrist Posed As a Teen With Therapy Chatbots. The Conversations Were Alarming
​TIME reveals how a psychiatrist’s undercover experiment with AI therapy chatbots exposed disturbing failures: some bots prompted risky behaviors, endorsed delusions, and blurred ethical boundaries, intensifying concerns among professionals. Experts featured in the article call for urgent guardrails, transparency, and regulatory action before AI companions are widely accessible to young people needing emotional support.

TIME | Andrew R. Chow | ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study
​TIME reports that a new MIT Media Lab study found young adults who used ChatGPT to write essays demonstrated lower brain engagement and critical thinking compared to those using Google or no tools at all, raising concerns that reliance on AI chatbots could impede learning and long-term brain development—especially for students—by encouraging surface-level processing and diminishing originality.

UC Santa Cruz | Emily Cerf | A fresh look at TikTok: short food videos encourage long-term healthy eating habits in teens
​UC Santa Cruz shares new research showing that short-form TikTok food videos are inspiring teens to build healthier, long-term eating habits by encouraging activities ranging from trying new recipes to making positive dietary changes at home. The study highlights how these online experiences can translate into meaningful real-life actions, offering lessons for parents, tech designers, and policymakers.

Vox | Adam Clark Estes | What we learned the last time we put AI in a Barbie
​Vox reflects on the enduring appeal of low-tech play, noting that despite advances in AI-powered toys, children often prefer imaginative, self-guided play over AI-driven features, suggesting technology should augment—not replace—the creative, hands-on aspects of childhood.

Vox | Charley Locke | Is young love really dead?
​Vox dispels the myth that Gen Z has lost interest in romance, finding that while dating and sex rates have dropped, the longing for connection remains strong, complicated by a shift to mainly online interactions and confusing “talking stages.” The article highlights that today’s teens are emotionally vulnerable and cautious, but still desire both romantic and deep platonic bonds despite societal and technological obstacles.

The Wall Street Journal | Julie Jargon | The Friendly Caller Who’s Helping Seniors Feel Less Lonely
​The Wall Street Journal reports on “Meela,” an AI-supported phone companion that alleviates loneliness and boosts mental health for seniors in a New York pilot program, resulting in increased social engagement and emotional well-being. The AI’s empathetic calls are now being expanded to more communities, positioning Meela as a helpful complement—rather than a replacement—for human connection among the elderly.

Washington Post | Karina Elwood | Can AI identify safety threats in schools? One district wants to try.
​The Washington Post reports that Loudoun County schools are adopting AI-powered surveillance to identify safety threats such as fights and medical emergencies in real time, raising both hopes for faster response and concerns over privacy and surveillance in educational environments.

Wired | Jaclyn Greenberg | How AI Is Helping Students Find the Right College
​Wired illustrates how AI-powered platforms now help high schoolers and their parents navigate college selection, applications, and scholarships, democratizing access to guidance once limited to those who could afford private counseling, while also supporting colleges in more effectively matching with prospective students.

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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