Interview with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, former Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), brings a powerful perspective on why media literacy is essential in our digital age. In this interview, she explains how young people can critically analyze the media they consume, navigate misinformation, and engage online with empathy and civic responsibility.
Interview with Jordan Shapiro
Jordan Shapiro, a technology policy expert and data scientist at the Progressive Policy Institute, brings a thoughtful perspective on how to keep young people safe, empowered, and privacy-protected online. Her work focuses on practical tools for digital privacy, age verification, and healthy tech use. In this interview, she discusses how to balance safety with freedom, use generative AI wisely in schools, and take simple steps to create healthier algorithmic spaces for teens.
Where Teens Are Online Most
Today’s teens are not just online - they’re active across multiple platforms. YouTube leads the way, with TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat also playing major roles in how teens consume, share, and engage with content daily.
Most Used Platforms by U.S. Teens
Interview with Dr. Sameer Hinduja
Dr. Sameer Hinduja - Professor of Criminology at Florida Atlantic University, Faculty Associate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center, and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center - explores how online interactions shape the wellbeing of today’s youth. In this interview, he shares research-based insights on cyberbullying, digital self-harm, and other online risks, while offering practical strategies to help teens, parents, and educators create healthier digital spaces.
Why Teens Use Social Media
Citizen-Science Mood Map
The Citizen-Science Mood Map is a live, anonymous check-in tool that tracks how teens are feeling each day. By rating mood, sleep, and social media use, participants help create a collective snapshot of wellbeing in real time. The data is instantly visualized, showing how daily habits connect to emotional health and how our community’s experiences shift over time. It’s a way to turn individual reflections into shared insight - helping us better understand the relationship between social media, rest, and mood.
Interview with Dr. Jodi Gold
Dr. Jodi Gold, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and author of Screen-Smart Parenting, explores how technology is reshaping the emotional lives of kids, teens, and families. Drawing on her clinical experience, she discusses the psychological effects of constant digital connection and the challenges parents face in guiding healthy tech use. In this interview, she offers practical advice on setting boundaries, spotting early warning signs, and helping young people build balanced, resilient relationships with the digital world.
Why It Matters
Social media isn’t just entertainment - it’s where teens find connection, express their creativity, and even access mental health support. These stats reflect how meaningful online spaces can be when used intentionally.