As a First Amendment idea? It was actually done to incentivize the companies to moderate. The companies were afraid that if they take anything down, they become responsible for every single [piece of content]. So Congress said, “Go ahead and take down porn, and don’t worry—no one can sue you if you leave something up.”...Read More

Abstract Although non-consensual sexting seems to concern not only adults but also middle adolescent students, with detrimental consequences on their well-being, the related research-based effective school prevention programs are almost absent. Furthermore, there is an unanswered research question as to whether sex-related issues, such as sexual preoccupation, matters in adolescents’ non-consensual sexting and its prevention....Read More

Washington Schools are spending tens of millions of dollars this year to shore up security in the wake of two mass school shootings. But how do K-12 leaders know if they are spending their scarce funds in the right way? Are the measures they invest in going to make their schools safer? How will they...Read More

Children who are on social media for more than three hours a day are more likely to develop depression and anxiety as teenagers, according to research. Experts said the impact was likely to be linked to a lack of sleep caused by using social media late at night, and that the link to depression was...Read More

In recent years ‘sexting’ – sending sexually explicit, nude or semi-nude photos by cell phone – has become a national concern, especially when it involves children and teens. Recognizing the heightened public concern, 17 states have already enacted laws that address youth sexting, and another 13 states have pending legislation in 2012.  Despite this legislative...Read More

Positive Effects of Social Media on Teens Results from surveys show that teens see their own social media experiences as mostly positive. They view it as a tool for community, support and creative expression. In fact, Pew Research Center’s 2025 survey found that 74% of teens reported feeling more connected to friends with social media...Read More

One out of every seven Los Angeles high schoolers with a cell phone has sent a sexually explicit text message or photo, according to a 2011 survey that also found “sexters” more likely to engage in risky sex behaviors. In the new study, the LA teens who had sent racy texts were seven times more...Read More

Laura Marquez-Garrett (center), a plaintiffs’ attorney for the Social Media Victims Law Center, gathers with family members of victims as they react to news that the jury has found Meta and Google liable in the social media addiction trial, outside the Los Angeles Superior Court on March 25, 2026. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images...Read More

On 27 Aug., Brazil’s Federal Senate approved Bill 2628/2022, establishing safeguards for children and adolescents in digital environments. If enacted, the law would be among the first Brazilian rules to regulate digital platforms — bringing new privacy and data protection requirements with several operational impacts for social networks, app stores, video games and other businesses....Read More

Most parents who have seen their teenagers glued to a phone have wondered what, exactly, they’re doing. Maybe they’re texting about the next party or dance. And most parents hope they’re not sending sexually explicit photos or messages. But some researchers see sexting as a normal part of a teenager’s sexual awakening. “We’re so reticent...Read More