In a landmark decision, a Los Angeles jury has found that social media company Meta and video streaming service YouTube harmed a young user with addictive design features that led to mental health distress, including body dysmorphia, depression and suicidal thoughts. Commentators have referred to this as social media’s “Big Tobacco” moment and further lawsuits...Read More

A jury in New Mexico found on March 25 that the social media giant’s platforms are harmful to children’s mental health and imposed a $375 million penalty. The trial is the first of several to be held in 2026 regarding social media child safety. The New Mexico jury found that the tech giant knowingly misled...Read More

Find Your Perfect Match Answer a few questions and we’ll provide you with a list of primary care providers that best fit your needs. For teens and preteens exploring their sexuality, smart phones have fueled the growing popularity of sexting. A study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics revealed that about one in four children...Read More

By Byron Kaye, Reuters At least eight countries have said they want similar curbs to what Australia is enforcing. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins Analysis – Since Australia banned children from using social media in December, lawmakers from Spain to Malaysia have expressed interest in following suit, while US courts have found tech firms negligent...Read More

Dr. Jenny Radesky acted as chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Communications and Media. For many parents and policymakers alike, children and teens’ relationships with digital media are a top of mind concern right now. Australia is just weeks into implementing its law requiring that users be at least 16 years...Read More

1. In a prospective cohort study, frequent adolescent social media use was associated with changes in the brain’s sensitivity to social rewards and punishments, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). 2. Habitual social media users had hypoactive responses to social rewards in early adolescence but increased sensitivity over time. By the end of...Read More

MOORHEAD, Minn. (Valley News Live) – Moorhead police posted nine missing teenagers on social media in March, prompting officials to explain how they respond when a child disappears and what families should know about the search process. To date, four of the nine teens have been found safe. One is considered “endangered.” According to Minnesota...Read More

Japan is confronting mounting concerns over child safety, as data from education and police authorities point to record levels of school refusal, a rise in serious bullying cases, continued disciplinary action against educators for sexual offenses, and record numbers of child abuse cases by parents. Japan’s experience matters beyond its borders: As other advanced Asian...Read More

Depending on which expert you ask, sexting among teens may be extremely common or incredibly rare. Studies have reported rates of youth sexting as low as 1.3% and as high as 60%. Either way, many experts believe that sending and receiving sexually explicit messages is becoming “the new normal” for teens. A new report in...Read More

Cyberbullying on social media is linked to depression in teenagers, according to new research that analyzed multiple studies of the online phenomenon. Victimization of young people online has received an increasing level of scrutiny, particularly after a series of high-profile suicides of teenagers who were reportedly bullied on various social networks. In 2013, for example, a spate...Read More