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
In this photo illustration a 13-year-old teenage boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media apps on January 12, 2026 in Bath, England. Matt Cardy | Getty Images News | Getty Images The U.K. government is trialing a social media ban for hundreds of teens, after the country’s lawmakers rejected a blanket ban...Read More
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – USA Health held a child safety day today at Spanish Fort Community Center as spring approaches. Officials emphasized a number of areas of safety, including water safety education. Free life jackets were given to children at the event. Pediatricians also talked about electric bike and scooter safety. Courtney Thompson with...Read More
Aug. 16, 2014, 11:00 p.m. CT Jennifer Schiffman, who works on a state task force to prevent internet crimes against children, asked sixth graders at Republic Middle School to close their eyes and raise a hand if they had ever been asked for a digital nude photo of themselves. About a third of the students,...Read More
Teenagers are among the biggest consumers of social media—but is it consuming them? In two trials this week, juries found Meta and YouTube liable for harming young users and creating addictive features, and a dozen more trials are scheduled. The lawsuits come on the heels of growing research indicating a troubling link between social networking...Read More
A new bill sponsored by Sen. Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Britt (R-AL), Sen. Warner (D-VA), and Sen. Murphy (D-CT) would require AI chatbots to verify all users’ ages, prohibit minors from using AI tools, and implement steep criminal penalties for chatbots that promote or solicit certain harms. That might sound reasonable at first,...Read More
1. Adolescents who engaged in active sexting (sending a sexually explicit text message) were more likely to be sexually active 1 year later compared to those who engaged in passive sexting (asking or being asked for a sext); however the former were not any more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. 2. Passive sexting...Read More
After Australia became first country to ban social media for kids, Canadians appear ready to follow suit March 30, 2026 – Scrutiny of the negative effects of social media on young people has intensified further following a landmark ruling in California labelling Instagram and YouTube as deliberately addictive and harmful to children. Prior to the...Read More
