A measure that would have required parental consent for kids under 16 to use social media was deferred indefinitely Wednesday. Similar laws in other states have been held up in court.  Kalaʻe Kong often looks down the hallway at St. Louis School and notices his fellow students staring down at their phone screens.  “I just...Read More

Federal safety standards for water bead toys took effect this week, aimed at protecting children from a product blamed for thousands of injuries and at least one death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations target the small, colorful polymer pellets that expand dramatically when soaked in water. Between 2017 and 2022, an estimated 6,300...Read More

PeopleImages/Getty Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. Until now, sexting has been somewhat of a vague phenomenon, without much concrete data on how common it actually is in teen life. Experts have tried to pin down how many and how often teens...Read More

Two misconceptions have been circulating since last week’s landmark ruling in K.G.M. v. Meta et al., which found Meta and YouTube liable for harms to an individual plaintiff: First, that this verdict threatens free speech; and second, that it undermines parental rights and responsibility. Similar concerns have been raised against the nearly dozen state laws...Read More

Meta CEO. Mark Zuckerberg and Apple Inc. CEO, Tim Cook. Jon Putman | Anadolu | Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images Tech’s child safety record is under a microscope. In legal proceedings spanning California, New Mexico and West Virginia this week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook are facing questions about...Read More

A new study published Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics shows that teenagers are sending and receiving more sexually explicit text messages than previously thought. The study, “Prevalence of Multiple Forms of Sexting Behavior Among Youth,” examined the “sexting” habits of teens and found there has been an increase in the trend since the first...Read More

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