EMPOWERING DIGITAL WELLNESS FOR KIDS | January 2025
Greetings Friend of the Lab,
We’re excited to share our latest research brief, which dives into the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in online spaces. As more young people turn to digital spaces for support and self-expression, understanding how these platforms impact their mental health is more important than ever.
Key Takeaways
68%
of LGBTQ+ youth report having access to affirming online spaces The Trevor Project, 2024
76%
of transgender individuals report being harassed online Vogels, 2022
54%
of LGBTQ+ young adults were out on a dating app before telling friends and family Tinder, 2023
While digital spaces can offer critical support and opportunities for connection, they also pose significant risks. This brief highlights how LGBTQ+ youth navigate these platforms and the dual impact they can have on their wellbeing.
We invite you to read the full brief to learn more about this vital issue in youth mental health.
Also In This Issue
✓ Resources to help guide healthy media habits ✓ The Lab in the news ✓ What’s coming in 2025
Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with you.
All our best,
Cori Stott Executive Director The Digital Wellness Lab
Resources for Parents & Caregivers
Key Takeaways from Our 2024 Pulse Survey on Teens and AI
These takeaways from our Pulse Survey on Teens and AI underline the importance of providing young people with the tools, education, and support they need to engage with AI-powered tools.
Conversations with Clinicians: Christina VanderPluym, MD
Dr. VanderPluym, a cardiologist and mom, faces the same tech challenges as other parents and caregivers. She shares her thoughts on the importance of helping kids develop the skills they need to navigate today’s digital world.
We believe that by following the science, we can create an empathetic and respectful world in which our kids can grow up #healthy, #smart, and #kind.
You're Invited!
Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing for Kids of All Ages
Please join the Lab’s Dr. Michael Rich along with Dr. Hina Talib (Atria Health) and Dr. Rosemarie Truglio (Sesame Workshop) for a discussion of practical strategies and research-based insights for parents to guide their children toward balanced and mindful media use.
Please join our colleagues from ConnectSafely for a Safer Internet Day event focused on empowering youth by including their voices in critical conversations about online safety, digital wellbeing and the ethical use of technology.
Date:Tue, Feb 11th
Time: 10am–2:20pm PT
Location:California Endowment Center, Sacramento, CA
Please join Dr. Scott Kollins of Aura for a discussion of a newly-launched study to explore how kids’ digital habits connect to their mental and physical wellbeing.
As we kick off the new year, we’re excited for the opportunities ahead to further our mission of fostering positive, healthy digital media experiences for young people. In the coming months, some things we’ll be focused on include:
— Unveiling new Pulse Survey research, including on cell phones in schools and sense of belonging in online spaces
— Publishing white papers on AI & Civility and methods for building social-emotional competencies in online spaces
— Partnering with Scroll by Choice for an Inspired Internet Pledge workshop designed to define how solutions providers can bridge the gap between available app controls and the families and youth using their platforms
— Beta-releasing our Digital Media Use Clinical Screener
If you have friends, family, and colleagues who could benefit from this newsletter, please pass it on and encourage them to sign up to receive it themselves. Thank you!
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All information included in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. For medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your health care provider.
