Common Sense Media

Even after years working in the kids' industry, nothing cuts through quite like hearing directly from children themselves. The opening keynote at this week's The Children's Media Conference featured clips from Catherine Carr's excellent "About the Boys" and "About the Girls" radio series. It was a sobering reminder of some of the challenges young people face every day -- and it made me want to head straight home and hug my own kids. This was my fifth CMC and, once again, I came away with that feeling you get when you've spent a few days surrounded by smart, thoughtful people who give you plenty to think about. The UK's proposed social media ban was never far from the conversation, with passionate arguments on both sides. One point that really stayed with me was the potential inequality it could create for Year 11 students. A child born in September could have access to tutoring content on YouTube and TikTok, while a classmate born later in the academic year may not -- despite both studying for and sitting the same GCSEs. At Common Sense Media, we often talk about the fact that not all screen time is equal. So it was encouraging to hear repeated discussion of the difference between passive and active media consumption, alongside the evidence on what kinds of screen media work best for younger children: slower-paced content, clearer storytelling and fewer distractions. Thanks to Professor Sam Wass for helping us all leave a little smarter than when we arrived. And, as always, huge thanks to Greg Childs and his team, along with the many volunteers who make #CMC such a highlight of the calendar. And if you haven't already, do seek out the "About the Boys" and "About the Girls" series (they're on BBC Sounds) -- they really are excellent and aren't all doom and gloom. Until next year. #CMC2026 #ChildrensMediaConference #KidsMedia

AI is here, at home and in our schools, but how much access it has to our kids depends on us,  and what we demand and require from tech companies.  Jenny Radesky advocates for strong consumer input and guardrails for kids chatting with AI. Listen to her insights from this recent Conversations with Common Sense Media episode then head over to YouTube to watch the whole show: https://lnkd.in/gaziwrza Supreet Mann, PhD Laura Zimmermann, PhD

Can parents, caregivers, and educators change the rules to protect kids online? Yes!  See what our coalition of advocates has accomplished in states across America this year so far.  Join our efforts and celebrate these wins for kids: 🌴 South Carolina -  Age-Appropriate Design Code Act /HB 3431/ SB 268 This new law: - requires social media companies to make safety and privacy the default for kids on their platforms — not the exception. 🌽 Illinois - Children's Social Media Safety Act /HB 5511 Once Gov. Pritzker signs it, this bill will: - protect kids from addictive feeds 🏖️ New Jersey - New Jersey Kids Code Act A4015 / S3413 This bill awaiting Gov. Sherrill’s signature will: -  protect kids’ well-being online 🗽 New York - Protecting Kids from Unsafe AI (S9051/A10379) (chatbots bill); Prohibition on Chatbot Toys (S9408/A11144); The 72-Hour Search Warrant Act (S8217/A8022); the Safe By Design Act (this one was included in the state budget and already enacted into law) One new law plus three waiting for Gov. Hochul’s signature. Together, these bills will:  -  protect kids from unsafe AI - hold tech companies accountable - keep online predators away from our kids 🌉 California AB 2 (financial liability), AB 1709 (social media delay), AB 2023/SB 1119 (chatbot safety) They’ve moved through key committees so far, but once passed, these bills will: - delay kids’ access to addictive feeds on social media - put strong guardrails on AI chatbots - increase financial penalties for social media companies that harm kids Together, we’re making a difference for kids and young people in our always-on world. Be part of this important work.  Sign up for our advocacy action alerts and learn more about opportunities in your state and on Capitol Hill.  https://lnkd.in/gYZiVyS3 #OnlineSafety #SocialMedia #AI #TechPolicy

Toy Story 5’s themes about kids and tech hit so close to home, it’s no wonder Robbie Torney, our Head of AI & Digital Assessments at our Youth AI Safety Institute, was asked to consult on the film. Join us Thursday 7/9 @ 11 a.m. PT for an insider’s look at the movie and a real life picture of tech in today’s childhood. It's not an all-or-nothing answer—it’s a delicate balance of innovation while holding on to imagination. Editorial Director and Head of Ratings & Reviews Betsy Bozdech McNab sits down with Robbie and Yvette Renteria, our Chief Program Officer, to discuss Jessie, Lilypad, Woody, and pals, and society's complicated relationship with toys and tech.

How did Toy Story 5's new tech toys land with you? We were honored to have our Head of AI & Digital Assessments, Robbie Torney, consult on the film, advising on Lilypad's AI-like features and the other connected companions that show up throughout the story. Join us today at 11am PST as we dig into what Pixar is really saying about society’s complicated relationship with toys and tech. https://lnkd.in/ghtXZrsE Betsy Bozdech McNab Yvette Renteria

Over the past year, our first Common Sense Media Teen Press Corps cohort has been hard at work, and the results are thoughtful and honest. These young writers covered a lot of ground, from generational divides to on-screen representation to mental health: 📝 Open Letter to Previous Generations: a teen's reflection on tech, trust, and what's shifted between generations 
🎬 The Florida Project & Youth Representation: on how film can capture childhood with real depth and compassion 
🌿 Profile: Sam Weinstock, Program Director, Weinberg Nature Center: a spotlight on environmental leadership 
🐝 Profile of a Leader: Emily Huffstetler, The Busy Bee: a small business leader worth knowing 
🎥 How The Edge of Seventeen Captures the Essence of Youth: thoughtful film criticism 
📺 Depiction of Teenagers in Amy Sherman-Palladino's Gilmore Girls: a fresh generational read on a classic 
📱 How the Digital Landscape Impacts Young People's Development: a clear eyed look at growing up online 
🧘🏾♀️Try These 5 Methods to Cope With Stress: practical, teen tested advice We couldn't be prouder of this cohort — and we're just getting started. Check out our Youth Voices page (linked in comments) to learn more.

How can we teach kids to think more critically about the AI they’re already using?  Ask them questions! Jenny Radesky shares helpful tips for parents navigating kids’ AI use at home and school in a recent episode of Conversations with Common Sense Media.  Listen to her quick tips here and head over to YouTube for the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gaziwrza Supreet Mann, PhD and Laura Zimmermann, PhD.

🤖📱 AI is changing education—and media literacy has never been more important. Join me for Digital Literacy and Wellbeing sessions. Common Sense Media Join educators from across Michigan at the 2026 Michigan AI & Media Literacy Conference on July 29–30 at Lansing Community College West Campus. ✅ Practical classroom strategies ✅ AI and media literacy experts ✅ Resources you can use immediately ✅ Sessions tailored to grade levels 📚 July 29: K–5 Focus📚 July 30: 6–12 Focus Best of all, registration is just $29 per day! Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eaMjgrfT #AIEducation #MediaLiteracy #EdTech #MichiganEducators #MACUL

This Thursday, join Common Sense Media experts Betsy Bozdech McNab, Robbie Torney and Yvette Renteria as they explore the themes and villains of Toy Story 5 and society's complicated relationship with toys and tech. https://lnkd.in/ghtXZrsE

As we approach Independence Day and the America250 milestone, our Senior Editor of Learning, Christine Elgersma, reflects on what it means to celebrate this moment thoughtfully — at a time when misinformation spreads faster than ever. Her insights offer families and educators practical ways to build digital literacy skills and support kids' media well-being, so young people can engage with history, news, and civic life with clarity and confidence rather than confusion or anxiety.age of misinformation. “The actual piece of paper that established the United States is viewable by all, for free, on all but two days of the year. It's a tangible artifact of the radical bet the founders made: that ordinary people, with the right information and tools, could govern themselves.    Now, 250 years later, we approach the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence living in a world the founders couldn't have foreseen. Inexhaustible, ephemeral, digital information comes at us from a fire hose full of filter bubbles—and misinformation.   That's why that radical bet has never been more consequential than it is today. Young people are growing up in an era defined by AI, social media, viral news, and personalized algorithms. More than ever, democracy depends on digital citizenship. We all know adults who have been fooled by deepfakes, have readily shared misinformation, and who feel their filter bubble is the only source of truth. In fact, if we're honest, many of us have been fooled and influenced. We've been left to our own devices to sift through the noise and make sense of it all. Don't we want to make it easier on our kids as media and tech only increase their impact? And don't we want to help them make truly informed decisions that align with their values? That's ultimately the intention of casting votes in a democracy.   As we reassess curriculums and learning outcomes this summer, we are reminded of the importance of including information and media literacy in our lessons, our democracy may depend on it."  https://lnkd.in/g6cS_jJd