Digital Wellness Lab

02/18/2025

What a fabulous event! We were honored to be a part of it.

12/19/2024

🦺 TEENS: WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF DIGITAL SAFETY TOOLS? 💻
Aura Company is looking for teens ages 13-17 to join their inaugural Digital Teen Advisory Panel. Panelists will play an active role in the design and improvement of digital safety tools that promote online safety, , and for teens and families by participating in activities ranging from feature testing to feedback surveys.

Learn more and apply at

All-in-one digital security that helps protect your identity, finances and tech. Easy to use and simple to set up with 24/7 U.S. based customer service.

12/19/2024

🌟 Lab Colleague Spotlight: Dr. Meredith Gansner 🌟

We're excited to feature Dr. Meredith Gansner's contribution to recently released Handbook of Children & Screens! Her chapter, “Digital Therapeutics for Pediatric Mental Health,” explores the growing role of digital tools in treating mental health issues like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. While challenges remain, including limited trials and data security, these innovative tools hold great promise for improving pediatric mental health care.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/PxvF50UtOUt

12/19/2024

📢 Spotlight on Dr. Mike Tsappis: Exploring Internet Use Disorders 📢

We’re excited to highlight Dr. Mike Tsappis, co-founder of Boston Children’s Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID), for his contributions to the new Handbook of Children and Screens. His chapter on Internet Use Disorders provides valuable insights into the growing challenge of excessive internet use and its impact on youth.

Dr. Tsappis explores:

🎮 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psychosocial treatments
💊 Pharmaceutical interventions like bupropion
🏫 Preventive strategies in schools
🤔 Key recommendations for future research and tailored prevention efforts

As demand for effective treatments continues to rise, Dr. Tsappis' work is critical in advancing our understanding of these issues.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/ALLe50Utqt3

12/17/2024

💡 New Insights on Media Use in Middle Childhood 💡

As children enter middle childhood (ages 6–12), balancing their growing independence with guidance around media use can be challenging for parents. Dr. David Bickham’s chapter, “Parenting During Middle Childhood,” in the Handbook of Children and Screens provides valuable insights for parents navigating this stage.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 📖 Kids this age spend over 5 ½ hours daily on screens, impacting sleep & activity 📜 Consider maturity, not just age, when introducing smartphones 🤝 Balanced parenting helps children develop healthy online habits. Read more: https://ow.ly/4wiR50UsVWY

12/17/2024

How are teens navigating the world of AI? Our latest Pulse Survey reveals surprising insights into their understanding and use of AI tools like Generative AI and Voice Assistants.

📉 34.5% of teens report strong AI knowledge, but 46.8% feel uncertain
❌ Over a third rarely fact-check AI-generated information
👨‍👩‍👧 25% have parents actively monitoring their AI use
💡 95% agree on the importance of using AI ethically

These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive tech education to ensure teens navigate the AI world safely, responsibly, and creatively.



How are teens learning to navigate the fast-evolving world of AI? Our Pulse Survey: Optimism and Uncertainty – How Teens View and Use Artificial Intelligence, reveals some surprising gaps — and opportunities — in AI education.

THE LEARNING GAP
— While many teens use AI tools like GenAI, they often lack confidence in how to use them effectively.
— Less than half have received formal training to identify bias or misinformation in AI-generated content.

FACT-CHECKING? NOT SO MUCH
— Many teens rarely or never verify the accuracy of information from AI tools, raising concerns about digital literacy.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE MATTERS
— Teens whose AI use is guided by parental rules overwhelmingly agree with these boundaries.

A SHARED BELIEF
— The majority of teens agree that learning to use GenAI responsibly — avoiding plagiarism and following laws—is critical.

These findings highlight a unique opportunity to develop comprehensive tech education that equips teens with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven future. Let’s work together to empower young people with the knowledge to use these tools safely, ethically, and creatively.

12/16/2024

🎙️ Exciting News from the Digital Wellness Lab!

Our very own Dr. Michael Rich, joined Dr. Linda Southward, Director of the Children's Foundation of Mississippi, for the inaugural episode of the Chat About Children podcast. Together, they explored the benefits and challenges of digital media, offering actionable strategies to help parents, educators, and caregivers raise healthy, happy, and resilient kids in today’s digital-first world.

From modeling healthy screen habits to embracing imperfection, Dr. Rich's insights are a must-listen for anyone navigating parenting in these screen-saturated times.

This conversation also previews what’s to come at the Children's Foundation of Mississippi’s Fourth Annual Summit, where Dr. Rich will be a keynote speaker in February 2025.

🎧 Tune in to this enlightening discussion and join us in shaping a healthier digital future for families: https://ow.ly/6Bke50UrRCZ

In our inaugural Chat About Children podcast episode, Dr. Linda Southward, Director of the Children's Foundation of Mississippi, chats with Dr. Michael Rich,...

12/16/2024

✨ Exploring Teen Safety in the World of Online Dating ✨

How can we support teens navigating digital relationships while promoting their safety and wellbeing? The Lab’s Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter contributed insights to DatingNews.com on this critical topic, highlighting strategies for ensuring safe online interactions for teens, especially in dating contexts.

This piece emphasizes a holistic approach to youth online safety, including:
🧠 Fostering open communication between parents and teens
🧠 Encouraging thoughtful design by app developers
🧠 Promoting developmentally appropriate online interactions

At the Digital Wellness Lab, we’re dedicated to advancing understanding and innovation at the intersection of youth, technology, and wellbeing. With online dating becoming part of teens’ digital lives, it’s essential to ensure these spaces are safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate.
https://ow.ly/Wg3A50UrR1t

12/13/2024

🌟 BUILDING HEALTHIER ONLINE SPACES FOR YOUTH 🌟 This week, the Lab's Cori Stott and Lab summer research intern Zoë Kronberg joined the Healthy Online Platforms for Everyone (HOPE) Coalition to address a pressing question: How can we create safe, empowering digital spaces for young people?

The California-based HOPE Coalition works tirelessly to protect youth mental health and safety online by:
✅ Promoting age-appropriate, transparent, and youth-led digital messages
✅ Equipping youth with media literacy skills to challenge harmful content
✅ Advocating for stronger policies around social media ads and substance-related messaging

At the General Coalition meeting, youth, prevention leaders, and youth-serving organizations strategized ways to reduce harmful content on social media while promoting healthier behaviors. It was an inspiring event focused on solutions to empower the next generation. We’re proud to support HOPE’s mission to create safe, equitable online environments for young people.

Learn more about their impactful work: https://ow.ly/Actn50UqOQx

Youth Leadership Institute

We are a California statewide coalition organizing to engage the larger online community, in promoting age-appropriate, transparent, and youth-led messages. Young people find themselves on social media for hours scrolling endlessly and absorbing harmful messaging.HOPE builds media literacy amongst y...

12/13/2024

❄️ 🎉 Celebrating the Season with the Digital Wellness Lab Team 🎉 ❄️

This week, we came together for a festive lunch to celebrate the holiday season and reflect on all we’ve accomplished this year.

From advancing groundbreaking research on digital wellness to building partnerships that champion healthy tech use, we’re proud of the positive impact we’ve made in the lives of children, families, and communities.

Here’s to continuing our mission in the year ahead!



Laura Marciano, Michael Carter, Michael Rich, Sam Schwamm, Hannah Chidekel, Nicole Powell, David Bickham. Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter, Cori Stott, Filipa Paxaio, Zhiying (Zoey) Yue, Katrina Ho, Kaitlin Tiches.

12/13/2024

🔦 Spotlight on Fellow Traveler: Dr. Jared Matas, EdTech Specialist at OunceIT 🔦

In our latest Fellow Traveler feature, Dr. Jared Matas shares how his work bridges education and technology to enhance learning and support student wellbeing.

At OunceIT, Jared empowers educators with tools tailored to their schools’ unique needs, emphasizing purposeful tech use. He highlights the importance of understanding that every student’s tech experience is unique — while technology can fuel creativity and connection, it can also pose challenges, particularly for vulnerable youth.

Jared’s advice for parents and caregivers:

✅ Start with curiosity and ask reflective questions like, "What do you enjoy most about this game?"
✅ Model the digital habits you want kids to follow.
✅ Build a support system, as youth wellness thrives through collaboration.

We’re grateful for Jared’s work in advancing healthier, more meaningful digital experiences for students of all ages.
https://ow.ly/Li5650Uq2y1

12/12/2024

At this year’s Annual Conference, Dr. David Bickham represented the Lab on a panel titled "Parenting in a Dynamic Digital World." Alongside experts from Amazon.com and The Gamer Educator Ash Brandin, the discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges AI brings to parenting and youth development.

Key takeaways:
💡 "Technologies evolve, yet children’s fundamental needs remain constant."— Jen Kotler Clark
💡 Parenting in the digital era succeeds with clear expectations, empathy, and support. — Dr. Bickham
💡 "We want our kids to thrive in a world that we ourselves struggle to envision." — Ash Brandin

These insights underscore the importance of balancing boundaries with understanding to guide kids through today’s dynamic digital world.