The Youth AI Safety Institute, part of Common Sense Media, published its assessment on October 7 after testing more than 4,000 prompts before and after OpenAI introduced its teen-focused experience on August 18. The organization urged OpenAI to restrict ChatGPT to adults until it can demonstrate that the service offers a safer experience for young users.

The rating is the institute’s assessment, not a regulatory finding. Its results also do not establish how frequently the reported problems occur in everyday use.

Tests found gaps in parental alerts

The institute’s most serious concerns involved notifications intended to alert parents when a linked teenager discusses suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.

In a dedicated test, researchers used more than a dozen newly created accounts linked to parent accounts. They tested conversations lasting from five minutes to an hour that included explicit disclosures involving self-harm, suicidal thoughts or disordered eating. The institute reported that none of those accounts generated a parental alert during the test period.

In its broader testing, the organization received four alerts across pre- and post-launch assessments. Those notifications came from accounts with extensive prior testing history, and two pre-launch alerts arrived hours or days after the first crisis-level disclosure.

The institute said the results suggested that alerts might depend partly on accumulated conversation history rather than the seriousness of a single disclosure.

OpenAI told the institute that parent and teen accounts need to be linked for approximately three hours before notifications can be received. The institute said some of its test accounts had been linked longer than that and maintained its conclusions.

The findings apply to the accounts and scenarios tested. They do not establish that every parental alert fails or that the same result occurs in every real-world conversation.

Crisis referrals declined in some tests

Researchers also compared ChatGPT’s responses to mental-health prompts that clinical reviewers had identified in advance as warranting crisis resources.

Among those prompts, the proportion of responses naming a crisis hotline fell from 33% before the teen experience launched to 23% afterward. Referrals to a specific medical or mental-health professional declined from 68% to 58%.

The institute said the results varied by topic. Its reviewers found that some responses gave appropriate advice, recognized signs of physical danger or encouraged teenagers to seek help from a trusted adult. The proportion of responses encouraging contact with a trusted adult rose from 87% to 94% in the comparison.

The watchdog nevertheless concluded that the overall response system did not consistently connect young users with appropriate support.

These figures describe the institute’s controlled tests, not the percentage of teenagers who receive inadequate help in everyday use. They also do not show that ChatGPT caused a particular mental-health outcome.

Study safeguards and age recognition raised concerns

The assessment found problems beyond crisis response.

ChatGPT’s Study Mode is designed to guide students through problems instead of simply supplying answers. But the institute reported that a “Show me the answer” option appeared in 43% of responses during testing on an account with parent-set Study Hours.

Researchers also said they could bypass the study restriction by deleting the “@study” prefix added to messages during designated study periods. In their tests, ChatGPT then completed the assignments given to it.

The institute separately tested whether ChatGPT could identify users who appeared to be under 18. It said adult-registered test accounts did not switch to the teen experience during repeated testing, even when users stated they were 13 and the chatbot acknowledged their age in conversation.

The findings do not mean that all age-estimation attempts fail. They indicate that the institute’s test accounts did not activate the teen experience through the methods it tried.

Some protections did work. The researchers reported that ChatGPT refused explicit sexual role-play, among other examples of safeguards that remained effective in testing.

OpenAI disputes aspects of the assessment

OpenAI introduced ChatGPT for Teens with features intended to provide stronger safeguards for users aged 13 to 17, including parental controls, notifications for certain high-risk conversations, age-appropriate settings and learning tools.

The company challenged aspects of the institute’s testing, particularly the timing required for parental notifications to become active after accounts are linked. The disagreement matters because a test conducted before a feature is fully activated may not accurately measure its intended performance.

The institute said it confirmed that the teen experience was active on the accounts used in its post-launch tests. It also said some accounts had been linked to parents for longer than the three-hour activation period identified by OpenAI.

The two sides therefore disagree over whether account setup adequately explains the missed alerts. The published assessment does not settle every question about how the system performs across the full range of accounts and circumstances.

OpenAI’s stated safety commitments include encouraging teenagers to seek real-world support, limiting inappropriate emotional dependence on the chatbot and providing learning-focused interactions. The institute’s findings raise questions about whether the tested features consistently delivered on those aims.

Funding disclosure and limits of the findings

Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute disclosed that it receives funding from philanthropic sources and technology companies, including the OpenAI Foundation. The institute said it maintains editorial independence and is responsible for its own research methods, ratings and conclusions.

That relationship is relevant to transparency, but it does not by itself establish that the findings are biased or invalid. The methodology, test conditions, limitations and evidence should be assessed on their own merits.

The institute acknowledged that its pre-launch and post-launch testing periods occurred at different times. Changes to the underlying ChatGPT model during those periods could therefore have affected results alongside the introduction of teen-specific settings. The researchers also did not test every product feature, including image generation, voice mode and group chats.

The assessment consequently identifies specific weaknesses observed under controlled conditions rather than providing a comprehensive measurement of all ChatGPT use by teenagers.

What the findings mean for AI safety

The report puts the reliability of youth-facing AI safeguards at the center of a broader accountability question: whether parents can reasonably depend on features intended to identify minors, flag sensitive conversations and encourage safer behavior.

For OpenAI, the central challenge is demonstrating that these protections activate reliably, including when a teenager first discloses a crisis rather than after a long history of sensitive conversations.

For parents and educators, the results are a reason not to treat automated notifications or study settings as substitutes for human support and supervision. The institute’s assessment does not establish that all use of ChatGPT by teenagers is harmful, but it questions whether the tested protections are sufficient to justify confidence in the product’s safety.

The central issue is not whether every safeguard failed. It is whether the protections intended for young users work reliably enough when the consequences of a missed warning could be serious.

Reporting Credit: Common Sense Media Youth AI Safety Institute; OpenAI; published risk assessment and testing methodology.

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For many employees, the workday no longer ends when they leave the office. Notifications, email and messaging services can extend work-related communication into evenings and weekends, making it harder to establish a clear boundary between professional and personal time.

Researchers studying work recovery have found that psychological detachment from work is an important part of recovering from job demands. The issue has become increasingly relevant as digital communication makes employees easier to reach outside conventional working hours.

A weekend break can therefore serve a practical purpose beyond simply providing leisure time: it can create a period in which people are less exposed to work-related demands.

Constant connectivity changes the boundary around work

Smartphones and cloud-based workplace systems have made it possible to respond to work almost anywhere.

That flexibility can be useful, particularly for employees working across different locations and time zones. But it can also create an expectation of availability.

A message received on Saturday does not necessarily require an immediate response, yet the decision to ignore it can itself become a source of stress for some workers.

The problem is not necessarily the technology itself. It is the way technology can make the boundary between working time and personal time less visible.

Recovery requires psychological distance

Research on occupational recovery distinguishes between physical time away from work and actually disengaging from work mentally.

An employee may be away from the workplace but still spend part of the weekend thinking about unfinished tasks, checking email or anticipating Monday’s workload.

Psychological detachment means temporarily shifting attention away from work-related responsibilities.

That can involve simple activities: spending time outdoors, exercising, meeting friends, pursuing a hobby or simply allowing periods without work-related communication.

The important element is that the activity provides a genuine break from job demands.

A weekend reset does not have to mean abandoning technology

Completely avoiding smartphones may not be realistic for everyone.

People use their phones for family communication, navigation, entertainment, emergencies and personal responsibilities. A useful digital break therefore does not necessarily require switching every device off for two days.

A more practical approach can involve separating essential communication from work communication.

Work notifications can be disabled temporarily, email applications can be removed from the home screen, and messaging platforms can be checked at predetermined times rather than continuously.

These small changes can reduce the number of interruptions without requiring people to disconnect completely.

Physical activity can help create a change of pace

Activities that require attention away from work can also help create psychological distance.

Walking, cycling, exercise, cooking, reading and other hobbies give people something different to focus on.

The objective is not to turn the weekend into another productivity exercise.

A recovery period can be useful precisely because it does not have to produce a measurable result.

That distinction matters in a culture where even leisure activities can sometimes become another source of performance pressure.

Rest should not become another obligation

A weekend reset can also fail if it becomes an elaborate checklist.

Trying to optimize every hour of Saturday and Sunday can reproduce the same pressure that people are attempting to escape.

Recovery can include doing very little.

Sleep, unstructured time, social interaction and ordinary household activities can all provide a break from the demands of the working week.

The most useful routine will therefore differ between people. Someone with a physically demanding job may benefit from quiet activities, while someone who spends most of the week sitting at a desk may prefer exercise or time outdoors.

Workplace expectations matter

Individual habits cannot completely solve a connectivity problem created by workplace culture.

If employees are expected to respond to messages throughout the weekend, turning off notifications may not provide meaningful relief.

Organizations can reduce that pressure by establishing clearer expectations around after-hours communication and distinguishing genuinely urgent matters from routine work.

Managers also influence those expectations through their own behavior. Sending nonurgent messages outside working hours can create an implicit expectation that employees should remain available even when no formal requirement exists.

The goal is to return with more capacity

The purpose of a weekend break is not simply to spend less time looking at a screen.

It is to create enough distance from the demands of the previous week for attention and energy to recover.

For some people, that may mean leaving the phone at home during a walk. For others, it may mean refusing to open a work inbox until Monday morning.

The specific method matters less than establishing a meaningful boundary.

As digital communication continues to make work increasingly portable, the ability to disconnect is becoming a practical part of managing that flexibility.

A weekend reset does not require an elaborate program. It can begin with something much simpler: deciding when the working week ends and protecting that boundary.

Reporting Credit: World Health Organization — guidance and research on occupational health and well-being; International Labour Organization — research and policy materials concerning working conditions and work-life balance; academic occupational-health research on psychological detachment and recovery from work.

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The challenge for parents is not necessarily to keep children away from technology. It is to create a system in which schoolwork has a clear place and recreational screen use does not constantly interrupt it.

That starts with separating the device’s educational purpose from its entertainment features whenever possible.

Set clear rules before schoolwork begins

Children are more likely to follow technology rules when expectations are established before a disagreement occurs.

Parents can set simple rules covering when devices may be used for schoolwork, which applications are permitted and when entertainment becomes available.

For example, a household rule might be:

Schoolwork first. Entertainment after the assignment is finished.

The rules should be specific enough that children understand what is expected without requiring a new negotiation every time they open a device.

Turn off unnecessary notifications

Notifications are one of the easiest ways for a device to interrupt concentration.

Messages, social-media alerts, game notifications and promotional reminders can pull a child away from an assignment even when the child did not intend to use those services.

Parents can help by enabling Do Not Disturb, Focus or similar settings during study periods.

Educational notifications that are genuinely necessary can remain available, while recreational alerts can wait until the study session ends.

Create a dedicated study environment

Where a child uses a device can influence how easily they concentrate.

A dedicated study area can help establish a mental distinction between schoolwork time and entertainment time.

If possible, the workspace should have limited distractions and enough room for books, notebooks and other materials.

For younger children especially, studying in a common household area can also make it easier for parents to provide support without constantly monitoring the screen.

Keep entertainment apps separate

If a child uses the same tablet or laptop for homework and entertainment, switching between the two can become effortless.

Parents can reduce that temptation by keeping recreational applications and websites separate from the child’s primary schoolwork environment.

Depending on the device, families may be able to use separate user accounts, parental controls or school-managed profiles.

The goal is not surveillance for its own sake. It is to make the desired behavior easier.

Use screen-time limits strategically

Screen-time controls can be useful, but they work best when they support an agreed household routine.

Parents can establish limits for recreational applications while allowing reasonable access to educational tools.

For example, a child might have unrestricted access to a school platform during homework hours while games and entertainment applications remain unavailable until later.

Parents should periodically review the settings because children’s schedules and school requirements change.

Teach children to manage distractions themselves

Technology rules are more effective when children eventually learn why those rules exist.

Parents can teach children to recognize common distractions:

• checking messages repeatedly;
• switching to entertainment websites;
• opening unrelated browser tabs;
• watching short videos between assignments;
• playing games during study breaks; and
• responding immediately to every notification.

The objective is to develop digital self-control, rather than making a child dependent on parental supervision.

Break assignments into manageable sessions

Long periods of uninterrupted homework can make distractions more tempting.

Breaking work into smaller sessions can give children clear goals and predictable opportunities to rest.

A child might work on one assignment for a set period, take a short break and then return to the next task.

During the work period, the device should be used only for the assignment.

The exact schedule can vary according to the child’s age, workload and attention span.

Keep phones away when they are not needed

A laptop or tablet may be necessary for an assignment, but a smartphone often is not.

If a phone is not required for schoolwork, placing it outside the immediate study area can remove another source of interruption.

This is especially useful when children receive frequent messages or social-media notifications.

Use parental controls as a support tool

Most major operating systems provide tools that allow parents to manage applications, screen time, content and purchases.

These controls can be particularly useful for younger children.

However, parental controls should complement conversations and household rules rather than replace them.

As children become more independent, parents can gradually shift responsibility toward the child.

Make breaks genuinely different from screen time

A study break does not necessarily need to involve another screen.

Walking, stretching, getting a drink, talking with family members or simply stepping away from the desk can give a child a clearer mental reset.

If every break involves opening a video platform or social-media application, a short break can easily turn into an extended distraction.

Watch for signs that the system is not working

Parents should look beyond the amount of time a child spends on a device.

Warning signs can include:

• homework consistently taking much longer than expected;
• frequent switching between schoolwork and entertainment;
• difficulty stopping recreational screen use;
• repeated arguments over device rules;
• falling behind on assignments; or
• a child being unable to concentrate without constant supervision.

These signs do not necessarily mean the child is misusing technology. They can indicate that the family’s current routine needs adjustment.

The goal is balance, not eliminating technology

Digital devices are now part of many children’s education. Trying to eliminate them completely may not be realistic or necessary.

The more useful approach is to establish boundaries that make the purpose of the device clear.

A tablet or laptop can be both a classroom and an entertainment center. The challenge is teaching children when it is one and when it is the other.

Parents can make that distinction easier by reducing notifications, separating school and recreational activities, creating predictable study routines and gradually teaching children how to manage their own digital distractions.

The long-term objective is not simply to get through tonight’s homework.

It is to help children develop the ability to use technology without allowing technology to control their attention.

Practical Checklist

• Establish clear homework and entertainment rules.
• Disable unnecessary notifications during study time.
• Create a dedicated study space.
• Separate educational and recreational applications where possible.
• Use screen-time controls for entertainment.
• Keep phones away when they are unnecessary.
• Break long assignments into manageable sessions.
• Encourage non-screen breaks.
• Teach children how to recognize digital distractions.
• Gradually give older children more responsibility for managing their screen use.

Reporting Credit: American Academy of Pediatrics — Family Media Plan and children’s media guidance; Common Sense Media — Family technology and screen-use guidance; U.S. Department of Education — student technology and digital learning resources.

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According to reporting by CNN, incoming college students are using Instagram pages dedicated to their graduating class to introduce themselves, find roommates, and establish social circles months ahead of matriculation. While these platforms offer connection opportunities, emerging evidence suggests they may also amplify stress, comparison, and social anxiety during a critical developmental period.

Digital Networking Expands—but Social Pressure Intensifies

Students are now forming first impressions through curated online profiles, often emphasizing appearance, lifestyle, and social status. Mental health researchers note that this early exposure to peer comparison can heighten self-consciousness and perceived social ranking.

Data from adolescent psychology studies indicate that social media environments tend to reinforce social comparison behaviors, which are associated with increased anxiety symptoms. Early findings suggest that pre-college online interactions may extend these effects into transitional life stages, where identity formation is particularly sensitive.

An analytical review of youth digital behavior published in journals such as The Lancet Digital Health has previously highlighted correlations between heavy social media use and elevated anxiety, though causation remains complex and influenced by multiple factors.

Pre-Arrival Social Sorting Alters Campus Integration

Unlike traditional college transitions, where relationships develop organically after arrival, students are now entering campus environments with pre-formed social groups. This shift may affect inclusion dynamics and intensify feelings of isolation for those who are less active or visible online.

Health experts point to the concept of “anticipatory social stress,” where individuals experience anxiety about future social environments based on perceived expectations. In this case, students may feel pressure to secure friendships or social validation before physically joining campus communities.

University counseling services in several countries have reported anecdotal increases in pre-arrival anxiety inquiries, reflecting growing awareness of the phenomenon. However, systematic global data remains limited, and further research is required to quantify the scale of impact.

Mental Health Services Prepare for Early Intervention Needs

Healthcare systems within universities are beginning to adapt by expanding mental health outreach to incoming students before the academic year begins. Preventive strategies include digital literacy programs, online counseling access, and guidance on managing social media use.

Public health specialists emphasize that early intervention is critical. Adolescence and early adulthood represent periods of heightened vulnerability to anxiety disorders, with the World Health Organization identifying these age groups as key targets for mental health prevention strategies.

An original analysis suggests that institutions may need to redefine the “start” of student mental health support, extending services into the pre-enrollment phase as digital environments increasingly shape student experiences.

Policy and Education Responses Remain Limited

Despite growing awareness, formal policy responses addressing pre-college digital socialization remain underdeveloped. Educational institutions largely rely on informal guidance rather than structured frameworks to manage the psychological effects of these platforms.

Experts argue that clearer guidelines on responsible social media engagement, combined with institutional moderation of official student pages, could help reduce harmful comparison and exclusion patterns. However, balancing regulation with student autonomy remains a challenge.

Further interdisciplinary research—combining public health, psychology, and digital behavior analysis—is needed to determine effective interventions and inform policy development.

Global Health Context: Digital Behavior and Youth Anxiety Trends

The rise of incoming class social media anxiety aligns with broader global concerns about youth mental health and digital environments. The World Health Organization and other public health bodies have repeatedly highlighted the need to address the psychological impact of online platforms on young populations.

While social media can facilitate connection and community-building, its role in shaping expectations and self-perception continues to draw scrutiny. Early findings suggest that transitions such as entering college may represent particularly sensitive periods where digital influences carry amplified effects.

A broader analytical perspective indicates that this trend reflects a shift in how major life transitions are experienced—moving from physical environments to hybrid digital-physical spaces with distinct mental health implications.

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According to reporting by the Associated Press, the jury awarded $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff, identified as KGM, after concluding that both platforms were negligently designed in ways that contributed to compulsive use beginning in childhood. Jurors also recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages, subject to judicial review.

The ruling represents one of the first cases in which a jury has directly linked platform design choices—rather than user-generated content—to measurable harm, potentially reshaping how courts evaluate liability in the digital economy.

Platform Design Practices Face Intensifying Legal Scrutiny

At the center of the case were product features widely used across social media ecosystems, including infinite scrolling feeds, autoplay video functions, and persistent notifications. Plaintiffs argued these mechanisms were intentionally engineered to maximize user engagement, particularly among minors, without sufficient safeguards.

The jury found that both companies were aware of potential risks to younger users and failed to adequately warn or mitigate those risks. Under California civil standards, a majority of jurors agreed that these design elements were a “substantial factor” in causing harm, even without proving they were the sole cause.

Legal experts say the verdict could accelerate efforts to reinterpret platform accountability beyond protections provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which largely shields companies from liability for user-generated content but does not fully cover product design decisions.

Liability Exposure Expands Across Big Tech Platforms

The jury apportioned responsibility unevenly, assigning 70% liability to Meta and 30% to YouTube. The breakdown was reflected in proposed punitive damages, with $2.1 million attributed to Meta and $900,000 to YouTube.

Executives from both companies rejected the outcome. A spokesperson for Meta said mental health outcomes are complex and cannot be attributed to a single platform, while YouTube representatives argued the verdict mischaracterizes the service as social media rather than a video platform.

The case is part of a broader wave of litigation targeting major platforms, including prior settlements involving TikTok and Snap, which exited the case before trial. A separate jury ruling earlier in the week in New Mexico also found Meta in violation of state laws related to child safety, compounding legal pressure.

Bellwether Verdict Raises Stakes for Industry-Wide Litigation

Legal analysts view the case as a potential bellwether that could shape the trajectory of similar lawsuits. Thousands of claims are currently pending, many of which focus on whether platform design features constitute negligent or harmful practices.

Sarah Kreps, director of a technology policy institute at Cornell University, said the outcome could influence how courts approach future cases, particularly if appellate courts uphold the decision. Comparisons have been drawn to earlier litigation waves involving tobacco and opioids, where initial rulings eventually led to large-scale settlements.

However, experts caution that immediate operational changes across the industry remain unlikely. Appeals, additional test cases, and evolving legal standards will determine whether the ruling translates into structural changes in how platforms design engagement systems.

Data Governance and Youth Protection Enter New Phase

The case underscores a broader shift in regulatory focus toward data governance and user well-being, especially for younger demographics. Policymakers and courts are increasingly examining whether algorithmic systems and interface design choices create systemic risks that require oversight.

For technology companies, the implications extend beyond financial penalties. The ruling suggests that core engagement models—long central to advertising-driven revenue—may face sustained legal and regulatory challenges, particularly if further cases reinforce the precedent.

As litigation expands, the industry may be forced to balance growth strategies with stricter expectations around transparency, user protection, and product accountability—areas that are rapidly becoming central to the next phase of technology governance.

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The case is one of several selected as bellwether trials in U.S. courts, meaning its outcome could influence how thousands of similar lawsuits proceed. Plaintiffs across the country allege that social media companies designed features that encouraged compulsive use, particularly among children and teenagers, contributing to anxiety, depression and self-harm.

Attorneys for the companies deny those claims, arguing that mental health struggles are complex and influenced by a range of factors beyond online platforms.

Early use and mounting concerns

The woman, identified in court documents as KGM and referred to during proceedings as Kaley, testified that she began using YouTube at age six and joined Instagram at nine. She told jurors that she would spend hours on the platforms daily and struggled to limit her use.

Kaley said notifications from both platforms gave her a “rush,” prompting her to check her phone repeatedly, including during school hours. She described setting up multiple accounts to boost engagement on her posts and using services to exchange likes with other users to appear more popular.

“When I tried to set limits for myself, it wouldn’t work,” she said. “I just couldn’t get off.”

Her legal team argues that features such as push notifications and appearance-altering filters were deliberately designed to increase engagement and contributed to her depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts. In court, attorneys displayed a long banner of her Instagram photos, most of which she said had been edited with filters.

In one YouTube video shown to jurors, a younger Kaley celebrated reaching 100 subscribers before apologizing for what she called her “ugly appearance.” She told the court she had not experienced negative body image issues before using social media and filters.

A turbulent home life in focus

Defense attorneys for Meta and YouTube have sought to shift attention to Kaley’s home environment and personal history. During cross-examination, lawyers pointed to family conflict, in-person bullying and other stressors documented in therapy notes.

Kaley described arguments with her mother, often centered on phone use. Asked about earlier claims of abuse, she initially said her mother “wasn’t perfect, but she was trying her best,” and that she would not label her past actions as abuse or neglect today.

Later, under cross-examination, Kaley acknowledged that her mother had been physically and emotionally abusive during the period when she was self-harming in sixth grade. She also confirmed that no doctor or mental health provider had formally diagnosed her with social media addiction or prescribed treatment for it.

Defense attorneys repeatedly referred to her 2025 deposition testimony, highlighting statements that appeared to contradict aspects of her courtroom account regarding the causes of her anxiety and depression. Kaley said she had tried to answer deposition questions accurately but may have misspoken at times.

A former therapist, Victoria Burke, testified earlier in the week that Kaley’s social media presence and her sense of self were “closely related,” and that events on the platforms could “make or break her mood.” Under cross-examination, Meta’s attorneys reviewed therapy notes that also cited school bullying and family issues as significant stressors.

Burke treated Kaley for approximately six months in 2019.

Broader legal and regulatory context

The social media addiction trial unfolds amid intensifying scrutiny of major technology platforms over their impact on young users. In recent years, lawmakers and regulators in the United States and abroad have examined internal research and product design choices at companies including Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook.

Public debate has centered on whether engagement-driven algorithms and appearance filters amplify social comparison and compulsive use, particularly among adolescents. The companies maintain that they have introduced safety tools, parental controls and usage reminders, and argue that they cannot be held liable for complex mental health outcomes influenced by multiple factors.

TikTok and Snap were initially named in related litigation but have since reached settlements in this case, leaving Meta and YouTube as the remaining defendants in the current trial.

Legal experts say bellwether proceedings can provide insight into how juries may assess evidence and causation in similar lawsuits. However, each case turns on its own facts, and outcomes are not automatically binding on other plaintiffs.

The trial is expected to continue for several weeks. Jurors will ultimately be asked to determine whether the platforms were a substantial factor in Kaley’s mental health struggles and whether the companies should be held legally responsible.

For families, policymakers and the technology industry alike, the verdict could signal how courts weigh product design, parental responsibility and adolescent vulnerability in the digital age.

Source: AP News – Young woman says she was on social media ‘all day long’ as a child in landmark addiction trial

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Austin, TX — A high-profile effort to ban social media accounts for minors under 18 in Texas appears to be fading fast, with the state legislature running out of time to act before the session ends Monday.

The bill, which had already cleared the GOP-led Texas House, would have created one of the toughest restrictions in the country—barring anyone under 18 from joining platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. But momentum in the state Senate slowed just as lawmakers approached a critical weekend deadline.

“This bill was the best way to protect children in this state,” said Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson, who championed the legislation. Still, without a final Senate vote, the proposal is unlikely to reach Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk in time.

Abbott has not publicly taken a position on the bill, though earlier this week he signed a separate measure into law requiring app stores like Apple’s and Google’s to verify users’ ages. That law also mandates parental consent for anyone under 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases. Utah passed a similar law earlier this year, though it’s currently tied up in court.

The Bigger Picture: Growing National and Global Push

Texas’s proposal goes further than Florida’s recent ban on social media accounts for kids under 14, and echoes moves in places like Australia, where users must be at least 16. These initiatives are part of a growing bipartisan push to tackle the mental health risks and addictive nature of social media for younger users.

Critics of the platforms argue that companies design their apps to keep kids online longer, often exposing them to violent, inappropriate, or abusive content. Supporters of the Texas bill said it was a necessary step to give children a healthier digital environment.

However, the proposal faced strong opposition from tech trade groups and free speech advocates, who argue such bans are unconstitutional and overly broad.

Teen Usage Remains Sky-High Despite Risks

A December 2024 Pew Research Center report found that nearly half of American teenagers describe themselves as being online “constantly.” This, despite growing concerns from researchers and parents alike about the toll social media and smartphones take on mental health.

The American Psychological Association has been vocal in urging lawmakers and tech companies to do more. They say social media platforms are particularly harmful to young users who struggle to disengage or control their usage.

Legal Hurdles and Uncertain Future

Even if Texas had passed the bill, it likely would have faced immediate legal challenges—just like Utah’s law, which a federal judge temporarily blocked in 2024.

Meanwhile, California is taking a different approach. Starting in 2027, it will be illegal for platforms to knowingly serve addictive algorithm-driven content to minors without parental consent. And in New York, a new law allows parents to prevent platforms from pushing algorithm-generated content to their children entirely.

As more states and countries take action, the broader debate continues: How can society protect kids from the harms of social media without infringing on free speech or digital access?

For now, Texas’s bold attempt is on pause—but the conversation is far from over.

Source: AP News – Texas push to ban minors under 18 from social media fades with time running out

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Social media has become a permanent part of teenage life—but a growing number of teens say it may be doing more harm than good.

A new report from the Pew Research Center reveals that nearly half of U.S. teens (48%) believe social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age. And many are now making conscious efforts to limit their time online.

This latest survey, which included responses from 1,391 teens aged 13 to 17 and their parents, provides an updated snapshot of how young people and their families are navigating the digital age. It comes amid mounting concerns from health experts and lawmakers over the mental health toll of social media.

In a notable shift, 44% of teens say they’ve already cut back on social media and smartphone use. Nearly half (45%) admit they spend too much time online—an increase from 36% just two years ago.

And it’s not just talk. Girls, in particular, are leading the digital detox: 48% of teen girls say they’ve scaled back their usage, compared to 40% of boys.

“The overuse of social media in our society seems to be the main cause of depression among those in my age group,” one teenage boy wrote in the survey. “People let themselves be affected by opinions from strangers, and it wrecks their state of mind.”

While almost half of teens say social media negatively impacts others their age, only 14% feel it has a mostly negative effect on themselves. That number has grown from 9% in 2022, indicating rising personal awareness, but many still view the impact as something affecting “others” more than themselves.

Still, most teens and their parents are feeling the pressure:

• 77% of teens are at least somewhat concerned about mental health
• 89% of parents say they’re either somewhat or extremely worried about it

The report highlights gender differences in how social media affects mental health. Teen girls are more likely than boys to say that social media has hurt their sleep, productivity, confidence, and mental health.

These findings echo earlier research showing that girls are more vulnerable to online bullying and body image issues. Internal documents from Meta, revealed in 2021, even showed Instagram made body image worse for 1 in 3 teen girls—a revelation that sparked international outcry.

In response, Meta has rolled out new safety features, including AI tools to detect fake ages and restrict access to inappropriate content. But critics say more action is needed.

Governments around the world are stepping in to address these concerns:

• In the U.S., former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy pushed for warning labels on social media apps—similar to those on cigarettes or alcohol.
• Australia passed a law banning social media use for teens under 16.
• Utah became the first U.S. state to require app stores to verify users’ ages and share that data with developers.

These policy moves reflect a growing global effort to protect young minds in an increasingly digital world.

Despite the concerns, many teens recognize the benefits of social media, too.

• 59% say it gives them a place to express their creativity
• Even more say it helps them stay connected with friends and what’s happening in their lives

So while the debate continues, one thing is clear: teens are more self-aware than ever, and many are already taking steps to find balance in their digital lives.

Source: CNN – Nearly half of teens say social media is bad for youth mental health, report finds

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Instagram is rolling out a new AI-powered system designed to detect if teens are lying about their age on the platform. This move is part of a broader push by parent company Meta Platforms to enhance safety and privacy for younger users.

For some time, Meta has used AI to assess users’ ages, but this new feature takes a more proactive approach. The company will now actively scan accounts suspected of being teen profiles, even if the user initially entered a false birthdate when signing up.

If Instagram’s AI flags an account as potentially belonging to a teen, it will automatically switch the account to a “teen” status. Teen accounts come with several key restrictions aimed at boosting safety. For instance:

• Privacy by Default: Teen accounts will be private unless changed by the user.
• Message Restrictions: Teens can only receive direct messages from people they follow or are already connected to.
• Content Limits: Content deemed “sensitive” — like videos featuring fights or promoting cosmetic procedures — will be restricted.
• Screen Time Warnings: Teens will receive a reminder if they spend more than 60 minutes on the app. Additionally, Instagram will activate a “sleep mode” from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., turning off notifications and sending auto-replies to direct messages.

Meta’s AI system looks at various signals to determine whether a user is accurately representing their age. These include the type of content they engage with, their profile details, and the account’s creation date. The company claims that over time, the AI is trained to better recognize patterns that suggest a user’s true age.

This move comes as social media platforms, including Instagram, face growing scrutiny over their impact on young users’ mental health. Many states are attempting to pass age verification laws to ensure that children under 13 aren’t using apps like Instagram, although these laws have encountered legal challenges.

Meta, along with other social media companies, has advocated for app stores to take more responsibility for age verification. Critics argue that platforms like Instagram aren’t doing enough to safeguard children.

In addition to the AI measures, Instagram will now send notifications to parents, offering guidance on how to discuss the importance of accurate age reporting with their teens.

Meta’s new AI-driven initiative signals a deeper commitment to creating a safer, more controlled experience for younger users, especially as public concern about social media’s impact on mental health grows.

Source: AP News – Instagram tries using AI to determine if teens are pretending to be adults

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As the first generation raised with modern technology begins to enter their golden years, scientists are starting to uncover how decades of tech use may impact brain health—and the results are surprising.

A new study published in Nature Human Behavior reveals that regular use of technology—like smartphones, computers, and the internet—may lower the risk of developing cognitive decline, including conditions like dementia. In fact, researchers found that tech-savvy seniors were 42% less likely to experience cognitive impairment compared to their less tech-involved peers.

The study, a meta-analysis from two Texas universities, examined 57 research papers involving over 411,000 adults—mostly aged around 68. Researchers wanted to test the “digital dementia hypothesis,” which claims that relying on technology weakens the brain over time. Instead, the results point toward the opposite: thoughtful tech engagement might strengthen cognitive resilience.

“The effects remained strong even after factoring in things like income, education, and lifestyle,” said Dr. Jared Benge, a neuropsychologist at UT Austin’s Dell Medical School and co-lead author of the study.

While social media use showed mixed results, none of the studies reported an increased risk of cognitive decline from technology use. That’s a level of consistency that experts call “rare” in this kind of research.

Well, yes—but with a few caveats. Experts emphasize that this doesn’t mean endless scrolling on your phone is suddenly healthy.

“Our findings aren’t an endorsement of mindless tech use,” Benge said. “But they do show that engaging with tech tools can provide some cognitive benefits—especially for the generation that helped build the digital world.”

And it’s not just about swiping through apps. Learning how to use new devices or navigating unfamiliar programs can provide powerful mental stimulation. That effort is what researchers say may help preserve brain function as we age.

While the results are encouraging, the study also had limitations. It didn’t track how long or how people were using their devices. Was it brain-teasing activities like problem-solving and communication, or more passive scrolling and streaming?

“We don’t yet know how much is too much, or what types of tech engagement are the most helpful,” said Dr. Christopher Anderson, a neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

That’s partly because technology has evolved so quickly. The types of tech used 20 years ago required more effort—think dial-up internet and early desktops. Today’s tech is often faster and more passive, so it’s unclear if future generations will experience the same benefits.

The study leans toward the “cognitive reserve” theory, which suggests that mentally stimulating activities—like using tech—can build up resilience in the brain. This reserve can help buffer against age-related decline and even mild forms of dementia.

Tech can also foster social connections, which are crucial for mental health. Loneliness, on the other hand, has been consistently linked with a higher risk of cognitive decline.

Even though the study didn’t pinpoint exact best practices, experts do have some guidance:

• Use tech in moderation. Overuse can still cause issues like eye strain or neck pain.
• Engage meaningfully. Seek activities that involve creativity, learning, or connection—like video calls, online classes, or puzzle games.
• Mix it up. Combine tech use with offline activities such as reading, walking, or socializing in person.
• Don’t be afraid to learn. Even older adults with mild cognitive issues can benefit from learning to use new devices, and that mental challenge can be a healthy brain workout in itself.

“Too much of anything can be a bad thing,” said Dr. Amit Sachdev, a neurologist at Michigan State University. “But purposeful tech use that stimulates, connects, or educates? That’s a win.”

Source: CNN – Technology use may be associated with a lower risk for dementia, study finds

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