Social Media Harms
Social Media Harms
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    • Home
    • About Us
    • References
      • Adult- Depression/Anxiety
      • Teens 14-18 Years
      • Tweens 10-13 Years
      • Children 9 & Younger
      • Online Exploitation
      • AI
    • Media
      • Medium Blog
      • Podcasts
      • Videos - Social Media
      • Articles-Youth
      • Articles-Youth Up to 2023
      • Articles- Perspectives
      • Articles - Technology
      • Articles - Mental Health
      • Articles-Politics
      • Books
      • Videos - Technology
    • Activist Links
      • Activist Orgs
      • Tech-Trust & Safety
      • White Papers
  • Home
  • About Us
  • References
    • Adult- Depression/Anxiety
    • Teens 14-18 Years
    • Tweens 10-13 Years
    • Children 9 & Younger
    • Online Exploitation
    • AI
  • Media
    • Medium Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Videos - Social Media
    • Articles-Youth
    • Articles-Youth Up to 2023
    • Articles- Perspectives
    • Articles - Technology
    • Articles - Mental Health
    • Articles-Politics
    • Books
    • Videos - Technology
  • Activist Links
    • Activist Orgs
    • Tech-Trust & Safety
    • White Papers

Youth Mental Health/exploitation & Tools to Prevent Harms

  1. Bejar, A., Cybersecurity for Democracy, Molly Rose Foundation, Fairplay, ParentsSOS, heat initiative (2025, Sep) Teen Accounts, Broken Promises, How Instagram is Failing to Protect Minors, https://fairplayforkids.org/pf/teenaccountsbrokenpromises
  2. Ortutay, B. (2025, Sep 25), Instagram’s ‘deliberate design choices’ make it unsafe for teens despite Meta promises, report says, AP, https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-safety-meta-bejar-13276348cde2dcc1ee94c66227ea25dc
  3. Hall, R. (2025, Sep 25) Instagram still poses risk to children despite new safety tools, says Meta whistleblower, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/25/instagram-risk-children-safety-tools-meta
  4. Horowitz, J. (2025, Sep 25) Instagram’s teen safety features are flawed, researchers say, Reuters,  https://www.reuters.com/business/instagrams-teen-safety-features-are-flawed-researchers-say-2025-09-25/
  5. DiBenedetto, C. (2025, Sep 25) Meta just launched Teen Accounts globally.  Experts say the safety tools don't work. https://mashable.com/article/meta-teen-accounts-safety-failures
  6. Booth, R. (2025, Sep 20) Parents outraged as Meta uses photos of schoolgirls in ads targeting man, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/20/parents-outraged-meta-uses-photos-schoolgirls-ads-man
  7. Tan, E. (2025, Sep 12) He Made a Friend on Roblox. Their Relationship Turned Sinister., New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/technology/roblox-lawsuit-child-safety.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pk8.5XKZ.XE61tJlyHSOO&smid=url-share
  8. University of Southhampton (2025, Sep 2) Researchers campaign to raise awareness of ‘sharenting’ dangers, https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2025/09/researchers-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-sharenting-dangers.page
  9. Chen, B. (2025, Aug 11) Why A.I. Should Make Parents Rethink Posting Photos of Their Children Online, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/technology/personaltech/ai-kids-photos.html
  10. Alter, C. (2025, Aug 4) Inside the Parent-Led Movement For Phone-Free Schools, Time, https://time.com/7307163/parent-movement-phone-free-schools/
  11. Blanco, A. (2025, Jul 30) I’ve handled hostage-takers and terrorists — but this group put me in therapy, The Times, https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/764-cult-website-white-tiger-kids-nxw3brgsr#Echobox=1753883929
  12. Gecker, J. (2025, Jul 23) Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship, AP, https://apnews.com/article/ai-companion-generative-teens-mental-health-9ce59a2b250f3bd0187a717ffa2ad21f
  13. Robb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2025). Talk, trust, and trade-offs: How and why teens use AI companions. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/talk-trust-and-trade-offs_2025_web.pdf
  14. Kang, C. (2025, Jul 10), A.I.-Generated Images of Child Sexual Abuse Are Flooding the Internet, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/technology/ai-csam-child-sexual-abuse.html
  15. Pfefferkorn, R., Grossman, S., & Liu, S. (2025). AI-Generated Child  Sexual Abuse Material: Insights from Educators, Platforms, Law  Enforcement, Legislators, and Victims. Version 1. Stanford Digital  Repository. Available at https://purl.stanford.edu/mn692xc5736/version/1. https://doi.org/10.25740/mn692xc5736.
  16. Bates, L. (2025,Jun 10) Misogyny in the metaverse: is Mark Zuckerberg’s dream world a no-go area for women?, The Guardian,  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/10/the-misogyny-of-the-metaverse-is-mark-zuckerbergs-dream-world-a-no-go-area-for-women
  17. Koebler, J. (2025, May 15) American Schools Were Deeply Unprepared for ChatGPT, Public Records Show, 404media, https://www.404media.co/american-schools-were-deeply-unprepared-for-chatgpt-public-records-show/
  18. Robinson, H. & Howard, A. (2025, May 15) Kids exposed to social media posts about violence and suicide, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r1gpr0ezwo
  19. Baker-White E. (2025, May 12) These AI Tutors For Kids Gave Fentanyl Recipes And Dangerous Diet Advice, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2025/05/12/these-ai-tutors-for-kids-gave-fentanyl-recipes-and-dangerous-diet-advice/
  20. Bowman, R. (2025, May 10) Girl, 10, speaks out after being kidnapped by man, 27, who text her on Roblox...as he gives his pathetic excuse, DailyMail.com, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14700851/california-girl-speaks-kidnapped-man-text-roblox-excuse.html
  21.  Kristof, N. (2025, May 10) These Internal Documents Show Why We Shouldn’t Trust Porn Companies, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/opinion/pornhub-children-documents.html
  22. Wong, B. (2025, May 7), Mark Zuckerberg Thinks AI 'Friends' Can Solve The Loneliness Crisis. Here's What AI Experts Think, HuffPost, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mark-zuckerberg-on-ai-friendships_l_681a4bf3e4b0c2b15d96851d
  23. Burman, T. (2025, May 7) FBI Warns of Disturbing '764' Group Targeting Children, Newsweek, https://www.newsweek.com/fbi-warning-764-group-targeting-children-2069050
  24. Tisch, J. & Weiner, R. (2025, May 7) Online networks like ‘764’ target children for chilling violence, New York Post, https://nypost.com/2025/05/07/opinion/violent-online-networks-like-764-show-how-terrifying-the-dark-web-is-for-young-children/
  25. Wilkins, J. (2025, May 3) Facebook Allegedly Detected When Teen Girls Deleted Selfies So It Could Serve Them Beauty Ads, Futurism, https://futurism.com/facebook-beauty-targeted-ads
  26. Singer, N. (2025, May 2) Google Plans to Roll Out Its A.I. Chatbot to Children Under 13, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/technology/google-gemini-ai-chatbot-kids.html
  27. Pokharel, B. (2025, Apr 29) ChatGPT Bug Let Minors Access Sexual Content, OpenAI Confirms,AbijitaFoundation, https://www.abijita.com/chatgpt-bug-let-minors-access-sexual-content-openai-confirms/
  28. AI Risk Assessment Team (2025, Apr 28) Social AI Companions, Common Sense, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/social-ai-companions?gate=riskassessment
  29. Burman, T. (2025, Apr 28) Disney Issues Demand to Meta Over 'Inappropriate' AI Character Conversations, Newsweek, https://www.newsweek.com/disney-calls-out-meta-inappropriate-ai-character-conversation-2064892
  30. Horowitz, J. (2025, Apr 26) Meta’s ‘Digital Companions’ Will Talk Sex With Users—Even Children, Wall Street Journal,  https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-ai-chatbots-sex-a25311bf?st=pVpTdF
  31. 5Rights Foundation (2025, Apr 23), Case Study – Is Instagram now safe for teens?, https://5rightsfoundation.com/resource/case-study-is-instagram-now-safe-for-teens/ 
  32. Hale, R. (2025, Apr 16), Her daughter died after buying drugs online. She wants every parent to hear her story, USA Today,  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/04/16/becca-schmill-drug-death-fentanyl-online-safety-needham-massachusetts/83114047007/
  33. Stanford Cyber Policy Center (2025, Apr 22) Stanford Youth Safety and Digital Wellbeing Report, 2025, https://cdh.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj29486/files/media/file/youth_safety_and_digital_wellbeing_report_2025.pdf
  34. Haidt, J. & Rausch, Z. (2025, Apr 16) Snapchat is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale, After Babel,  https://www.afterbabel.com/p/industrial-scale-snapchat
  35. Otte, J. (2025, Apr 14) A man approached him’: parents describe their children’s Roblox problems, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/14/parents-describe-children-roblox-problems
  36. Leicester, j. (2025, Apr 13), Via porn, gore and ultra-violence, extremist groups are sinking hooks online into the very young, AP, https://apnews.com/article/technology-parenting-terror-islamic-state-police-security-attacks-4888bab2d10502edadf787d419d45b5b
  37. Revealing Reality (2025, Apr 13) A digital playground, The real guide to Roblox, https://think.revealingreality.co.uk/roblox-real-guide
  38. Dupre, MH, (2025, Mar 19), Did Google Test an Experimental AI on Kids, With Tragic Results?, Futurism, https://futurism.com/character-ai-google-test-ai-chatbots-kids
  39. Hale, R., & Bravo, V. (2025, Feb 25), What is sextortion? This fast-growing crime targets teen boys. Here's what to do about it, USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/02/25/sextortion-can-happen-to-anyone-what-to-do-if-youre-a-victim/79454630007/
  40. Robson, K. (2025, Feb 13) Former Google Boss Calls for Teen Social Media Ban, Warns of AI Causing ‘Real Harm’, CNN, https://www.ccn.com/news/technology/former-google-boss-calls-for-teen-social-media-ban-warns-of-ai-causing-real-harm/
  41. Lytton, C (2025, Feb 13) ‘I was being groomed to rape’: The young men being taught to hate women, The Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/13/i-was-groomed-to-rape-by-online-incels/?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first
  42. Hale, R. (2025, Feb 11) These young men were tricked into sending nude photos, then blackmailed: The nightmare of sextortion, USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/02/11/teen-mental-health-sextortion-scammers-online/78286744007/ (Facebook harms documented)
  43. Taylor, J. & Phillips, A. (2025, Feb 11) Data of four dead British teens may have been removed, says TikTok, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv4j8rzzzo
  44. Clarence-Smith, L. (2025, Feb 8), Why I fear Mark Zuckerberg — after 15 years of working for him [Horizon Worlds], The Times, https://websites.godaddy.com/en-US/editor/05b88714-b889-4b18-9d5f-c5b4bcb4e89e/8cf731ab-b3b2-4ce0-a286-97bd399a3364/edit/8d474989-b06a-4c48-a88c-6e691c2a4752 (Horizon Worlds harms documented)
  45. Guo, E (2025, Feb 6) An AI chatbot told a user how to kill himself—but the company doesn’t want to “censor” it, MIT Technology Review, https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/06/1111077/nomi-ai-chatbot-told-user-to-kill-himself/
  46. Reed, T. (2025, Feb 4) Teens spent a quarter of the school day on their phones: study, Axios, https://www.axios.com/2025/02/04/teens-phone-use-during-school
  47. Booth, R. (2025, Jan 27) Meta’s content moderation changes ‘hugely concerning’, says Molly Rose Foundation, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/28/metas-content-moderation-changes-hugely-concerning-says-molly-rose-foundation
  48. AI Forensics (2025, Jan) Pay to Play: Meta's Community (Double) Standards on Pornographic Ads, https://aiforensics.org/work
  49. Balk, T. (2025, Jan 27) Nigerian Man Is Extradited in Sextortion Case After Teen’s Suicide, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/us/nigerian-extradited-sextortion-teen-death.html?unlocked_article_code=1.s04.mTaB.CPfeSU9x-s7O&smid=url-share
  50. Tan, T.. & Reynolds, N (2025, Jan) Nigerian man extradited, charged in 'sextortion' scheme that led an SC teen to kill himself, Aiken Standard-The Post and Courier https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/columbia/news/devin-guffey-suicide-charged-nigerian-sextortion-sc/article_27a0a83e-dcba-11ef-a4c6-f3d5f68d172f.html
  51. Aratani, L. (2025, Jan 25) Recent school shooters appear to have crossed paths in online extremist groups, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/25/school-shooters-online-extremist-groups
  52. Minor, T. (2025, Jan 10), Turning Grief into Action: Parents Leading the Charge for Kids’ Online Safety in 2025, Tech Policy.Press, https://www.techpolicy.press/-turning-grief-into-action-parents-leading-the-charge-for-kids-online-safety-in-2025/
  53. Marsh, J. (2025, Jan 10), How Many Children Use TikTok Against the Rules? Most, Study Finds, University of California San Francisco, https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/01/429296/many-children-use-tiktok-against-rules?utm_source=ucsf&utm_medium=tw&utm_campaign=tiktok_2025
  54. Ruiz, R. (2025, Jan 10), American Psychological Association sounds alarm over certain AI chatbots, Mashable, https://mashable.com/article/ai-therapist-chatbots-ftc
  55. Kayyali, D. (2025, Jan 9), Meta's Content Moderation Changes are Going to Have a Real World Impact. It's Not Going to be Good, Tech Policy.Press, https://www.techpolicy.press/metas-content-moderation-changes-are-going-to-have-a-real-world-impact-its-not-going-to-be-good/
  56. Haidt, J. & Rausch, Z. (2025, Jan 09), TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale, After Babel, https://www.afterbabel.com/p/industrial-scale-harm-tiktok
  57. Spencer, K. (2025, Jan 9), Sextortion is ruled as cause of Shippensburg Teen's Death, The Shippensburg News-Chronicle, https://www.shipnc.com/news/article_abd1d932-cd76-11ef-9672-73b1ed602064.html
  58. Smith, D. (2024, Dec 30), Online extremists influence kids like the Abundant Life shooter. Grieving parents are trying to stop them, Wisconsin Public Radio, https://www.wpr.org/news/online-extremists-influence-school-shooter-grieving-parents-prevention
  59. Reader, R. (2024, Dec 25), How Mark Zuckerberg and Meta convinced Congress to shelve a kids safety bill, Politico, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/how-mark-zuckerberg-and-meta-convinced-congress-to-shelve-a-kids-safety-bill/ar-AA1wtHYB
  60. Koebler, J. (2024, Dec 24), Tipster Arrested After Feds Find AI Child Exploit Images and Plans to Make VR CSAM, https://www.404media.co/tipster-arrested-after-feds-find-ai-child-exploit-images-and-plans-to-make-vr-csam-2/
  61. Yadav, P. (2024, Dec 23), Families in the US sue Snapchat over deadly drug sales to teens: Report, CNBC, https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/snapchat-lawsuit-teen-fentanyl-deadly-drug-sales-19528291.htm
  62. Tilley, A. (2024, Dec 22), Apple’s App Store Puts Kids a Click Away From a Slew of Inappropriate Apps, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/tech/apples-app-store-puts-kids-a-click-away-from-a-slew-of-inappropriate-apps-dfde01d5?st=QzpvYV&mod=e2li
  63. Tiffany, K. (20224, Dec 18), The Pro-Eating-Disorder Internet Is Back, The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/12/eating-disorder-content-x/681036/
  64. Busby, M. (2024, Dec 17), Drug Dealers Have Moved on to Social Media, Wired, https://www.wired.com/story/drug-dealers-have-moved-onto-social-media/
  65. Faverio, M & Sidoti, O. (2024, Dec 12), Teens, Social Media & Technology 2024, Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/
  66. Marsh, J. (2024, Nov), BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE YOTI LTD. IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENT - Texas Attorney General - Explanation of Current Age Verification Technologies, https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/332630/20241122163435761_23-1122%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf
  67. Bryant, M (2024, Nov 24), Instagram actively helping spread of self-harm among teenagers, study finds, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/30/instagram-actively-helping-to-spread-of-self-harm-among-teenagers-study-suggests?CMP=share_btn_url
  68. Wells, G, Peterson, K., & Andrews, N. (2024, Nov 17), Inside Big Tech’s Bid to Sink the Online Kid Safety Bill, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/meta-google-lobbying-child-online-safety-bill-5ee63dcc?st=msFWPx&reflink=article_copyURL_share, 
  69. Ashworth, B. (2024, Nov 12) Meta Horizon Worlds Has Been Taken Over by Children, Wired, https://www.wired.com/story/meta-horizon-worlds-taken-over-by-children/
  70. Tamez-Robledo, N. (2024, Nov 11), Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social media, yet most schools aren’t teaching media literacy, Fast Company
  71. Chen, B. (2024, Nov 10), How Tech Created a ‘Recipe for Loneliness’, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/10/technology/personaltech/technology-loneliness.html
  72. Stalnecker, A. (2024, Nov 9), Police identify nearly 50 student victims in Lancaster Country Day AI-made nude images incident, Lancaster Online, https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/police-identify-nearly-50-student-victims-in-lancaster-country-day-ai-made-nude-images-incident/article_26ca48ae-9eab-11ef-836b-db649ae08884.htm
  73. US Department of Justice, (2024, Nov 7), Member Of Violent 764 Terror Network Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison For Sexually Exploiting a Child, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-violent-764-terror-network-sentenced-30-years-prison-sexually-exploiting-child
  74. Roose, K. (2024, Oct 23) Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/technology/characterai-lawsuit-teen-suicide.html
  75. Online Harms Prevention Action Kit, Free resources for parents,schools and other interested individuals (2024, Oct 10), https://fairplayforkids.org/pf/onlineharmskit/
  76. Young E, McCain JL, Mercado MC, et al. Frequent Social Media Use and  Experiences with Bullying Victimization, Persistent Feelings of Sadness  or Hopelessness, and Suicide Risk Among High School Students — Youth  Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023. MMWR Suppl  2024;73(Suppl-4):23–30. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7304a3.
  77. Hindenburg Research (2024, Oct 8)  Roblox: Inflated Key Metrics For Wall Street And A Pedophile Hellscape For Kids, https://hindenburgresearch.com/roblox/
  78. Poritz, I. & Graf, R. (2024, Oct 15) Meta Can’t Escape States’ Claims It Hooked Kids on Platforms, Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-15/meta-must-face-some-claims-by-state-ags-in-addiction-lawsuit
  79. Allyn, B., Goodman, S. & Kerr, D. (2024, Oct 11), TikTok executives know about app’s effect on teens, lawsuit documents allege, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/g-s1-27676/tiktok-redacted-documents-in-teen-safety-lawsuit-revealed
  80. Hindenburg Research (2024, Oct 8), Roblox: Inflated Key Metrics For Wall Street And A Pedophile Hellscape For Kids, https://hindenburgresearch.com/roblox/
  81. Solomon, A. (2024, Sep 30), Has Social Media Fuelled A Teen Suicide Crisis?, The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/07/social-media-mental-health-suicide-crisis-teens
  82. US Federal Trade Commission (2024, Sep 19) FTC Staff Report Finds Large Social Media and Video Streaming Companies Have Engaged in Vast Surveillance of Users with Lax Privacy Controls and Inadequate Safeguards for Kids and Teens, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance
  83. Mayorquin, O. (2024, Sep 5), 2 Brothers Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison in Sextortion Scheme, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/05/us/nigeria-brothers-sentence-sex-extortion.html
  84. Thorn. (2024). Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2023. Available at: https://info.thorn.org/hubfs/ResearchThorn_23_YouthMonitoring_Report.pd (Instagram/Snapchat) 
  85. French, D. (2024, Sep 5) The Viral Blackout Challenge Is Killing Young People. Courts Are Finally Taking It Seriously, The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/05/opinion/tiktok-blackout-challenge-anderson.html
  86. Dale, M (2024, Aug 27), US appeals court revives a lawsuit against TikTok over 10-year-old’s ‘blackout challenge’ death, The Associated Press (AP), https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-blackout-challenge-children-deaths-lawsuit-19f88053a5d48afad801b894b0ab5c83
  87. Morell, C. (2024, Aug 9) Parents Need Backup To Protect Kids From Big Tech—The Senate Delivered, Newsweek, https://www.newsweek.com/parents-need-backup-protect-kids-big-tech-senate-delivered-opinion-1935255
  88. Johnson, W. (2024, Aug 3), A historic new law would protect kids online and hold tech companies accountable, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2024/08/02/nx-s1-5057818/kids-online-safety-act-cyberbullying-children-internet-social-media
  89. Badertscher, N. (2024, July 2) Mom channels grief into advocacy for safe online spaces, Atlanta Journal Constitution, https://www.ajc.com/inspire/mom-channels-grief-into-advocacy/MUL4SAIDA5GOFNMXHIOOQXBIOY/ 
  90. So, L., Marshall, A, Szep, J. (2024, July 2) OnlyFans vows it's a safe space. Predators are exploiting kids there, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/onlyfans-sex-children/  
  91. O'Gorman, T., Penrose, J, et al (2024, June 2024), Trends in Financial Sextortion,Thorn & the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, https://info.thorn.org/hubfs/Research/Thorn_TrendsInFinancialSextortion_June2024.pdf 
  92. Horowitz, J. (2024, Jun 20), Instagram Recommends Sexual Videos to Accounts for 13-Year-Olds, Tests Show, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/tech/instagram-recommends-sexual-videos-to-accounts-for-13-year-olds-tests-show-b6123c65?st=mzjy36jxlra7trw&reflink=article_copyURL_share
  93. ISD (2024, June 18). Pulling Back the Curtain: An Exploration of YouTube’s Recommendation Algorithm", https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pulling-Back-the-Curtain-Executive-Summary-6.pdf
  94. Solotaroff, P. (2024, June 16), Inside Snapchat’s Teen Opioid Crisis, Rolling Stone, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/inside-snapchat-teenage-opioid-crisis-1235036691/
  95. Winslow, B. (2024, Jun 11), Judge won't throw out Utah's lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram, Fox13 Salt Lake City,  https://www.fox13now.com/news/politics/judge-wont-throw-out-utahs-lawsuit-against-facebook-instagram
  96. Jargon, J. (2024, Jun 8), An Anonymous-Messaging App Upended This High School, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/fizz-is-the-latest-campus-gossip-app-it-took-two-days-to-shake-up-one-high-school-1d59ffd4?st
  97. Stern, J. (2024, Jun 5), How Broken Are Apple’s Parental Controls? It Took 3 Years to Fix an X-Rated Loophole, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/a-bug-allowed-kids-to-visit-x-rated-sites-apple-took-three-years-to-fix-it-17e5f65d
  98. The Associated Press (2024, June 5) In their own words: What young people wish they’d known about social media, https://apnews.com/article/influenced-social-media-mental-health-advice-620e277528728498c1202690d0512f85
  99. Galvin, B. (2024, June 3), After 17-year-old son's suicide, Atlanta mom pushes for bill to protect kids online, Fox 5 News Atlanta,  https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/after-17-year-old-sons-suicide-atlanta-mom-pushes-bill-protect-kids-online
  100. Jargon, J. (2024, Jun 1)AI Fake Nudes Are Now a Frightening Reality for Teens, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/ai-fake-nude-photos-schools-victim-impact-88a4b1e4?st
  101. Caturano, S., et al (2024, May 24), 'Generation Swipe': What a new era of social media regulation means for young people, ABC News,  https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/generation-swipe-new-era-social-media-regulation-means/story?id=110480513
  102. Nir, S. (2024, May 15), ‘Chelsea’ Asked for Nude Pictures. Then the Sextortion Began, New York Times ,https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/nyregion/social-media-scam-sextortion.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1E0.g5W-.EyZarpFT8dV4&smid=url-share (Instagram/Facebook)
  103. BBC (2024, May 8), What is the Online Safety Act and how can you keep children safe online?, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68225707
  104. Richter, E. (2024, May 24), Mother reveals the heartbreaking moment she found her 13-year-old son dead in her yard after he fell victim to Snapchat sextortion scheme, Daily Mail.com, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13462201/timothy-barnett-suicide-teenager-sextortion-snapchat.html
  105. American Psychological Association (2024, April 16), Potential Risks of Content, Features, and Functions, A closer Look at the Science Behind How Social Media Affects Youth, https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/psychological-science-behind-youth-social-media.pdf
  106. Goggin, B. (2024, Apr 22), Did TikTok videos inspire a teen’s suicide?, NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/tiktok-suicide-videos-lawsuit-social-media-self-harm-rcna146680
  107. McDonald, K. (2024, April 16), 13 on TikTok: Self-harm and suicide content shown shocks experts, RTE, https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2024/0416/1443731-13-on-tiktok-self-harm-and-suicide-content-shown-shocks-experts/
  108. Orenstein, P. (2024, Apr 12), The Troubling Trend in Teenage Sex, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/opinion/choking-teen-sex-brain-damage.html
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  111. Grose, J. (2024, April 10), Get Tech Out of the Classroom Before It’s Too Late,  The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/10/opinion/schools-technology.html
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  118. Isaac, M. (2024, Jan 31) Zuckerberg turns to face abuse victim families: ‘I’m sorry for everything you have all been through.’, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/31/technology/mark-zuckerberg-senate-apology.html?smid=url-share
  119. Liebergen, S. (2024, Jan 31), Mother who lost teen to viral challenge calls for more protections, Scripps News, https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/congress/mother-who-lost-teen-to-viral-challenge-calls-for-more-protections
  120. Kern, R., Reader, R, Chatterjee, M & Mui, C. (2024, Jan 31) Senator to Big Tech: ‘Collectively, your platforms really suck at policing themselves’ Politico, https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/31/senate-grills-zuckerberg-other-tech-ceos-on-kids-safety-failures-00138718
  121. Washington Post - Meta’s Zuckerberg apologizes to child abuse victims in emotional Senate hearing (January 31, 2024) - JULIANNA ARNOLD, DEB SCHMILL, and JOANN BOGARD 
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Suggestions for Parents and Caregivers

Every Day:

  • Listen to what children/youth are saying about online activities; note any sudden changes in mood such as anger, depression or withdrawal
  • Ask Questions
  • Discuss online safety and privacy practices
  • Encourage youth/children to critically examine messages they receive
  • Talk over current news in an age appropriate manner

Responses to Concerns

  • Take It Seriously
  • Create a Record - file reports with school, school district or law enforcement agencies.
  • Block offensive users, but do not delete personal accounts – you will need user account(s) as evidence.
  • Get Help Now: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Exploitation Resources
  • Financial Sextortion, Child Sexual Abuse Materials, Child Endangerment, Text THORN to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor 24/7 for immediate assistance. 
  • Sextortion: Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/sextortion

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