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
    • Media
      • Medium Blog
      • Podcasts
      • Videos - Social Media
      • Articles-Youth
      • Articles- Perspectives
      • Articles - Technology
      • Articles - Mental Health
      • Articles-Politics
      • Books
      • Videos - Technology
    • Activist Links
      • Youth 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
  • Media
    • Medium Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Videos - Social Media
    • Articles-Youth
    • Articles- Perspectives
    • Articles - Technology
    • Articles - Mental Health
    • Articles-Politics
    • Books
    • Videos - Technology
  • Activist Links
    • Youth Activist Orgs
    • Tech-Trust & Safety
    • White Papers

Youth Mental Health/exploitation & Tools to Prevent Harms

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Revealing Reality (2025, Apr 13) A digital playground, The real guide to Roblox, https://think.revealingreality.co.uk/roblox-real-guide
  5. 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/
  6. Aubrey, A. (2025, Feb 24) A break from your smartphone can reboot your mood.  Here's how long you need, USA Today, https://www.npr.org/2025/02/24/nx-s1-5304417/smartphone-break-digital-detox-screen-addiction
  7. 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/
  8. 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
  9. 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)
  10. 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
  11. 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)
  12. 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/
  13. Reader, R & Payne, D. (2025, Feb 5)  Another bill wants to ban kids from social media, Politico, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/future-pulse/2025/02/05/senate-commerce-approves-bill-banning-social-media-for-kids-under-13-00202469
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. AI Forensics (2025, Jan) Pay to Play: Meta's Community (Double) Standards on Pornographic Ads, https://aiforensics.org/work
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. Bernardi, J. (2025, Jan 23), Friends for sale: the rise and risks of AI companions, Ada Lovelace Institute,  https://www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/blog/ai-companions/
  21. Novicoff, Marc (2025, Jan 22), The Online Porn Free-for-All Is Coming to an End, The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/01/supreme-court-online-pornography/681397/
  22. 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/
  23. 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
  24. Ruiz, R. (2025, Jan 10), American Psychological Association sounds alarm over certain AI chatbots, Mashable, https://mashable.com/article/ai-therapist-chatbots-ftc
  25. 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/
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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/
  31. 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
  32. 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
  33. 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/
  34. 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/
  35. 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/
  36. 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
  37. 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
  38. 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
  39. 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
  40. 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
  41. 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
  42. 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
  43. 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
  44. Online Harms Prevention Action Kit, Free resources for parents,schools and other interested individuals (2024, Oct 10), https://fairplayforkids.org/pf/onlineharmskit/
  45. 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.
  46. Hindenburg Research (2024, Oct 8)  Roblox: Inflated Key Metrics For Wall Street And A Pedophile Hellscape For Kids, https://hindenburgresearch.com/roblox/
  47. 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
  48. 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
  49. Hindenburg Research (2024, Oct 8), Roblox: Inflated Key Metrics For Wall Street And A Pedophile Hellscape For Kids, https://hindenburgresearch.com/roblox/
  50. 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
  51. 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
  52. Thorn. (2024). Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2023. Available at: https://info.thorn.org/hubfs/ResearchThorn_23_YouthMonitoring_Report.pd (Instagram/Snapchat)
  53. 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 
  54. 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
  55. 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
  56. 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
  57. 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/ 
  58. 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/  
  59. 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 
  60. 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
  61. 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
  62. 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/
  63. 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
  64. 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
  65. 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
  66. 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
  67. 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
  68. 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
  69. 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
  70. 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)
  71. 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
  72. 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
  73. 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
  74. 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
  75. 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/
  76. 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
  77. Revealing Reality, (2024, April) Children's Media Lives 2024, A report for Ofcom, https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/283044/childrens-media-lives-2024-summary-report.pdf
  78. Children & Screens (2024, April), Neurodivergent Youth and Digital Media, Parent Tip Sheet, https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/neurodivergent-youth-and-digital-media/
  79. 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
  80. Heuer, M. (2023,  Dec 27), New study says social media made billions off teens, children in 2022, UPI.com, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/12/27/harvard-study-social-media-revenue-harms-teens-children/8621703725911/
  81. Haidt, J. (2024, March 13), End the Phone-Based Childhood Now, The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
  82. Horwitz, J.., Blunt K. (2024, Feb 22), Meta Staff Found Instagram Tool Enabled Child Exploitation. The Company Pressed Ahead Anyway, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-staff-found-instagram-subscription-tool-enabled-child-exploitation-the-company-pressed-ahead-anyway-a18e81e6
  83. Dvorak, P (2024, Feb 5) These are the parents who stared down Mark Zuckerberg, Washington Post, https://thesouthern.com/opinion/these-are-the-parents-who-stared-down-mark-zuckerberg/article_05051f9b-6308-5526-87d9-ea49b0ee9fdd.html
  84. Kim, C. (2024, Jan 31), She blames social media for contributing to her daughter’s death. On Wednesday this Colorado mom took her pain to Capitol Hill, CPR News, https://www.cpr.org/2024/01/31/colorado-mom-at-capitol-hill-for-social-media-ceos-testifying-on-child-safety/
  85. Coblentz, E. (2024, Jan 31), 'It killed him': Families of victims of big tech, present at Senate hearing, share their stories, USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2024/01/31/big-tech-hearing-victims/72429122007/
  86. 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
  87. 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
  88. 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
  89. Washington Post - Meta’s Zuckerberg apologizes to child abuse victims in emotional Senate hearing (January 31, 2024) - JULIANNA ARNOLD, DEB SCHMILL, and JOANN BOGARD 
  90. Tech Transparency Project (2024, Jan 30), Meta Approves Harmful Teen Ads with Images from its Own AI Tool, https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/meta-approves-harmful-teen-ads-with-images-from-its-own-ai-tool 
  91. Bride, K, Molak, M. (2024, Jan 31), Kristin Bride and Maurine Molak: Will Congress finally act to protect kids from the harms of social media?, Chicago Tribune, https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/01/31/kristin-bride-and-maurine-molak-will-congress-finally-act-to-protect-kids-from-the-harms-of-social-media/
  92. Kolodny, L. (2024, Jan 27) Sextortion training materials found on TikTok, Instagram,Snapchat and YouTube, according to new report, NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/sextortion-yahoo-boys-snapchat-tiktok-teen-wizz-rcna134200
  93. Paul, K. (2024, Jan 16) ‘The tide has turned’: why parents are suing US social media firms after their children’s death, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/16/online-harms-social-media-lawsuits
  94. Russel, S. (2024, Jan 3) I enjoyed playing in the metaverse, then I went in as a woman, The Times, https://www.thetimes.com/article/metaverse-first-person-woman-sexism-technology-smw72fx6l
  95. Raffile, P., Goldenberg, A et al (2024, Jan 2), A Digital Pandemic: Uncovering the Role of "Yahoo Boys' in the Surge of Social Media-Enabled Financial Sextortion Targeting Minors; Network Contagion Research Institute, https://networkcontagion.us/wp-content/uploads/Yahoo-Boys_1.2.24.pdf 
  96. Schmill, D. (2023, Nov 18), Safety should come first on social media platforms, Kids Online Safety Act, pending in Congress, is the answer, Commonwealth Beacon,   https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/safety-should-come-first-on-social-media-platforms/
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  142. Castleberry, C. (2022, May 25), The Kids Are Not Alright: Addressing The Mental Health Crisis Impacting Our Youth; Parents, experts and young people shed light on why suicide rates for  Black teens and young adults have been alarmingly high—even before the  pandemic, Essence, https://www.essence.com/health-and-wellness/youth-mental-health-crisis/
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  145. Williams, R. (2022, April 26), The US now hosts more child sexual abuse material online than any other country-Experts predict that without new legislation, the problem will only grow, MIT Technology Review, https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/04/26/1051282/the-us-now-hosts-more-child-sexual-abuse-material-online-than-any-other-country/
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Suggestions for Parents and Caregivers

Engage and Empower Youth

  • Listen to what children/youth are saying
  • Ask Questions
  • Advise youth/children to practice good internet safety
  • Encourage youth/children to critically examine messages they receive
  • Discuss the news in an age appropriate manner

Responses to Concerns

  • Take It Seriously
  • Create a Record - file reports with school and/or school district
  • Discuss online safety and privacy practices
  • Get help - VictimConnect Confidential Referrals for Online Victims, 855-484-2846 https://victimconnect.org/

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