Research + News

Gateway To Porn? Sexual Objectification In Video Games

Sexual objectification in video games is still a big problem, but we can teach our children to identify it and fight against it. Read the article here.

Compulsive Internet Use By Teens Linked To Emotional Issues

A new study has found internet addiction in teenagers leads to difficulty regulating emotions. Read the article here.

How Gen Z Is Using The Secret Code ‘I Had Pasta Tonight’ As A Cry For Help On Social Media When Depressed Or Suicidal

TikTok users are using secret codes in their videos and captions to convey they are struggling with depression and possibly contemplating suicide. Read the article here.

The Social Media Sites That Pose A Unique Risk To Teenagers

The lure and danger of interactive virtual platforms. Read the article here.

Teenagers And Technology: Answers To Your Top Pandemic Questions

A blog post from the Fuller Youth Institute discusses the issue of family screen time during the pandemic. Read the post here.

Delayed Moves, Poolside Videos And Postmates Spon: The State Of TikTok Collab Houses

Gen Z influencers are settling into life in a shuttered Los Angeles. Read the article here.

3, 2, 1 GO! Video Gaming Is At An All-Time High During COVID-19

New research from Nielsen found that 82% of global consumers played video games and watched video game content during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Read the article here.

Racism Is Rampant In Porn: 3 Beautiful Ways To Help Kids Reject Both

Not only is pornography teaching toxic messages about sex, it’s also a cesspool of racism. Read the article here.

Talk To Tweens About Health App Use

Tweens use health apps to track fitness and nutrition, sleep and wellbeing, but parents have concerns. Read the article here.

Netflix’s Top 10 Most Popular Shows Since The Top 10 List Was Introduced

Netflix has been trying out an experiment on the service for a few months now, a public-facing top 10 list that shows the most popular shows and movies on a given day. Read the article here.

The 21% Of American Teens Without Reliable Broadband Are Being Left Behind

Video Games May Sabotage Fitness Among College Students

Video games often stand in the way of exercise and healthy eating among male college students, a new study shows. Read the article here.

How Teens Are Using Anonymous Google Docs – And Enlisting A YouTube Star – To Out Allegedly Racist Classmates

At a time in America when offensive statues and executives alike are toppling, a similar reckoning is occurring, out of view of most adults, among the country’s teenagers and college students. Read the article here.

Kids Now Spend Nearly As Much Time Watching TikTok As YouTube In US, UK And Spain

Kids ages four to 15 now spend an average of 85 minutes per day watching YouTube videos, compared with 80 minutes per day spent on TikTok. Read the article here.

Worldwide Digital Games Market

Game spending totaled a record-breaking $10.5B in April 2020, showing the continued strength of the medium during the COVID-19 crisis. Read the article here.

Most Parents Concerned About Privacy, Body Image Impact Of Tweens Using Health Apps

Health apps have become a popular tool among teens and adults to track fitness, weight loss, sleep and even menstrual cycles – but are they appropriate for tweens? Read the article here.

A New TikTok Clone Hit The Top Of The App Store By Paying Users To Watch Videos

TikTok has a new competitor: Zynn, a nearly button-for-button clone of TikTok that differentiates itself with one key twist — it pays users to sign up, watch videos, and convince others to follow suit. Read the article here.

Dating And Relationships In The Digital Age

From distractions to jealousy, how Americans navigate cellphones and social media in their romantic relationships. Read the article and research here.

Parents Struggle To Find Work/Life Balance, Turning To Digital To Keep Kids Busy

TikTok Is Breeding A New Batch Of Child Stars. Psychologists Say What Comes Next Won’t Be Pretty

Psychologists warn that outsized social media fame may pose longterm problems for the kids who have become celebrities online. Read the article here.

In The U.S., People Are Switching To Digital For Live Sports Viewing

Sports are on hold in the US due to the coronavirus pandemic, but digital live sports viewership will still rise more than 14% this year thanks to continued organic growth and accelerated cord-cutting. Read the article here.

Deepfakes Are Going To Wreak Havoc On Society. We Are Not Prepared.

Deepfake technology enables anyone with a computer and an Internet connection to create realistic-looking photos and videos of people saying and doing things that they did not actually say or do. Read the article here.

The Facebook Friends Moms Don’t Want? Their Teens

How Social Media Harms Boys And Girls Differently

For girls, social media may be more harmful than heroin. Read the article here.

Social Media Influencers Could Get Teens To Follow Social Distancing Guidelines, Say Researchers

Many adolescents are choosing to ignore the guidelines set out by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and peer-to-peer campaigns are likely to be more successful in changing attitudes. Read the article here.

How Hip-Hop Royalty Found A New Home On Instagram Live

The pandemic halted in-person gatherings, but a new type of party was born on social media, with rap stars leading the charge. Read the article here.

U.S. Consumers Are Flocking To TikTok

The short-video app added 12 million unique visitors in March, up nearly 50% since January. Read the article here.

Gaming Champions

As live sports shut down for 2020, the online arena switches on—rallying a larger audience and more players during home quarantine. Read the article here.

Pornography And Our Teens

We need to take a very proactive approach to prevention. Read the article here.

Screen Time And The Brain: Expert Advice On Electronic Addiction And Teaching Kids Healthy Tech Habits

Protect Young Minds interviews Dr. Christy Kane to talk about how electronic impact the neurotransmitters in the brain and how to mitigate developing an addiction to electronics. Watch or read the interview here.

Netflix Climbs Further On Top Of The Video Streaming World

A look at video streaming services used during the Coronavirus outbreak. See the research and listen to an accompanying podcast here.

4 In 10 U.S. Teens Say They Haven’t Done Online Learning Since Schools Closed

With most schools closed nationwide because of the coronavirus pandemic, a national poll of young people ages 13 to 17 suggests distance learning has been far from a universal substitute. Read the article here.

Hair Tinsel Is Back Thanks To Gen Z Teens And TikTok

Gen Z teens are bringing back all the trends you thought you’d never see again. Read the article here.

Teens’ And Kids’ Media Diets During The Coronavirus

This eMarketer podcast discusses the media diets of kids and teens in quarantine. Listen to it here.

Travis Scott’s ‘Astronomical’ Fortnite Debut

The Grammy-nominated rapper will debut his new song “Astronomical” within the wildly popular online video game for a series of concerts set to start Thursday. Read the article here.

Facebook Is Launching A Dedicated Gaming App To Take On Twitch, YouTube

Twitch and YouTube don’t have much competition when it comes to streaming platforms for the gaming community, but Facebook wants to change that with a new dedicated mobile gaming app. Read the article here.

Fortnite Brings Millions Together On Video Game For Live Music

Enter Fortnite, the video game gone cultural phenomenon — the latest in live music venues. Read the article here.

TikTok Adds Family Pairing Feature To Give Parents More Controls Over Teens’ Accounts

Time spent on the app each day can be set, and direct messages can be restricted or turned off. Read the article here.

Binge Nation: Average American Streams 8 Hours Of Content Per Day During Coronavirus Outbreak

A new survey of 2,000 U.S. residents finds the average American is currently streaming eight hours of content per day and finishing three TV series per week. Read the article here.

Teens Are Addicted To Socializing, Not Screens

You Lie, I Snoop? How Parents Monitor Teens’ Information

Getting teens to open up is an age-old struggle. Read the article here.

7 Tactics A Child Predator Uses To Lure Kids: Red Flag Phrases Every Parent Needs To Know

Learning about the tactics and tricks child predators use will help parents be more aware. Read the article here.

David Dobrik, Donald Trump, Charli D’Amelio Are Teens’ Top Social Influencers, Study finds

YouTuber David Dobrik and TikTokker Charli D’Amelio are among teens’ top celebrity influencers. Read the article here.

How eSports Is Changing During The Coronavirus Pandemic

A podcast from eMarketer discussing the success of eSports during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Listen to it here.

Video Games Now Unlikely Social Media Success Story

Video game players have been stereotypically depicted as loners — but during the current pandemic, video games are evolving into a  solid social media force. Read the article here.

TikTok Takeover

New Research Suggests Parents Should Limit Screen Media For Preschoolers

New research from University of California, Davis, suggests that parents should delay introducing their children to any screen media, as well as limit preschool-age children’s use of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. Read the article here.

Is Pro Video Game Streamer The Most Coronavirus-Proof Job In The World?

4 In 10 U.S. Teens Say They Haven’t Done Online Learning Since Schools Closed

With most schools closed nationwide because of the coronavirus pandemic, a national poll of young people ages 13 to 17 suggests distance learning has been far from a universal substitute. Read the article here.

Teen Arrested After ‘Zoom Bombing’ High School Classes

A Connecticut teen accused of a cyber attack known as “Zoom bombing” during a number of online classes was charged Wednesday with computer crimes. Read the article here.

Socially-Distanced Sports

Check out the latest update on sports in the era of covid-19. Read the article here.

Premium Streaming Continues To Climb – Netflix Still Tops, YouTube Is Next

Premium video streaming continues to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic that is now keeping three-quarters of Americans home, with more than 30 states under stay-at-home orders. Read the article here.

Teens Help Seniors Stay Engaged By Offering Tech Tutoring

Teens teach seniors how to best use technology to reach out to loved ones, which has become increasingly important while they are forced to keep distance because of national COVID-19 concerns. Read the article here.

Under Lockdown, U.S. Teens Turn To TikTok For Life Hacks, Laughs

Millions of U.S. teenagers shut up in their homes and receiving their education online are turning for morale support and comic relief to each other – via immensely popular video sharing apps like TikTok. Read the article here.

Social Media Challenge Has Teens Trying To get COVID-19

A new social media challenge could have your child licking different public objects to possibly get the coronavirus. Read the article here.

Teens Without Internet Access Are Fearful They Won’t Achieve Their Dream

A new survey by National 4-H Council and Microsoft Corp. found that teens without broadband Internet access are less optimistic about their social and economic mobility. Read the article here.

Gaming Usage Up 75% Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Video streaming has also seen a bump, up 12 percent during peak usage hours. Read the article here.

12 Teens On Being Stuck At Home Because Of The Coronavirus

“I’ve been doing what Gen Z does. I’ve adapted, I’ve overcome, and I’ve been on my phone too much.” Read the article here.

Limit Social Media, Hike Communication As Teen Anxiety Increases Over COVID-19

Uncertainty during pandemic tough for teens. Read the article here.

Audible To Provide Free Audiobooks For Children & Teens During COVID-19 Pandemic

Prom Might Be Cancelled, But TikTok Teens Have Backup Plans

Students were upset, but worked out ways to prom from home. Read the article here.

This Week In TikTok: Bored Teens Are making Self-Isolation Content

This is TikTok on coronavirus, and much like the world around it, everything feels weird and different. Read the article here.

Project Digs Deeper Into Teenage Smartphone Use

How Social Media Affects The Mental Health Of Teenagers

Research has found that social media use can affect self-esteem, and make typical teenage pressure and bullying worse, but it can also connect isolated teens and help them find supportive networks. Read the article here.

Young Women Often Face Sexual Harassment Online – Including On Dating Sites And Apps

Online dating has grown in popularity, but many young women report experiencing some form of harassment on these platforms, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. Read the article here.

Microsoft Just Revealed A Ton Of New Info About The Xbox Series X

Study Suggests That Excessive Self-Presentation On Instagram Can Backfire

New research provides evidence that how people present themselves on Instagram can influence how many “likes” they receive. Read the article here.

‘Call Of Duty’ Sets Its Sights On ‘Fornite,’ Domination Of Battle Royale Video Games

Free to play online, and available to download starting at 11 a.m. EDT/8 a.m. PDT Tuesday, “Warzone” lets up to 150 players compete in a last-man standing combat game. Read the article here.

Is Your Teen Addicted To Gaming?

How do you know when all that gaming becomes too much gaming? Read the article here.

Gen Z’s Favorite Social-Media Platform? None Of The Above

But new research from Kantar reveals that while this generation is more active than any other age group on social media, their favorite social haunts aren’t YouTube, Facebook, Snap or TikTok. Read the article here.

TikTok Penetration Among US Gen Zers

The media’s obsession with Gen Z and TikTok is ever-present, but whether user levels are as high as reported is debatable. Read the article here.

Teens Love TikTok, But Do They Love The Video App Too Much?

To some, the Chinese-owned online video service is an unnerving black box that could be sharing information with the Chinese government, facilitating espionage, or just promoting videos and songs some parents consider lewd. Read the article here.

The Terror Of Teen Drivers: Parents Track Their Kids Without Being In The Car

TikTok Teens Are Obsessed With Fake Luxury Products

Young consumers want to wear items that look like Gucci or Lululemon, but don’t necessarily want to pay for them. Read the article here.

How Schools Are Using Kids’ Phones To Track And Surveil Them

A technology used in a number of prisons is tracking students now too. Read the article here.

Teen Hit Yolo Raises $8M To Let You Snapchat Anonymously

Now it’s safeguarding the app from predators while revealing a smart new feature for spinning up anonymous group chats, powered by $8 million in fresh funding. Read the article here.

Opinion: ‘The Children I Meet Are Often Shattered By Their Social Media Use’

“On the one hand, [our devices] are great fun and often fascinating, but on the other hand, they can be a continuous distraction from our real lives and can often make us feel tense, nervy and disconnected.” Read the article here.

‘Metabolism Drops’ Recall: What To Know About TikTok’s Latest Dangerous Trend

The maker of Metabolism Drops, Rae Wellness, has issued a recall after teens began promoting this weight-loss supplement on TikTok. Read the article here.

Arkansas Mother Upset Teenager Injured In ‘Skullbreaker Challenge’

The “skullbreaker challenge” is spreading through the internet. View the video here.

Selfies Could Be A Source Of Anxiety And Body Shame For Teen Girls

Researchers say stressing over which selfies to post could become problematic. Read the article here.

A Novel Approach To Counseling Depressed, Anxious Teens: Video-chatting With Therapists

A pioneering schools project connects stressed-out young people to therapists miles away via computers. Read the article here.

App Monitors Teens’ Phones So Parents Don’t Have To

Developers say that because the app monitors tens of thousands of teens, it can pick up on trends and understands the way teens communicate. Read the article here.

Internet Acronyms Teens And Predators Know, But Parents Should

Many kids use a variety of acronyms shortcuts when texting — sometimes to keep parents in the dark. Read the article here.

Is YouTube Turning Kids Into Budding Shoppers?

Kids and teens hold a lot of spending power that’s extending into households. Read the article here.

How Colleges Use Kids’ Social Media Feeds

Learn how what you post can hurt — and help — the admissions process. Read the article here.

High Amounts Of Screen Time Begin As Early As Infancy

Children of first-time mothers, those in home-based childcare log most screen time. Read the article here.

This Teen’s Hand-Made ‘Meme Guide’ Is A Must-Read For Every Parent

If you’ve ever wondered what a VSCO girl is, why your kids respond to your questions with “yeet,” or where the “Old Town Road” is located, there’s now a helpful guide for that. Read the article here.

Twitch Poised To Top 40 Million Users, Especially Younger Ones

Online gaming community content publisher Twitch is poised to top 40 million U.S. users, according to new estimates released this morning by eMarketer. Read the article here.

When Parents Should Worry About Teen Girls Sharing Selfies

When adolescent girls spend too much time agonizing over which photo of themselves to post, or rely heavily on editing apps to alter their images, there may be cause for concern. Read the article here.

Can New Snapchat Features Help Troubled Teens?

Snapchat has announced a new feature called “Here For You” that promises to “provide proactive in-app support to Snapchatters who may be experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis”. Read the article here.

Behind That Teenage TikTok Star, There’s Probably A Very Confused Parent

Teens can achieve online stardom almost overnight. While that creates an opportunity for a generation of internet users, it also poses a new challenge for a generation of parents. Read the article here.

Teens Are Deleting Instagrams Almost As Fast As They Post Them

Research Links Social Media To Mental Distress In Teens

Are more and more teens experiencing the negative effects of social media? Dr. Gillian Galen and Cosmopolitan’s Jessica Pels discuss in this video from MSNBC. View the video here.

More Evidence Links Social Media Use To Poorer Mental Health In Teens

Smartphones, and being on Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and the like may be taking a big toll on teens’ mental health, a new survey of collected data on the subject shows. Read the article here.

Teens Warned About Dangerous Social Media Jumping Challenge

Called the “Skullbreaker Challenge,” authorities and parents are warning teenagers that the new social media craze, made popular on Tik Tok, could cause serious damage to participants. Read the article here.

Ahead Of The Game: The Gaming Streamer Wars Are Heating Up

Companies are cashing in on this top passionate point among today’s youth, sealing deals and inking partnerships that they hope will capture the attention of today’s young gamers. Read the article here.

3 Ways For Big Tech To Protect Teens From Harm

The Saddest Part Of Sadfishing

Is this ultra-personal sharing happening in the wrong forum? Read the article here.

New Report Links Smartphones And Social Media To Stress Among Teens

A new report released Monday suggests that increasing smartphone and social media use could be contributing to mental health issues among teens, including depression, anxiety, stress and poor self-esteem. View the video here.

We Gave Teenagers Smartphones. Did We Rob Them Of An Inner Life?