Research + News

When Cell Phones Come Between Teens And Studying

Where are kids keeping their phones while in the classroom or studying? Read the article here.

Teens Tutor Peers Online To Fill Need During Pandemic

TutorScope provides the one-on-one support that teachers have traditionally given while roving the aisles of their classrooms but now often can’t because of the time and technology constraints posed by online schooling. Read the article here.

New Trend Making Teens Vulnerable To Human Trafficking

How a trend to gain social media followers is making teens vulnerable to trafficking. Read the article here.

Teens Have Never Known A World Without Data Sharing, And It’s Creating A False Sense Of Security

The next generation — Generation Alpha, born 2010 and later — has had a digital footprint since birth. We have to recognize the positive impacts — connection, community, support, entertainment and creativity — while discussing potential harms. Read the article here.

Insider Created A TikTok Account And Set The Age At 14 To Test How Long Before A Plastic Surgeon’s Promotional Video Appeared. It Only Took 8 Minutes.

Videos promoting rhinoplasty are appearing on the For You Page of teenagers as young as 14. Read the article here.

The Biggest Questions Facing The Gaming World In 2021

Chat Service Discord Doubles Valuation To $7 Billion

The Paradox Of Online “Body Positivity”

It has always sucked to compare yourself to the prettiest girl in school, but it sucks a lot more to feel like everybody else in the entire world is the prettiest girl in school. Read the article here.

Teens And Screens: Limits Are Even More Critical During Remote School

Experts have long urged limits on screen time for children, but a new study says it is even more critical during pandemic remote learning. Read the article here.

TikTok Accounts Of Younger Teens Will Now Be Private By Default, All Minor Users Will Have Tighter Privacy

TikTok has made a set of changes to its app that will set the accounts of teenage users between 13 and 15 years private by default and also enable tighter privacy protections for all users under the age of 18. Read the article here.

Teens Are Putting Their Social Media Info Into Pants Pockets At Stores

There are TikTok videos of teenage girls stuffing cards with their personal information into pants, shorts, even underwear in sporting goods stores. This is how they are getting followers. Read the article here.

Parents Doing Whatever It Takes To Bond With Their Kids During COVID, Even Dancing On TikTok

A new survey finds many are working up a sweat just to bond with their kids more during the coronavirus pandemic. Read the article here.

TikTok Teens’ Latest Passion Is Enterprise Software

Five days into the new year, and TikTok’s hottest 2021 trend is teens using enterprise software to go viral. Read the article here.

10 Sneaky Ways Porn Will Target Your Kids In 2021

Porn targets kids even in the most trusted and mainstream places. Read the article here.

The Effects Of Technology On Teens

In a world of remote-learning, Zoom calls, and streaming, do the benefits out weigh the risks? Read the article here.

Experts Say This Is What Children Need To Survive The COVID-19 Pandemic

USA TODAY spoke with experts in child development on how remote school, reduced socialization and increased screen time is affecting kids. Read the article here.

‘PoshTok’ Is Where TikTok’s Richest Teens Hang Out

The concept of PoshTok is simple: what if having a ton of money didn’t just mean nice stuff, but also: internet clout? Read the article here.

What To Know About Teens And ‘Sadfishing’

Sadfishing is basically when someone posts a really sad picture (sometimes they are crying, or have a really sad look on their face) while telling an emotional or heart-wrenching story or event that happened. Sometimes these things are true and, well, sometimes they are simply to get some attention. Read the article here.

Tech Choices Dictate Teen Friendships During Pandemic

‘Want To Do The Spacegirl Dance With Me?’ How To Talk To Teens This Christmas

Between cancelled school formals and gap years, it’s a bleak time to be a teenager – but Nina Dillon Britton knows the right words to say. Read the article here.

Fed-Up Teens Are Outing Their Rapists On TikTok

Social media may feel like some women’s only route to justice. Read the article here.

Most Parents Fear Remote Learning Will Lead To Children Falling Behind In School

Will students who are attending school remotely fall behind compared to their peers taking in-person classes? Read the article here.

Online 24/7, But Totally Disconnected – New Findings On Teen Isolation During COVID-19

Interviews and diary entries from nearly 50 California teenagers reveal that they’re sleeping and exercising less and spending more time on social media and gaming. Read the article here.

Doctors Warn Teens Not To Try New ‘Scalp Popping’ TikTok Trend

A new TikTok trend has teens pulling their scalp in hopes of getting it to “pop.” Read the article here.

How To Motivate Teens Struggling With Remote School

Instagram Influencers Making Guys More Body-Conscious

Young men’s attitudes about body image and fitness can be affected by Instagram influencers, according to a new study. Read the article here.

The Year On TikTok: Top 100

TikTok shares the top moments of the past year within the TikTok community. See their report here.

One In Ten Florida Teens Report Engaging In “Digital Self-Harm”

Approximately 10 percent of Florida middle and high school students report having engaged in “digital self-harm” – they have cyberbullied  themselves. Read the article here.

Managing The Increase In Screen Time For Teens During The Pandemic

Because of the pandemic, platforms where day-to-day activities take place are requiring even more screen time. Read the article here.

What Parents Need To Know About Yubo, The ‘Tinder for Teens’

The app enables teenagers (or adults pretending to be them) to find others with similar interests and chat through private messaging or via public live streams. Read the article here.

TikTok Now Lets Parents Make Their Teens’ Accounts More Private

A parental controls update adds new search restrictions, too. Read the article here.

The Coronavirus, Social Media, And Teen Mental Health

Shifting trends over the last year reveal the roots of depression among young people. Read the article here.

Is Online Learning Worth It?

Juggling jobs and remote schoolwork, college students have started to wonder about the value of finishing their education. Read the article here.

Full (TikTok) House

Twitter Intros Fleets: Tweets That Disappear After 24 Hours

Following in the footsteps of Snapchat snaps and Instagram and Facebook “stories,” Twitter is rolling out fleets—tweets that disappear after 24 hours. Read the article here.

Technology Promises Connection, But Gen Z Sees A Paradox

The U.S. childhood and adolescent experience is mediated by screens, both in and outside the home. In light of this, how should teens and their families respond to the new force shaping their lives? Read the article from Barna here.

The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight, 2020

The latest research from Common Sense Media is now available. Access the report here.

Electronic Device Usage Nearly Doubled Among US Kids During The Pandemic

Porn Industry 101 For Parents: Discover What Your Kids Are Up Against

What exactly is the porn industry. And what should you know about it? Read the post from Protect Young Minds here.

Snifftok Is Where Teenagers Go To Post Videos Of Themselves High On MDMA

Anti-Capitalist Teens Are Sharing Shoplifting Tips On TikTok

Teens Benefit With Less Screen Time, More Time With Sports And Art

Walking away from TV, laptops and cellphones and spending more time in sports and other extracurricular activities boosts teens’ mental health, Canadian researchers say. Read the article here.

Teens Who Spend More Time In Extracurricular Activities And Less Time In Front Of Screens Have Better Mental Health, Study Finds

Quantity, Content, And Context Of Social Media Use May Affect Adolescents’ Sleep

A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that checking social media often, viewing emotional or violent videos, and starting to use social media at an early age were significantly related to later bedtimes and fewer hours of sleep on school nights for early adolescents. Read the article here.

Increased Screen Time For Children And Teens Is Likely Here To Stay

In a period when large numbers of parents and school kids are stuck at home with one another, this is one battle many parents choose to forego, at least for now. Read the article here.

How To Talk To Kids And Teens About Misinformation

Being young has never been easy, but it’s especially tough when social media, television programs, and maybe even the adults in your life often twist truth into misinformation. Read the article here.

Defusing The “Benadryl Challenge”: Discussing Danger With Teens

The latest challenge in the news is the “Benadryl challenge” that appeared on TikTok. Read the article here.

The New Milestone Of Adolescence

A driver’s license used to be a milestone of adolescence… has a smartphone replaced it? Read the article here.

You’re 19 Years Old. You Get Famous Overnight. You Move To L.A. Now What?

A look at the rise (and division) of TikTok influencer houses. Read the article here.

YouTube ‘Kidfluencers’ Exposing Children To ‘Staggering’ Amounts Of Junk Food Ads

Researchers found that almost half of the clips looked at on the video site’s “wildly popular” channels featuring child stars promoted unhealthy food and drinks. Read the article here.

TikTok Is More Popular Than Instagram Among US Teens, Study Finds

TikTok continues to reign supreme among US teens, according to data from a new study. For the first time, it now surpasses Instagram. Read the article here.

Why Social Media Makes You Feel So Old

Something is happening online wherein it has become fashionable for objectively young people to say that they feel hideously, grotesquely old. Read the article here.

Here’s Everything Teens Want For The Holidays – According To TikTok

The most wanted gifts among teens this year include Nike Air Jordan 1 sneakers, Lululemon loungewear and activewear, Apple AirPods and Glossier beauty sets. Read the article here.

Trans Teens Are Using TikTok To Raise Money For Their Surgery

After struggling on Instagram and other platforms, transgender people are using TikTok’s unique attributes to bypass waiting lists and raise money for expensive gender transition operations. Read the article here.

Fake Naked Photos Of Thousands Of Women Shared Online

Clothes are digitally removed from pictures of women by Artificial Intelligence (AI), and spread on the messaging app Telegram. Read the article here.

TikTok Puts Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” Back In Billboard’s Top 10

Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours is a top 10 album this week — more than four decades after its release — thanks to a viral TikTok video that’s had everyone vibing along to “Dreams.” Read the article here.

Teens Did Surprisingly Well In Quarantine

More sleep and family time—and less social media—may have made the difference. Read the article here.

U.S. Adults Will Spend Over 3.5 Hours Per Day On Mobile Apps In 2020

US adults will spend an average of 4 hours, 1 minute (4:01) on mobile internet per day in 2020, with 3:35 of that time spent on mobile apps. Read the article here.

15 Popular Slang Terms Your Teens Use On TikTok

If  you’re new to the app, one quick scroll through TikTok and you’ll likely come across a slew of slang terms that will either make you feel old or out of touch … or both. Read the article here.

In Wake Of “Benadryl Challenge” On TikTok, FDA Issues Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning about serious health problems with high doses of the allergy medicine Benadryl, after reports of teens participating in the so-called “Benadryl Challenge” on the social media platform TikTok. Read the article here.

Why Millennials Aren’t Watching Your Streamed Worship Services

Barna data gathered in late May 2020 show that as one in three practicing Christians stopped streaming church during the early months of the pandemic, this digital dropout was led by practicing Christian Millennials; fully half (50%) were not tuning in to online worship services at the time. View a video from Barna about this research here.

Why Teens Are Falling For TikTok Conspiracy Theories

Why Writing By Hand Makes Kids Smarter

New brain research shows that writing by hand helps children learn more and remember better. Read the article here.

Keeping Kids’ Data Private

A new study conducted found that child-centered games or educational apps are collecting and sharing the data of children as young as preschool. Read the article here.

Is Your Texting Punctuation Sending The Wrong Message? Yes. Maybe! Think so …

When it comes to texting, there can be plenty of tonal confusion, especially among people of different generations. Read the article here.

‘The Social Dilemma’ And The Big Dilemma

The film examines how tech giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others are able to bend our will toward company profit by perfectly curating our online experience. Read the article here.

A Third Of Girls Say They Won’t Post Selfies Without Enhancement

Warning On Link Between Heavy Instagram Use And Body Image

What We Overlooked In The Switch To Remote Learning

America’s rapid and urgent transition to online school has come with a host of unforeseen consequences that are only getting worse as it continues into the fall. Read the article here.

Kids In The UK Are Now Spending More Money On ‘Fortnite’ And ‘Roblox’ Than Candy And Books

Childrens’ spending habits in the UK have shifted to online games such as “Roblox” and “Fortnite” since lockdown began, away from sweets and books, a pocket money app has reported. Read the article here.

How Remote Learning Has Changed The Nature Of School Bullying

Porn Spam On Your Kid’s Google Drive?! 3 Things You Need To Know Now

Do your kids have a Chromebook or a Google account for school or personal use? If so, they also have access to Google Drive.

And that means your kids have a direct and unfiltered path for predators to send them sexually explicit material.

Read the rest of this post from Protect Young Minds by clicking here.

Teens’ Social Media Use Is Up During Pandemic, And So Is Their Parents’ Concerns

Parents weigh in on their kids and social media. Turns out, there’s widespread worry. Read the article here.

Living With Children: The Realities Of Teens And Smartphones

Here is the short list of “realities” concerning smartphones and teenagers. Read the article here.

How Quickly Can A Girl Go Viral On TikTok?

Teens are making it big overnight, but that kind of fame can be a mixed bag. Read the article here.

Popular MMO Games: Should You Let Your Kids Play? 4 Guidelines To Increase Their Safety

Is there a way for you to protect your child while still allowing them to play the way many teens play today? Read the article here.

Do Viral Videos Really Tell You Anything About Today’s Teens?

Before social media, curious adults had to make do with dissecting the kids’ slang and fads from over their shoulders. Read the article here.

Fortnite Is The New IRL: Why Brands Must Plan For A Rise In Virtual Gatherings

Much of life has moved online in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and few industries have been better suited to this new normal than video games. Read the article here.

One-Third Of Engaged Christian Parents Is “Media-Stressed”

Over the past century, the rate of technological advancement has increased exponentially—and with that increase, social opportunities and dilemmas tethered to tech have also multiplied. Read the article from Barna here.

5 Questions To Ask Before You Get Your Kid A Phone

Make sure they (and you!) are ready for the next step with conversation starters that get everyone on the same page. Read the post from Common Sense Media here.

YouTube Hit With UK Class Action Style Suit Seeking $3BN+ For ‘Unlawful’ Use Of Kids’ Data

The latest representative action, filed against Google-owned YouTube, accuses the platform of routinely breaking U.K. and European data protection laws by unlawfully targeting up to five million under-13-year-olds with addictive programming and harvesting their data for advertisers. Read the article here.

Most Anticipated Video Games For Fall 2020

Gain access to research from Nielsen by clicking here.

Teens Who Think Their Parents Are Loving Are Less Likely To Be Cyberbullies

Adolescents who perceive their parents to be loving and supportive are less likely to engage in cyberbullying, according to a new study by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Read the article here.

‘Nomophobia’: 9 In 10 College Students Battle Fear Of Being Without Smartphone

Researchers conclude that “nomophobia,” or the fear of being out of smartphone contact, is “extremely common” among college students. Read the article here.

Teen Dies After Doing TikTok ‘Benadryl Challenge’ As Doctors Warn Of Dangers

A 15-year old girl from Oklahoma has reportedly died after taking an excessive amount of the anti-allergy medication Benadryl as part of a challenge on social media app TikTok. Read the article here.

Now Is The Time To Bring Back Away Messages

Life is totally online — we need ways to politely disconnect. Read the article here.

Smartphones Are Lowering Student’s Grades, Study Finds

Rutgers study found relying on the internet for homework is hurting long-term retention. Read the article here.

Teletherapy Meets Teens Where They Live: On-Screen

Chromebook Safety 101: 5 Easy Tips For A Better School Year

Millions of kids have been issued devices for school this year whether they’re learning at home, in-person or a combination of the two. Read the article here.

Did Fortnite Just Kill The App Store As We Know It?

Fortnite maker Epic Games sent shockwaves through the tech industry this week when it sued Apple and Google, claiming both companies’ app stores are monopolies. Read the article here.

What Parents And Teachers Can Do That Google Cannot Do

In a recent blog post, Tim Elmore says about teens, “we must adapt to the world they’re growing up in, but we don’t have to adopt every new trend that surfaces along the way.” Read his post here.

Why The US Military’s Engagement With Gen Z On Twitch Is Increasingly Under Scrutiny

The United States military needs to attract Gen Z, the oldest of whom are now in their late teens and early 20s, so members of the Army and Navy have been meeting their target audience where they live: The video game livestreaming platform Twitch. Read the article here.

Research Finds Social Media Users Are More Likely To Believe Fake News

A new study finds that where people get their news determines whether they believe misinformation. Read the article here.

Parenting Children In The Age Of Screens

Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason. Read the article here.

Amazon Rebrands Twitch Prime To Prime Gaming As Part Of Video Game Perk For Prime Members

Amazon rebranded a video game-related benefit for Prime members on Monday, renaming Twitch Prime to Prime Gaming. Read the article here.

Tweens, Teens, Tech, And Mental Health: Coming Of Age In An Increasingly Digital, Uncertain, And Unequal World 2020

The latest research report from Common Sense Media. Gain access to the report here.

The Pandemic Is Raising Concerns About How Teens Use Technology. But There’s Still A Lot We Don’t Know.

A new report from Common Sense Media analyzes current research on how social media impacts teens’ mental health. Read the article here.

Why Teens Are Paying $325 For Beat-Up Jackets On Instagram

The Downside To Screen Time This Fall

The proposed solutions for school in the fall, while completely understandable and entirely rational, are going to need to be carefully watched and managed. Read the article here.

Top 10 Most Watched Streamers On Twitch In July

Streamers are ranked by total number of hours watched. Read the rankings here.