New England Newspaper & Press Association

A growing number of experts say social media is a significant factor in the nation’s youth mental health crisis. Children and adolescents readily encounter sexual and violent content, bullying, harassment, body shaming, racism and bigotry on popular platforms, the US Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association recently warned. This fall, 42 state attorneys general sued Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, accusing the company of manipulative and exploitive practices that lead some youth to become addicted to its platforms, raising the risk of depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties and other problems. This webinar examines the research sparking broad concerns and the questions science has yet to answer. We’ll also look at the disproportionate harms among girls and youth of color, and at policy efforts to protect young people. Reporters will gain a nuanced understanding of the behavioral, emotional and physical effects of the nearly universal use of social media by adolescents and fresh story ideas for reporting on digital safety.

This webinar is free and made possible by the Kristy Hammam Fund for Health Journalism.