Aching to See A Brighter Digital Future for Our Children? Read on...
A lot of the parents I meet and work with tell me they feel not just overwhelmed by parenting in the digital age, but also helpless and hopeless. There is this pervasive feeling that the problem is too big, that we have no say and very little control over how technology modifies our children’s lives. I too slip into this feeling, but I want to share with you the sources that fuel my hope and my resolve that the internet can and will become a better place for kids to inhabit in the future.
You may or may not be aware that there are many organizations - made up not only of parents, but of kids and young adults as well - that are working tirelessly to change our children’s digital futures. Many of these organizations were born out of pain and suffering that the online world inflicted on children, and some are simply the product of parents who can no longer stand by and ignore how certain technologies are harming our kids. Alongside these organizations we have many brilliant psychologists and educators who are bringing real data, research and hands on experience to the conversation.
Supporting these groups either by showing up, spreading their message or via financial contribution helps me to feel engaged in actively making the digital world a healthier space for future generations. When I see how many people are working towards this goal it truly gives me some peace of mind.
I would love to share these resources with you here so that you might find a way to engage in reshaping the digital world for our children's future - some of these organizations may even be worth sharing with your own tween or teen to spark some conversation! 😉 🙏
Let’s take a look:
Parent and Adult Founded Organizations:
Wait Until 8th - There is so much strength in numbers when it comes to delaying giving kids smartphones. Wait till 8th supports parents in rounding up other like minded parents in your community to team up with you and create a FOMO free situation for the kids without phones.
Away for the Day - Keeping phones out of schools!
Fairplay - advocating for new legislation that will force social media companies to make their platforms safer
Accountable Tech - advocating for new legislation that will force social media companies to make their platforms safer and more equitable. Protecting the erosion of democracy online.
Every School - Calling for less tech use and more intentional tech roll out in schools
Dopamind - providing education for schools and parents around the effects of Dopamine on screen addiction in children
Global Day of Unplugging - Working to create and promote more opportunities for us all to unplug and connect with the people and places we love most.
Let Grow - Working to to roll-back the phone based childhood and restore the play-based childhood.
Organizations founded by teens and young adults:
#Half the Story - Founded by Larissa May. Teaching digital wellbeing to young people, creating opportunities for offline community engagement, advocating for new legislation that will force social media companies to make their platforms safer.
Log Off Movement - Founded by Emma Lembke. Teaching digital wellbeing to young people, creating opportunities for offline community engagement, advocating for new legislation that will force social media companies to make their platforms safer.
Tech(nically) Politics - Advocating for new legislation that will force social media companies to make their platforms safer.
Design it For Us - A youth-led coalition advocating for policy to make online platforms and social media safer for kids.
What is the Government Doing?
Many of these organizations are working hard behind the scenes to get bills passed by our government that will offer children more protection and hold social media companies accountable. All of them can use our support! Some of the most important bills that are making the rounds right now are:
“The Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, first introduced in 2022, would impose sweeping new obligations on an array of digital platforms, including requiring that companies “exercise reasonable care” to prevent their products from endangering kids.” - Washington Post
“KOSA would hold Big Tech accountable for how their platforms lure young users down addictive rabbit holes that promote eating disorders, life-threatening challenges, drug sales, and other dangerous content that no child should ever be exposed to.” - Fairplay
“In 1998, Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which instituted basic privacy protections, including notice and parental consent requirements that protect users under 13 years old. While COPPA took major steps towards safeguarding children’s personal information on the internet, the law is overdue for an update in light of major changes in the online landscape.” COPPA 2.0 is a revision of this act which aims to offer more privacy protection for children up to 16 years old in order to curb the exploitation of children’s privacy for profit.
Both of these bills have a good amount of momentum, but still need the push from constituents like us to get passed. Your support can actually make a difference!
I know the future often looks bleak when it comes to our children’s relationship to the online world, but it’s important to remember that many of these apps and technologies are still in their “infancy.” Think about it - just 15 years ago social media barely existed and the iPhone only came out in 2007. It can take time for humans to catch up to the potential harms or pitfalls of new inventions - especially when their evolution moves faster than our own brains can keep up with.
But, the truth is people are catching on - I see it in my work every day! Youth understand the ways in which they are being manipulated and more and more people are speaking up. Adding our voices and support can help us to feel less alone and more optimistic - so let’s work together to create a brighter future for our kids!