Kids Culture Report [June 2021] — Kids Pride 🏳‍🌈 Most kids’ media brands put on blinders during PRIDE Month, as if LGBTQ+ kids don’t exist. They do. Saying you’re inclusive means including *all* kids. [NYT] Representation Matters 👦🏾 At the 2021 Annecy International Animated Film Festival, The Walt Disney Company announced the pick up of two African animation series: ‘Kiff’, by South…

Jarrod Walczer & Derek E. Baird | Journal of Fandom Studies — Dear Evan Hansen is a cultural phenomenon and Tony Award-winning musical that has been widely celebrated by a social media-driven fan community, known as ‘Fansens.’ The growth of this fandom on social media is unique as Fansens have adopted plot points and thematic elements from…

Designing AI That Protects Children's Well-Being and Rights. — Designing AI With Children In Mind As AI technology becomes more prevalent in kidtech, edtech, and media, it is essential to consider its potential risks and challenges for children. While AI can potentially enhance children’s experiences, we must cautiously approach its use in kidtech and prioritize their needs. The neglect of children’s well-being in Web 2.0…

Just Published Study Reveals Positive Teen Satisfaction with the BeMe Teen Mental Health App — In August 2021, I had the privilege of joining a small cadre of experts from various fields, including teen media, behavioral health, and health tech, focused on a common goal: to pave the way for a new era in global teen mental health. …

In the digital landscape of today’s world, the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and children’s privacy has become an increasingly pressing concern. With technology already playing an ever-expanding role in children’s lives, the generation of personal data has soared to unprecedented levels, encompassing online activities, school records, and even health…

Organizations that sustainably lead on trust and safety find ways to build it into their business thesis. — In our piece for the World Economic Forum, my colleague, Sam Dorison, BeMe Health Head of Partnerships and Special Initiatives, and I share five focus areas for organizations looking to invest in child digital trust and safety. Our article includes a case study of the LEGO Group that examines how…

Rebuilding Teen Mental Health In A Post-Pandemic World. — A few years ago, my friends at LEGO — one of the world’s iconic youth brands — launched a terrific youth initiative called “Rebuild the World.” The focus of their campaign was to “celebrate children as the masters of creative problem solving and show what can be achieved when…

This week I moderated a youth panel, and one of the teens called their phone “a safety blanket.” I asked them to share more about what they meant by that term, and they replied: “Well, just in case something really bad goes down at school — you know what I’m…

Kid Culture Report [July 2021] Mental Health 🧠 The study finds early social transition for transgender youth results in good mental health outcomes, but unaccepting school environments may lead to a greater risk of suicidality. [Fenway Health] “It was my second shooting, so I was kind of prepared. I’m always expecting something to…