Joan Ganz Cooney Center: Into the Digital Future

In this episode of 'Into the Digital Future,' hosts Laura Higgins and Jordan Shapiro welcome Lucy Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Project Rockit. Discover how Lucy and her team address bullying, hate, and prejudice, amplifying youth voices to create safer online spaces. Learn about Project Rockit's unique approaches and the importance of involving young people in tech and social development. Whether you're a parent, educator, or tech professional, this conversation offers invaluable insights into building a kind and inclusive digital future.

In this episode, Jordan Shapiro and Laura Higgins sit down with Dr. Michael Rich, a Harvard pediatrician, adolescent medicine specialist, and author of The Mediatrician's Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World. Dr. Rich shares his insights on navigating the challenges and opportunities of parenting in the digital age, drawing from decades of research and clinical experience. They discuss the benefits and pitfalls of technology in family life, schools, and society at large, while exploring practical strategies like Dr. Rich's "Five M's" for fostering healthy relationships with screens. From rethinking “parental controls” to championing youth participation in designing the digital future, this conversation is full of actionable advice and thought-provoking ideas for parents, educators, and tech leaders alike. Tune in to learn how we can all collaborate to create a better, more balanced world for our kids—online and offline.

In this episode of 'Into the Digital Future,' hosts Jordan Shapiro and Laura Higgins discuss the transformative power of gaming with Susanna Pollack, president of Games for Change. Pollock explains how games are being used beyond entertainment to address critical societal issues such as mental health and climate anxiety. The conversation highlights various initiatives, including partnerships with UNESCO, the World Food Programme, and the Deepak Chopra Foundation. The episode also delves into the Games for Change Student Challenge, empowering young people to design games with social impact themes. Tune in to learn how gaming is evolving as a tool for positive change.

In this episode of Into the Digital Future, Dr. Sameer Hinduja, Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, joins hosts Laura Higgins and Jordan Shapiro to explore the complexities of youth behavior in digital spaces. From the concerning phenomenon of digital self-harm to the role of social media in fostering connection and support, Dr. Hinduja shares his insights on building empathy, resilience, and safer online environments. This thought-provoking discussion offers valuable perspectives for parents, educators, and policymakers navigating the challenges of the digital age.

Join hosts Jordan Shapiro and Laura Higgins in this episode of 'Into the Digital Future', featuring special guest Dr. Erlanger Turner, founder and executive director of Therapy for Black Kids and author of Raising Resilient Black Kids. This episode dives into how intersectionality affects mental health in the digital age, particularly for Black youth. Dr. Turner discusses both the positive and negative impacts of social media, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing these challenges. The conversation also covers the misuse of mental health terminology, strategies for parents to manage their teens' social media use, and the necessity of inclusive, supportive online spaces. Additionally, Dr. Turner promotes his new book, 'Raising Resilient Black Kids,' offering practical advice for parents and caregivers.

In this episode of 'Into the Digital Future,' hosts Laura Higgins and Jordan Shapiro speak with psychologist and author Dr. Lisa Damour about the complex emotional lives of teenagers and their digital habits. The discussion highlights self-care through technology, the impact of social media algorithms, and strategies for parents to support their teenagers' mental health. Dr. Damour emphasizes the importance of understanding each child's unique needs and provides practical advice for managing risks and encouraging positive digital habits. The conversation covers both the potential harms and benefits of technology, advocating for balanced and informed approaches to adolescent digital interactions.

In this episode of Into the Digital Future, Shuli Gilutz speaks with Jordan Shapiro and Laura Higgins about the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) initiative, led by The LEGO Group and UNICEF and funded by the LEGO Foundation. They discuss the RITEC-8 framework, developed through research conducted with over 750 children in 18 countries. Shuli discusses the release of the RITEC Design Toolbox, which has been created as a set of tools for design teams to support their integration of these ideas in their work designing digital play. Tune in to learn how well-designed digital play experiences can help foster children’s well-being.

Lucha Sotomayor, distinguished child participation expert and digital rights advocate, joins Laura and Jordan for an impactful conversation on enhancing child safety online. Lucha brings her experiences from her significant role in the United Nations Protection through Online Participation (POP) project, an initiative aimed at utilizing the Internet as a tool for child protection and empowerment. She discusses the intricacies of the project and how it's changing the way we understand children's online experiences. Together, they delve into the current dynamics of online youth participation and the proactive measures being implemented through POP to promote their safety and rights.

Jaspal Sandhu, Executive Vice President at Hopelab, discusses the organization's impactful work in youth mental health and well-being. With a strong focus on equity for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color, Jaspal delves into the positive possibilities of technology and the importance of involving young people as active partners in shaping solutions within the responsible technology movement.

Our guest for this episode of Into the Digital Future is Dr. Melissa C. Mercado, a lead researcher at the CDC who is working to address the challenges of digital harassment and online safety. With Laura and Jordan, Dr. Mercado delves into the world of online bullying, cyberbullying, and their impact on well-being. Melissa highlights the real-life consequences of online violence and emphasizes leveraging online spaces for positive connections and skill-building.

Laura and Jordan are joined by Amanda Third, Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney and co-author of the UN's Digital Rights of the Child. Amanda shares her participatory research approach that empowers children as active contributors to data on their digital experiences. As part of the Global Kids Online initiative, she highlights the digital challenges kids face and calls for adult support and effective policies. Tune in to understand how we can create a future where children can imaginatively harness digital technology.

Trisha Prabhu, renowned innovator and anti-cyberbullying advocate, joins Laura and Jordan for a powerful discussion on combating digital harassment. Trisha shares insights from her journey as the creator of ReThink, a technology solution designed to detect and deter offensive language before it's posted online. Together, they explore the current landscape of online bullying and the proactive steps being taken by her company and the tech industry to combat them.

Jennie Ito, a seasoned developmental psychologist and expert in children's media and content appropriateness, joins Laura and Jordan in a compelling conversation on creating safer digital environments for kids. Drawing from her vast experience, which includes spearheading content policy development for kids' experiences on YouTube, Google Play, and her current role at Roblox, Jennie provides a deep dive into the intricacies of age-appropriate digital policy-making. Together, they explore the critical challenges and innovative solutions to ensuring child safety in digital platforms.

Join Laura and Jordan as they delve into the critical world of online safety with Julie Inman Grant, Australia's esteemed eSafety Commissioner. With her wealth of experience from tech giants like Microsoft, Twitter, and Adobe, Julie brings a unique perspective on internet safety measures and regulations. Learn about her journey leading the eSafety Commission since 2017 and the transformative strides they've made under the newly created global online safety regulators network. Together, they discuss the current state of online harm and the proactive strategies being implemented by the commission to safeguard Australians in the digital realm (and a couple of fun stories about Bill Gates).

Dr. Hina Talib, a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, joins Laura and Jordan for an enlightening discussion on raising teenagers in the digital age. They delve into the impact of technology on youth well-being, emphasizing the need for open conversations and listening. Dr. Talib highlights the importance of understanding individual experiences and fostering positive online communities. The conversation touches on age verification, content moderation, and the often-overlooked topics of sleep and movement. With valuable insights and practical advice, the discussion provides a thoughtful guide navigating the complexities of parenting teens in the digital world.

Daniel Kelley is the associate director for the Center of Technology and Society at the Anti-Defamation League. Daniel joins Laura and Jordan to discuss how online hate manifests in online spaces, particularly in the online games world, and how positive steps are being taken by civil society and technology companies to combat these issues.

Amanda LaTasha Armstrong joins Jordan and Laura to discuss issues around race and representation in games and online platforms. They discuss thinking about who's represented in media—from television to games. They discuss the power dynamics and social issues that children experience within real-world environments, and how technology and media can perpetuate these issues.

Kimberly Voll is a game developer, researcher, and co-founder of the Fair Play Alliance. In this episode, Kimberly joins Laura and Jordan to talk about her earliest experiences with video games, her interest in artificial intelligence, understanding games as social ecosystems, and the challenges of combating toxicity in digital spaces.

Teens & tweens have complex interests, questions, and opinions, their own devices & fewer options in educational media than younger children. Michael Preston discusses the “missing middle” audience, approaches to playful learning, and redefining digital wellbeing on the #intothedigitalfuture podcast

Alicia Blum Ross is a Public Policy Lead for Kids and Families at Google and the co-author of Parenting for a Digital Future: How Hopes and Fears about Technology Shape Children's Lives. In this episode, Laura and Jordan welcome Alicia to discuss how parenting has changed in response to technology, balancing the benefits for children against the risks, and the importance of digital literacy.