Cyberwise Chats

We made a lot of mistakes when social media hit — kids were deep in it before most of us even knew what to worry about. Now AI is here, it's moving even faster, and we have a chance to do this differently. In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge and Diana Graber sit down with special guest Lisa O'Masta, CEO of Learning.com, to talk about what's already happening with AI in kids' lives, why it'...

AI tools are rapidly becoming part of everyday life—from homework help and learning apps to chatbots, image generators, and more. Kids are exploring these tools earlier than ever so in this episode, we walk parents and caregivers through how to create a Family AI Use Agreement—a clear, developmentally informed set of expectations that supports healthy, ethical, and safe habits with AI.

In this Cyberwise Chat, we explore the growing trend of children forming connections with AI companions. With the recent introduction of Google’s Gemini AI chatbot for users under 13, designed to assist with tasks like homework and storytelling , questions arise about the impact of such technology on children’s emotional development and sense of belonging. We’ll delve into current research on the...

Are we really protecting young people online, or are we just creating a false sense of security through various bans and restrictions? In this compelling "Cyberwise Chat,” Diana Graber and Dr. Pamela Rutledge chat with two leading experts, Dr. Sydney Sullivan and Dr. Nolan Higdon, who will change how you think about online safety. We explore the current trend toward Digital Protectionism and discu...

In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge and Author Diana Graber welcome back special guest Dino Ambrosi, Founder of Project Reboot, a research-backed program aimed at helping students develop healthy digital habits. We discuss the insights Dino has gathered from meeting with students around the world. How are they navigating their relationship with technology today? YouTube Link: https://www.y...

A new year full of new trends awaits our digital kids… Meta (Facebook and Instagram) have ditched fact-checking, TikTok will likely be banned in the US, and Florida has enacted its ban aimed at keeping kids under 14 off of social media. At the same time, AI finds its way into literally every online tool kids will use in 2025 and beyond. How are parents supposed to keep up? In this interactive webi...

The use of generative AI (artificial intelligence that can produce new content) to generative nude or nearly-nude depictions of individuals is a troubling and growing trend. A simple Google search reveals dozens of free and easy-to-use “nudification” apps that anyone a use. Already students have used these to generate and share naked images of classmates via group chats and on social media. Such d...

There’s increasing concern about rising anxiety levels among youth, and technology often gets the blame. As we navigate a world where technology is an integral part of life, it’s crucial to equip young people with the skills to use it in a balanced and responsible way. This is where digital and media literacy comes into play. In this Cyberwise Chat, we speak with Erin McNeill, the Founder and CEO...

With summer upon us, children everywhere are looking forward to keeping connected to their friends by playing online video games. Learn how to safeguard your kids whether they are playing one of the most popular games—Fortnite—or using the best-selling game console—PlayStation 5. For this Chat we spoke with Candela Montero, who is the Senior Director of Ecosystem Integrity at Epic Games, and Cathe...

Everything your child posts online, or what others post about them, can potentially be seen by anyone and everyone! And we know that this matters. More and more, colleges, prospective employers, and even complete strangers are learning about our children online. While maintaining an appropriate and respectful digital reputation is a big responsibility for young people, it also presents a huge oppo...

During this Cyberwise Chat, we chatted with Bill Marsland, the Director of Education at Code Ninjas, the world's largest and fastest-growing kids' coding franchise. Watch and learn about all the cognitive skills kids gain when they learn how to code. See all of our Cyberwise Chats here: https://www.cyberwise.org/cyberwisechats Check out Code Ninjas here: https://www.codeninjas.com/  

Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, Exclusion, Hate Speech... problems that originate online are increasingly coming to school and disrupting the learning environment. Oftentimes, parents look to already overwhelmed teachers to solve these problems. But adding one more thing the the long list of priorities teachers already have is a tall order. So how can teachers, and parents, nip social media problems...

More than ever, today’s children are growing up in world where nearly every moment of their lives is captured and shared on social media and more. In this Cyberwise Chat we spoke with Dr. Devorah Heitner, the best-selling author of “Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World,” about the special challenges today’s connected children face. We explored ways you can help your children set...

Worried about your kids and online gaming? Well, worry no more! In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge and Diana Graber talk about all the (easy!) ways you can keep your children safe while they play. Learn more: https://www.cyberwise.org/cyberwisechats

Learn how to protect your children from bullying and cyberbullying from experts Diana Graber, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, and Special Guest Ross Ellis from STOMP Out Bullying!    How To Protect Your Child From Cyberbullying With Dr. Pamela Rutledge & Diana Graber + Special Guest Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO, STOMP Out Bullying®

In this Cyberwise Chat, we discuss the top five lessons teachers say kids need most in order to use tech safely, wisely, and most of all, productively! From managing screen time to dealing with cyberbullies, we’ve got you covered. We’ll show you step-by-step how to teach these topics to different ages and stages. Help your children thrive this year and beyond!

Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) are accelerating at breakneck speeds: it’s hard for busy parents to keep up! Already children are growing up with AI-powered devices in the home, like Siri and Alexa, and many are playing with AI art tools like Dall E-2 or Dreamlike, and they may be talking about people having AI girlfriends (yes, it’s a thing). Even more advanced AI is on the way and th...

Utah became the first state in the U.S. to ban teens from social media. Utah SB 152 requires that all residents under the age of 18 have parental consent in order to create an account. Additionally, users under the age of 18 are banned from all qualifying social media platforms between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am. Arkansas became the second state to enact a similar ban, prohibiting social media companies...

Kids are spending more time with screens than ever, and worried parents are wondering if we have reached the point of no return. Can we help kids strike a balance between screen time and all the other important things in their young lives? We think so, and we explore how. We were joined for this chat by Amy Webster and Amina Mohamoud, the Youth Engagement Director and Coordinator of "LiveMore Scre...

TikTok, the popular app beloved by tweens and teens, has found itself in the crosshairs lately. President Joe Biden recently signed legislation that would ban the app from phones and computers issued by federal agencies. Dozens of states have implemented similar prohibitions on devices used by their employees, and universities across the country have banned the app on university-issued phones and...

ChatGPT — the popular new A.I chatbot that can write essays, solve complex problems, do homework, and more — has sent many parents and educators into a panic. They believe students will use this tool to cheat, or worse, that students will never learn to write or think for themselves all. Some school districts have even banned the use of ChatGPT altogether. In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutled...

A popular “Wait Until 8th" campaign encourages parents to band together and agree to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. While there are some advantages to this approach, in this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center, Diana Graber, Founder of Cyberwise and Cyber Civics and author of "Raising Humans in a Digital World," are jo...

From Disney characters to YouTubers and Instagram celebrities, kids can develop deep emotional connections with media personalities and characters. These “parasocial relationships” are one-sided but to the kids, the media characters can feel like real friends, influencing everything a real friend does, from product purchases and interest in social causes to feelings of belonging and self-worth. In...

In this Cyberwise Chat we talk to authors Dr. Carrie James and Dr. Emily Weinstein about their new book: "Behind Their Screens: What Teens are Facing (and What Adults are Missing)." It turns out what adults are missing is... a lot! After surveying more than 3,500 teens, the authors discovered that youth worry about their dependence on devices, being left out socially, and they feel pressure to be...

Digital kids face all kinds of online pressures and challenges, from cyberbullying to sexting, counting social media “likes,” to trying to look “perfect” online. The one skill that can help them withstand these pressures is resiliency. In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center, author Diana Graber, founder of Cyberwise/Cyber Civics, and kids medi...