What Three Weeks with 14 Teens Taught Me About Online Safety
Over three weeks this winter, I had the opportunity to work with a group of 14 teenagers, ages 15 to 18, in the DC community of Shaw. Through this unique […] The post What Three Weeks with 14 Teens Taught Me About Online Safety appeared first on Family Online Safety Institute.
AISummary
A child safety researcher shares insights gained from working directly with 14 teenagers on critical online safety topics including AI, social media, and healthy relationships. The article challenges common assumptions about what teens actually need to learn, offering parents valuable perspective on real teen concerns versus perceived threats.
Over three weeks this winter, I had the opportunity to work with a group of 14 teenagers, ages 15 to 18, in the DC community of Shaw. Through this unique partnership with the Kennedy Recreation Center, we covered three core topics: AI and chatbots, social media and mental health, and healthy online relationships. On paper, the concept was simple. In practice, the experience challenged many of my assumptions. When I first designed the workshops, I assumed the biggest need would be simply opening...