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Ask the Experts—WebinarAI Companions and Kids: What You Need to Know
From late-night venting to homework help, the use of AI companions are becoming a part of everyday life for many tweens and teens. What does this mean for the ability to form real world friendships? What should parents and caregivers know about mental health and social development risks from the use of these types of AI technologies?
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Ethical DesignMental HealthSocial RelationshipsSpeakersMichael Robb, PhD
Head of Research
Common Sense Media
Andrew Clark, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Boston University School of Medicine
Anne Maheux, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tara Steele
Director
The Safe AI for Children Alliance (SAIFCA)
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Ask the Experts—WebinarOnline Marketing and Child Eating Habits: What to Know and What To Do
Children today face a nonstop stream of sophisticated online marketing techniques that look nothing like the TV jingles and commercials of the past. How can parents safeguard children from the impacts of this endless, ever-present influx of food marketing content?
Advertising and MarketingBrain and CognitionPhysical HealthSocial MediaSpeakersKelly Brownell, PhD
Dean Emeritus
Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University
Marie Bragg, PhD
Assistant Professor of Population Health
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Jennifer Harris, PhD
Senior Research Advisor
UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health
Diane Gilbert-Diamond, ScD
Professor of Epidemiology, Medicine, and Pediatrics
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
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Ask the Experts—WebinarOnline Racism and Youth
How are youth of color experiencing racism online, either directly or through others--and how is it impacting them? What can parents and educators do to help?
Race and EthnicityParentingSocial MediaSocial RelationshipsSpeakersRiana Elyse Anderson, PhD, LCP
Associate Professor
Columbia University
Tiera Tanksley, PhD
Senior Research Associate
UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry
Henry Willis, PhD
Assistant Professor
Clinical Psychology Program, University of Maryland, College Park
Nia Heard-Garris, MD, MBA, MSc
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Alyssa Cohen, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
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Ask the Experts—WebinarOvershare? What You Need To Know About Parent Sharenting and Child Privacy
How does "sharenting" affect children's privacy, safety, and psychological development, and what should parents keep in mind before clicking "share"?
Social MediaParentingPrivacySocial RelationshipsSpeakersFortesa Latifi, MA
Journalist
Stacey Steinberg, JD
Legal Skills Professor
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Liselot Hudders, PhD
Full Professor in Marketing Ethics
Ghent University, Belgium
Ryan Allen MS, LPCC-S
Licensed Professional Counselor
Preschool Therapy & Consulting
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Ask the Experts—WebinarHidden Costs: Protecting Kids from Online Financial Exploitation
From influencer advertising, manipulative persuasive design, video game loot boxes, and even illegal financial extortion – children face a digital minefield designed to capture their money and their trust.
Social MediaAdvertising and MarketingPrivacyVideo GamingSpeakersVicki Shotbolt
Founder and CEO
Parent Zone
Michelle Nelson, PhD
Professor
Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, Institute of Communications Research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Paul Raffile, MA
Intelligence Analyst
Elena Petrovskaya, PhD
Research Associate
University of Lincoln
Christopher Mufarrige
Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection
Federal Trade Commission
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Ask the Experts—WebinarWhat To Do About Screens in Schools? Phones, Tablets, and Focus in the Classroom
What do we know about the effectiveness of phone bans, and what do experts recommend for device use in the classroom?
Education & LearningBrain and CognitionEmerging TechnologyMental HealthSpeakersAntero Garcia, PhD
Professor
Stanford University
Sachin Maharaj, PhD
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Policy and Program Evaluation
Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa
Melanie Johnson, EdD
President and CEO
Collaborative for Children
Matt Brady, MS
Teacher
Atkins Technological and Academic High School
Abraham Flanigan, PhD
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
Georgia Southern University
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Congresses2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress
ON DEMAND NOW: Congress Sessions
29 Topics -
Ask the Experts—WebinarGrowing Up Online: Understanding Youth Internet Trends, Subcultures, and Relationships
Where and how are children and teens spending their time online, and what is the nature of the cultures and relationships they are forming there? How are these affecting their offline development and sense of self?
Social MediaCharacter DevelopmentParentingSocial RelationshipsSpeakersYalda T. Uhls, PhD
Founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, University of California, Los Angeles
Bradley J. Bond, PhD
Professor of Communication, University of San Diego
Chia-chen Yang, PhD
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, Oklahoma State University
Sara Grimes, PhD
Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy and Full Professor, Communication Studies, McGill University
Trevor Boffone, PhD
Professor, University of Houston
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Ask the Experts—WebinarViolent Media, Toxic Online Spaces, and Youth Aggression
When does exposure to violent or toxic online content start to negatively impact young people's behavior, and what should parents and caregivers do about it?
CyberbullyingSocial RelationshipsVideo GamingViolent ContentSpeakersMichael Rich, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Director, Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital
Stephanie Fredrick, PhD, NCSP
Associate Director, Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, University at Buffalo, SUNY
Brad J. Bushman, PhD
Professor of Communication, The Ohio State University
Jun Sung Hong, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Wayne State University; Visiting Professor, Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University, South Korea
Rob Eschmann, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Columbia University; Faculty Associate, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University