Digital Wellness Lab

As digital wellness researchers, we get asked questions constantly by parents looking for real guidance on screen time, social media, and new AI tools.   The truth is, digital wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for a toddler won't work for a teen, and every family's dynamic looks different.   That’s why we are hosting "Let's Talk Tech: A Live Q&A on Family Digital Wellbeing." We’re bringing evidence-based answers to your most burning tech questions across all ages and stages. No judgment, no quick fixes—just real, research-backed guidance from experts at The Digital Wellness Lab Boston Children's Hospital ready to tackle your biggest digital wellness questions LIVE.   🗓️ Tuesday, Oct 6 | 3:30 pm PT / 6:30 pm ET 📍 Free | 60 minutes | Live on Zoom   🔗 Register now and share with a friend: https://lnkd.in/ePyTSDAx   Don't miss this opportunity to get direct access to our team and hear what the science actually says about youth, media and tech!   Can’t make it live? Register anyway—every registrant receives the full recording to watch on their own time.   Supported by Verizon as part of our free fall webinar series on healthy digital habits for families.   #DigitalWellness #Parenting #DigitalSafety #ScreenTime #FamilyWellbeing #TechLifeBalance

Digital technologies are a pervasive part of childhood and adolescence, raising critical questions about how they impact developing brains.   Mark your calendars! On October 26, 2026, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a public workshop bringing together leading experts—including the Lab's Founder and Director Dr. Michael Rich—to unpack current neuroscience research, methodological challenges, displacement effects, and the future role of AI.   Public registration is open for both in-person and virtual attendance.   Register now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gVtqaDyz   #DigitalWellness #Neuroscience #ChildDevelopment #BrainDevelopment #MediaAndYouth #NationalAcademies

****UPDATE 9/29- EVENT RESCHEDULED TO 10/10 from 12-2**** Boston families: we can’t wait to see you on Saturday 10/10 at Family Digital Wellness Day! Stop by the Roxbury YMCA anytime between 12-2 pm for fun digital wellness activities and pizza. 📅 Saturday 10/10 from 12-2, stop by for all or part of the time 📍 Roxbury YMCA | 285 Martin Luther King Blvd, Roxbury, MA 🎉 This free event is open to the public and includes interactive activities to help your family establish digital wellness habits, and pizza!  📱We’re the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, a research and innovation lab within Sesame Workshop that advances positive futures for kids in the digital age. This event is co-presented by our friends at The GIANT Room and Boston Children's Hospital’s Digital Wellness Lab in partnership with Verizon (supporting Verizon’s Digital Wellness initiative: https://lnkd.in/ei6Am9d3) cc: YMCA of Greater Boston #bostonkids #bostonfamilies

TONIGHT: FREE LIVE WEBINAR FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS   Researchers Hannah Chidekel, MPH and Edith Wang from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital will be answering the questions families ask us most—about screen time, first phones, social media, video games, AI, and more   FINDING BALANCE: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR YOUR FAMILY’S DIGITAL WELLBEING Tonight, Sept 24 3:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm PT Virtual (Zoom link provided after registration)   An hour of research-backed, judgment-free guidance, with time for your questions.   Can’t make it live? Register anyway. Every registrant gets the recording to watch whenever it works for you. These webinars are part of a free series of ongoing educational sessions supported by Verizon to support your family's online choices.   Save your spot: https://lnkd.in/gNwNds3u   And if you know a parent, caregiver, or teacher who could benefit from this webinar, please tag them or share this post!    #DigitalWellness #Parenting #ScreenTime #FamilyTech

What are screens, social media, and AI really doing to childhood—and are bans the answer?   In a new episode of the Digital Childhood series, Dr. Michael Rich joins Sidharth Pandey for a wide-ranging conversation on children, technology, digital wellbeing, and parenting.   Together they explore why the debate around youth and tech is far more complicated than simply labeling screens as “good” or “bad.”   Key topics covered in this discussion:   ▪  Emotional Connections to AI: examining whether children and teens can form significant relationships with conversational AI   ▪  The Displacement Effect: understanding why screen time is the wrong measure, and how tech displaces sleep, exercise, boredom, and family time   ▪  Defining Problematic Interactive Media Use: what PIMU actually is and when heavy use becomes problematic   ▪  Policy & Accountability: whether social media bans work and who should carry responsibility—parents, schools, tech platforms, or regulators   ▪  The Five Ms of Digital Wellness: practical tools for healthier digital lives: Model, Mentor, Monitor, Mastery, and Make Memories Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/ghV2r3DE   #DigitalWellness #DigitalChildhood #PIMU #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #MediaAndYouth

“Am I doing this right?” Every parent asks it at some point. ⭐ Last call to register! ⭐ Tonight, Tuesday, September 22, join researchers from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital for "Let's Talk Tech: A Live Q&A on Family Digital Wellbeing". Our team of experts will tackle what families ask us most—from screen time struggles to social media worries to navigating new AI tools. We’ll start with a set of frequently asked questions and then open up the discussion, with no topic off-limits. Don’t miss this chance to get real-time, direct, research-informed answers to the questions that matter most for your family! Tuesday, September 22 | 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET Free | 60 minutes | Live on Zoom Can’t make it live? Register anyway. Every registrant gets the recording to watch whenever it works for them. This is one of three free sessions in the series, supported by Verizon, running through October 6. https://lnkd.in/gEcc2Y3m #digitalwellness #parenting #digitalsafety #screentime

“Am I doing this right?” Every parent asks it at some point.   On Tuesday, September 22, join researchers from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital for "Let's Talk Tech: A Live Q&A on Family Digital Wellbeing".   Our team of experts will tackle what families ask us most—from screen time struggles to social media worries to navigating new AI tools. We’ll start with a set of frequently asked questions and then open up the discussion, with no topic off-limits. Don’t miss this chance to get real-time, direct, research-informed answers to the questions that matter most for your family!   Tuesday, September 22 | 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET Free | 60 minutes | Live on Zoom   Can’t make it live? Register anyway. Every registrant gets the recording to watch whenever it works for them. This is one of three free sessions in the series, supported by Verizon, running through October 6. https://lnkd.in/e8PutY_5   #digitalwellness #parenting #digitalsafety #screentime

We are thrilled to introduce Samantha Hirianto as our new Graduate Research Intern! Samantha will be supporting the Lab's ongoing research around youth technology use, bringing a rich background in child development, media research, and clinical work.   Currently pursuing her Master’s in Child Study & Human Development at Tufts University, Samantha’s work spans critical areas of digital wellbeing. Her previous research includes studying bias and stereotype perception at Tufts' Cognitive Development Lab and translating social-emotional research into child-focused app content at Oxford’s Social Foundations Lab.   At the Lab, Samantha will be diving into impactful projects, including:   ▪  Translating early childhood research into actionable recommendations for AI product designers   ▪  Analyzing data from a parent-facing media support chatbot   ▪  Advancing her thesis research on loneliness and AI companionship among young people Driven by a passion for helping people build more mindful relationships with technology, Samantha is focused on how media shapes connection and mental health across development.   Please join us in giving Samantha a warm welcome! 👋   #DigitalWellness #ChildDevelopment #YouthAndTech #Research #WelcomeToTheTeam #AIEthics

This one is for our Boston-area families! Ready to kick off the new school year with healthy habits and tech-smart strategies?   The Digital Wellness Lab is teaming up with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, The GIANT Room, Verizon, and local partners to host a free Family Digital Wellness Day packed with activities to help your household thrive online and off.   Event Highlights   ▪  Open house style with interactive games, hands-on activities, and STEM projects    ▪  Free food, awesome giveaways, and practical resources for families, parents, and kids of all ages!   Event Details   ▪  Where: YMCA of Greater Boston (285 Martin Luther King Blvd, Roxbury, MA)   ▪  When: Saturday, Sept 26 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM   ▪  Cost: Free (no advance RSVP required)   Bring the whole family out for an inspiring afternoon—we’d love to see you there!

Here's an incredible opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in youth advocacy and mental wellbeing. As one of our Inspired Internet Pledge advisors, Born This Way Foundation is doing crucial work to build a kinder, braver world—highly recommend sharing this with any students in your network! 💫