Author name: Cassie Kelly

All who pushed for reasonable social media safeguards – particularly Parents – CONGRATS! In the face of strong legislative pressure with KOSA gaining support,  Instagram has finally responded with safeguards for youth, 18 and below! Much of their safety initiatives come from advocates’ state and federal policy recommendations which we knew were possible. Now within […]

Yes! 42 state attorney generals have endorsed placing warning labels on social media apps, following the US Surgeon General’s recommendation. A letter urging Congress to take action was sent last week! Read more: 42 US state attorneys general want warning labels on social media apps (yahoo.com)

Help us make KOSA the first new law to protect children online in over 25 years! This bipartisan bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming majority of 91-3, and now we need your help to get it through the House before the election. Your voice is needed: Get the Kids Online Safety Act passed!

48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming. In the Surgeon General’s forward to the Parents under Pressure Advisory just issued today, he writes: “Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us.” Yet again, he underscores Unite for Safe Social Media’s approach to collective parental action by

Regulating emotions is just one impact for toddlers who spend 75 minutes or more a day on the iPad, study shows. Keep it to an hour of education, American Academy of Pediatrics says.     Read more: Computer tablet use linked to angry outbursts among toddlers, research shows – CBS Sacramento (cbsnews.com)

It was a wonderful evening at Action for Children’s FatherUp program where the Lt. Governor warmly shared the role his father played in his life and the model he set. Raising his teens in the digital age is tough, but he acknowledged, and encouraged these fathers enrolled in the FatherUp program to do their best

Why? Because research shows that children playing outdoors reap huge mental and physicalbenefits, see Washington Post summary of studies HERE. Try one or all these approaches:– Start small— a simple walk around the neighborhood will do.– Let your love of nature show. Children model what their parents do. Show your enjoyment of being outside and

Meta just announced  taking down 63,000 sextortion accounts from Instagram – 63,000?! Can you imagine? Read more here: Meta takes down 63,000 accounts linked to sextortion scams targeting US men (yahoo.com)

Every young person needs a trusted adult to turn if they encounter anything on the web that makes them feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, attacked, demeaned, extorted and more. That trusted adult is often a parent or grandparent, other family member, adult neighbor, or teacher – be sure the young people in your life have one! A

8-year-old Carter has such wisdom about phones, computers, and social media. He says things like, “Why need a cell phone? Just walk up to the person or write them a letter!” And, “Who needs TikTok? It’s a complete waste of time and teens are going to get into trouble….they could even go to juvie.” Read