This May, as the world marks Mental Health Awareness Month, conversations about technology, AI, and family wellbeing matter more than ever. The research paints a serious picture: a global youth mental health crisis, rising chatbot and AI companion use among kids, and growing concern about the cost of always-on attention.
The Waiting Game Isn't Enough: A Plea for Proactive Digital Wellness
An Opening Essay | MediaEd Insights | Pause2MAP Edition | April 2026
Written by Michelle Hirschy
For seventeen years, I have been the person on the other side of the closed office door. From my years as a school counselor to my current role as a PreK-12 Director of Wellness, I have been the safe harbor when group chats turn suddenly cruel, when the endless spiral of comparison breeds anxiety, and when a single, permanently captured screenshot comes to define a child’s social worth.
Wait Until 8th?: Mothers' decision-making and management of children's smartphones in the United States
A Research Brief | MediaEd Insights | Pause2MAP Edition | April 2026
Written by Susannah Stern
Original Article: Stern, S. R. (2025). Wait Until 8th?: Mothers’ decision-making and management of children’s smartphones in the United States. Journal of Children and Media, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2025.2567278
Student-Led Media Literacy Legislation in California
A Case Study | MediaEd Insights | Pause2MAP Edition | April 2026
Written by Elise Choi
Elise is a California high school junior and a Research Fellow at the Media Education Lab.
Research Beginnings