Social Media and Youth Body Image: What To Know and What To Do
The influence of social media on body image affects youth of all genders in complex ways. How can parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals promote positive body image in young people and help them avoid online risks?
Does AI Help Students Learn? | Adam Dubé, PhD
Transparency is the Cornerstone of Accountability
Statement of Kris Perry, Executive Director, on the reintroduction of the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act
The Children and Screens Guide for Child Development and Media Use: Middle Childhood Ages 6-11
Digital Devices in Schools
A two-page research snapshot on the impacts of school phone bans and classroom devices on students and educators
Advancing the Agenda: A Report from the Breakout Sessions at #MediaAndMinds25
This report is a summary of the 19 breakout sessions at the 2025 Media and Minds Congress.
Our in-person and virtual events bridge the knowledge gap between researchers, clinicians, parents, and families. See all events.
Elise Hu
Podcaster, Journalist, Author
Raising Us
Elizabeth A. Daniels, PhD
Professor and Director
Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England
Chelly Maes, PhD
Assistant Professor
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Research Center in Information and Communication
Jennifer Mills, PhD, CPsych
Full Professor
Department of Psychology, York University
Jasmine Fardouly, PhD
Sydney Horizon Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer
University of Sydney
Elise Hu
Podcaster, Journalist, Author
Raising Us
Elizabeth A. Daniels, PhD
Professor and Director
Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England
Chelly Maes, PhD
Assistant Professor
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Research Center in Information and Communication
Jennifer Mills, PhD, CPsych
Full Professor
Department of Psychology, York University
Jasmine Fardouly, PhD
Sydney Horizon Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer
University of Sydney
Our Impact
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Social Relationships
…are connections between two or more individuals, and include peers, friendships, families, romantic ties, community groups, and even parasocial connections with digital creators. Formed both online and offline, these bonds shape development through supportive, prosocial behaviors and/or antisocial dynamics. They are increasingly affected by today’s digital landscape which can serve as both facilitator and disruptor.
Face-to-face conversations change when technology is present…if these interruptions take place, the quality of that interaction is degraded…and people feel less connected to the other individual.”
On Social Relationships
The Social Brain on Screens
What are the functions of the social brain in childhood and what strategies can encourage healthy social development in youth?
How does technology affect kids' social development?
How do technology-mediated experiences impact social development across childhood? What role do devices and digital media play in social interactions and the development of critical social skills?
Growing 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?
Growing Up Lonely? Child Connection and Isolation in the Digital Age
Are today’s children lonelier than past generations? How are digital devices and social media shaping their ability to connect, and what does that mean for their long-term emotional and social well-being?
(dis)Connected? Relationships in the Digital Age
With increasing reliance on digital platforms for interaction, how are relationships changing? How do we promote personal connections in the context of near-ubiquitous use of smartphones and other technologies?