In a powerful moment of unity and urgency at the 2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development presented its highest honors to three leading U.S. Senators for their efforts to protect children in the digital age.
Watch the policymaker awards and remarks in their entirety here.
During a private dinner at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on Tuesday evening, Children and Screens awarded: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) with the Children and Screens Award for Leadership in Children’s Digital Well-Being for their steadfast, bipartisan commitment to kids’ online safety. The longtime co-sponsors of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) have championed the legislation in every Congress since 2022, earning broad bipartisan support and national attention for their efforts to hold tech companies accountable and make digital spaces safer by design.
“When children are online, they are the product. Social media platforms are making money off of these precious lives,” said Senator Blackburn. “The responsibility is on these platforms to have that duty of care for children, to make certain that the children are going to have a toolbox with the parents that they can get past these algorithms…and making certain that children in the virtual space are going to be protected like children in the physical space.”
“In the physical space you can not take children to pornographic shows, you can’t sell them alcohol, you can’t sell them tobacco, there are laws in place,” Senator Blackburn continued, “and we want to protect these children… we want to make certain the protections in the visual space are there for them each and every day.”
Senator Blumenthal echoed the urgency. “As meaningful as this moment is, the moments that I’ve spent with moms and dads who’ve lost children, with young people who have seen their peers go through the emotional devastation that can result from social media that big tech knows is part of their business model to addict and harm children…their courage has inspired me to be a part of this great effort.”
The Institute also honored Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) with the Lifetime Advocate for Children’s Digital Privacy Rights Award in recognition of his groundbreaking leadership over decades – including authoring the original Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in 1998 and continuing to push for stronger protections for teens in the digital economy, including his sponsorship of the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). Senator Markey delivered his remarks remotely, while Senator Blumenthal attended in person and Senator Blackburn received her award on-site.
“Today’s kids are navigating a perilous digital landscape, which has helped to contribute to a devastating youth mental health crisis,” said Senator Markey. “In 2023, one in four teenagers seriously considered suicide. One in eight teenage girls actually attempted suicide. And one in five LGBTQ high school students attempted suicide… It’s long past time to get Congress to do the right thing – to get the job done for young people in our country.”
The awards ceremony served as the centerpiece of the biennial Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress, which convened more than 300 leading scientists, clinicians, educators, and policymakers at The Westin DC from July 13–16. Hosted by Children and Screens, the event explored the latest research on how digital media impacts child and adolescent development, and examined urgent policy solutions at the federal, state, and global levels.
Key sessions at this year’s Congress tackled issues including:
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- Youth mental health and the role of algorithmic design
- Sleep disruption and social media habits in adolescents
- The neurodevelopmental impact of screen-based learning and AI companions
- Legislative and legal frameworks for tech accountability
- Strategies for empowering parents, educators, and communities with practical tools
Among the standout presentations were new findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study linking addictive screen use in preteens to increased depression, sleep problems, and early substance use; and international research examining how social norms and gender inequality shape the mental health impact of social media across 39 countries.
“This moment in Washington represents a turning point,” said Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens. “As science continues to evolve, the message is clear: we need bold, evidence-based policies that prioritize the health and safety of children online. These Senators have led the way, and our Institute is proud to recognize their contributions as we work together toward a safer digital future.”
The 2025 Congress builds on more than a decade of leadership by Children and Screens in convening interdisciplinary experts, translating research for the public, and equipping policymakers with science-based insights. The organization recently released a landmark open-access Handbook of Children and Screens and continues to advise on major legislative efforts including KOSA and COPPA 2.0.
To learn more about the 2025 Congress and Children and Screens, visit: https://www.childrenandscreens.org
About Children and Screens
Children and Screens: Institute for Digital Media and Child Development is an independent 501(c)3 organization working to help children lead healthy lives in a digital world. The Institute is committed to evidence-based, interdisciplinary, nonpartisan efforts, free from technology industry funding.
For more information on Children and Screens, please contact Jon Bleicher at Prospect PR [jon@prospectpr.com, 973.330.1711]