Daily Program

**Watch snapshots from Tuesday’s sessions.**

Welcome and Brief and Brilliant Flash Talks

8:30 am – 8:40 am

• • Daniel Labrousse, PhD student, University of Pittsburgh, “Media and Mood in Black Adolescent Socialization”
  • Emma Cristini, PhD Candidate in Education, Université de Sherbrook, “Background Screen Exposure at Age 3.5 is Associated with Worse Problem-solving Skills at 4.5 Years”

(Invited Panel) Debate: Should High Schools Impose Full-Day Smartphone Bans?

8:45 am – 9:45 am
Educators report widespread problems with teen smartphone use, (e.g., distraction, disruption of the teaching environment, displacement of socialization, cheating, and bullying). School smartphone bans have been implemented nationwide. Opponents argue they are costly, ineffective, and block opportunities and safety.  The question of whether high schools should ban smartphones appears critical for educating youth in a digital world. We will hold a debate on this critical topic in traditional Oxford style format, with opportunities for attendees to addressask questions to either team. Whichever side sways more attendees will be declared the winner.

• Paul Weigle, MD (Moderator), Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Associate Medical Director, Hartford Healthcare; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
• Josh Golin, Executive Director, Fairplay
• Daniel Buck, MA, Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institution
• Carlene MacMillan, MD, Co-Founder, Fermata; Chief Product Officer, Radial
• Brandon Cardet-Hernandez,President, Mrs Wordsmith

(Invited Panel) #Born: How Screen Use Shapes Early Development and Relationships

9:45 am -10:45 am
Children develop within the context of relationships, the first and most important being with their primary caregivers (usually parents). Join us to learn more about the ways in which screen media may shape children’s development, starting from birth. Presenters will summarize the current research on the relationship between screens and early development; provide insight into how screen use can both empower and distress parents and young children; and conclude with tips for talking with families about their screen media practices.  Bring your questions and reflections to join the conversation!

• Rebecca Parlakian, MA, Ed (moderator), Senior Director of Programs, ZERO TO THREE
• Brandon T. McDaniel, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation
• Sheri Madigan, PhD, R.Psych, Professor & Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Break | Tools and Methodologies Spotlights

10:45 am – 11:15 am

• ANT-Neuro
• Aura
• Sentinel Computers
• Stanford Screenomics Lab

(Invited Panel) Guinea Pigs or Pioneers? The Risks and Rewards of an AI-Mediated Childhood

11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Digital devices are an integral part of growing up today and artificial intelligence technologies are ubiquitous across devices. What are the implications of kids interacting with AI across so many domains of life and development, from early-stage learning and gaming to social media and companionship? What are the risks and rewards? How might crucial factors like identity and personality be impacted by an AI-mediated childhood? What do kids say about these technologies and how do their experiences shape their attitudes about life and information online? Does AI know our kids better than we do? This panel will explore these questions, and delve into the latest research and findings to understand how AI is being deployed to kids now, how their minds and bodies are being impacted and approaches for designing healthier human-centered systems.

• Michelle De Mooy (Moderator), Director, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Tech and Public Policy Program
• S. Craig Watkins, PhD, Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor, University of Texas at Austin; Executive Director, IC2 Institute
• Amanda Lenhart, MA, Senior Fellow, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop; Affiliate, Data & Society Research Institute
• Teodora Pavkovic, MSc, Director of Wellbeing, Lead Online Safety and Digital Wellbeing Expert, Linewize by Qoria

Lunch 

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm

(Invited Panel) Research Designs: Addressing Causal Mechanisms in a Sea of Correlational Studies

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm
Understanding how screens shape children is one of the most urgent—and methodologically complex—questions of our time. This panel brings together leading researchers to explore cutting-edge methods that move beyond correlational studies toward uncovering causal mechanisms. From innovative longitudinal designs and natural experiments to AI-assisted analytics and mixed-methods approaches, we will spotlight tools and frameworks that help untangle the nuanced, dynamic, and sometimes contradictory effects of screens on children’s well-being. We’ll also discuss what new methods are urgently needed to meet the moment as technologies—and childhoods—continue to evolve.

• Sunny Xun Liu, PhD (Moderator), Director of Research, Stanford Social Media Lab
• Thomas N. Robinson, MD, MPH, The Irving Schulman Endowed Professor in Child Health and Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and, by courtesy, of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University
• Elizabeth Hoffman, PhD, Associate Director, ABCD Study®, National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH
• Matías Dodel, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Universidad Católica del Uruguay

(Research Symposium): Understanding Contextual Influences on Children’s Media Use

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm
This symposium explores the complex interplay between individual traits, environmental contexts, and digital design in shaping young children’s media behaviors and developmental outcomes. Presenters will examine links between early temperament and later screen overuse, how persuasive app features affect disengagement, how screen time mediates the impact of household chaos on sleep, and how real-world play affects game learning. Findings emphasize the importance of aligning digital design with children’s developmental needs and environmental contexts.

• Adelaide Delali Klutse, MS, CFLE, PhD Candidate, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, “Children’s Screen Use Partially Mediates the Link Between Household Chaos and Kindergarteners’ Sleep”
• Mahmut Sami Gurdal, PhD Candidate, Virginia Tech, “From Early Temperament to Later Problematic Media Use: The Mediating Role of Adolescent Temperament”
• Sumudu Mallawaarachchi, PhD, Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, University of Wollongong, Australia, “The Effects of App Persuasive Design and Child Self-Regulation on their Digital Disengagement: An Acute Experiment”
• Jessica Younger, PhD, Senior Manager, Research Projects, PBS Kids, “Evaluating Effectiveness of Educational Games in Natural Settings”

(Invited Panel) Child-Centered Design: Creating Better Digital Experiences for Youth

2:30 pm – 3:20 pm
How can design support children’s digital well-being? This panel brings together researchers and advocates to explore how centering children’s perspectives and needs can help shape healthier, more age-appropriate digital experiences. Panelists will discuss the importance of accessible, developmentally supportive technologies and the approaches being used to create them. They will also reflect on the value of involving youth of all ages in the design process. The discussion will assess the current landscape, highlight effective practices, and surface opportunities for impact. Attendees will hear from leading voices in the field and have multiple opportunities to engage with panelists and their ideas.

• Katie Davis, EdD (Moderator), Associate Professor, University of Washington
• Alexis Hiniker, PhD, Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, University of Washington Information School
• Zamaan Qureshi, Co-Chair, Design It For Us
• Medha Tare, PhD, Senior Director of Research, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop

(Research Symposium) Digital Media Exposure: Tracing Social and Mental Health Impacts Across Development

2:30 pm – 3:20 pm
This symposium explores the psychological, social, and neurobiological effects of digital media use across key stages of development. Using large datasets and neuroimaging tools, researchers highlight risks related to excessive digital media use, negative online experiences, and exposure to images depicting body enhancements—especially for girls, Black young women, and gender-diverse youth. Collectively, the findings emphasize the need for developmental and identity-informed approaches to guide screen time practices and digital policy.

• Madelyn Curle, MPH, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, “Longitudinal Associations Between Social Media and Mental Health Among Adolescents: The COMPASS Study”
• Sheri Madigan, PhD, R.Psych, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, “Longitudinal Perspectives on Digital Technology Use, Peer Relations Problems and Prosocial Behavior in Childhood”
• Jennifer Silk, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, “Teen Girls with Fewer Positive and More Negative Experiences on Social Media Show Heightened Neural Sensitivity to Social Evaluation”
• Leonna Davis, PhD, Developmental Psychologist and Assistant Professor, Bowie State University, “Body Enhanced Social Media Images on Black Women’s Body Esteem Satisfaction and Attitudes Towards Cosmetic Surgery”

(Breakout Sessions) Advancing the Research Agenda

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Join fellow researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders for deep discussions and help shape the future of the field. In these interactive breakout sessions, you’ll choose from topics featured in the day’s invited panels, working  collaboratively to surface the most pressing research gaps and questions. Together, you’ll identify high-priority broader themes, methodological innovations, and translational opportunities that can drive meaningful progress. These dynamic solution-focused conversations are a unique opportunity to spark new ideas and maybe even your next successful grant proposal!

• • Artificial Intelligence
    • Led by Michelle De Mooy
      • Director, McCourt School of Public Policy’s Tech and Public Policy Program, Georgetown University
  • Child-Centered Designs
    • Led by Katie Davis, EdD 
      • Associate Professor, University of Washington
  • Early Childhood
    • Led by Sheri Madigan, PhD, R.Psych
      • Professor and Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
  • Research Designs
    • Led by Sunny Xun Liu, PhD 
      • Director of Research, Stanford Social Media Lab
  • School Phone-Bans
•           Led by Paul Weigle, MD
•                Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Associate Medical Director, Hartford Healthcare; Assistant Professor of  Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Poster Session II

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

#56-#113

Free Time

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Reception and Dinner at The National Musuem of  Women in the Arts 

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Join Children and Screens for a reception and dinner at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005). Experience a special evening of culture, dining, and fellowship at this renowned DC venue. Together, we will celebrate our collective work and recognize:

• Policymakers who have demonstrated leadership in championing children’s online safety and science-based policy, and
• The recipients of the 2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds Congress Committee Award, for excellence in science (selected from poster presentations).