On November 18th, FOSI hosted its live, virtual 2020 Annual Conference, entitled “Building Resilience.” This event convened leaders across industry, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to discuss a wide variety of topics within the areas of best practices in technology policy, digital parenting, privacy, education, and innovation.
Patricia Vance, President of the Entertainment Software Rating Board and Chair of the FOSI Board, provided a welcome from FOSI, and andStephen Balkam, CEO, gave opening remarks.
The first presentation of the day was the launch of FOSI’s new research, Tools for Today’s Digital Parents, made possible in partnership with Verizon and conducted by Magid, a media research firm. Findings from the report were presented by researchers Molly Ludwig and Rich McGuire, who outlined the key takeaways from the report, specifically how online safety tools like parental controls serve parents and their children, and what can be done by industry to optimally support families navigating the online world.
These ideas sparked the first plenary panel discussion of the day, a further examination of Tools for Today’s Digital Parents, moderated by Elizabeth Milovidov from the Council of Europe & e-Enfance, and featuring Ethan Arenson from Verizon, Alexa Hasse of Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center, and Molly Ludwig from Magid. The panelists reflected on the takeaways from the report and analyzed how these findings might be integrated into consumer outreach to parents. They also compared how these findings may reflect in their own work within industry, research, and parenting.
Amy Joyce of The Washington Post moderated the ‘Building Resilience for our Kids’ panel, with Tessy Ojo from the Diana Award, Lenore Skanazy of Let Grow, Catherine Steiner- Adair a clinical psychologist and Patricia Vance from the Entertainment Software Rating Board.. The panelists explored ways in which parents and educators can appropriately support children in this unprecedented year by building and maintaining resilience, encouraging healthy media consumption, and being intentional with technology use for school, entertainment, and socializing.
Stephen Balkam conducted a one-on-one fireside chat with global public speaker and anti-bullying advocate Monica Lewinsky, entitled “Creating a More Compassionate Internet.” The discussion focused on Monica’s path to the field of online safety and digital citizenship advocacy work, the impacts of losing one’s digital reputation, and the urgent need to cultivate online compassion, especially during this tumultuous year.
The first set of breakout sessions explored a wide variety of topics. The privacy panel explored the current legislative landscape and potential advancements needed to keep users of all ages safe online. Panelists from the education space discussed how industry and educators have adapted to virtual learning, the importance of students having access to technology, and the ways in which education might be changed forever due to the pandemic. The International Trends and Policy panel assessed the different approaches taken to online safety in the UK, Australia, and the European Union. Finally, Streaming Quality Kids’ Content convened experts to share insights into the process behind developing content for kids that is both educational and engaging, as well as appealing to a wide variety of families. They also touched on the responsibility of networks and streaming platforms to instill healthy routines and media consumption habits for young viewers.
During the second fireside chat Facebook’s Antigone Davis spoke with Mary Madden, of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop. The two discussed the ways in which young people and their parents can maintain and evaluate their own digital wellbeing in the time of COVID-19.
Afternoon breakout sessions featured a youth panel led by Tami Bhaumik of Roblox, in which a panel of young people discussed the ways in which kids can stay safe and have fun while gaming and using social media. Illegal Content: Prevention, Detection, and Enforcement considered the latest trends in online criminal activity and how global stakeholders can confront these challenges. Online Activism: Social Justice Meets Social Media brought together industry and youth activists to talk about how social media has created change through digital movements and taking organized activity from social platforms into the real world. Finally, Tech Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities brought together expert voices from leading companies to share their newest technical and strategic innovations that are informing industry best practice and keeping kids safe online.
The highlighted session of the afternoon was a conversation between leaders from Amazon Kids and Alexa. Karen Ressmeyer spoke with Miriam Daniel and Toni Reid to share insights into how families are using Alexa, Echo, and Amazon Kids during the pandemic. They also discussed Amazon’s approaches into designing thoughtful new Alexa features for kids and their parents.
Tech Policies in 2021 & Beyond was the final panel of the day. Sara Fischer of Axios moderated the discussion with Richard Downing of the US Department of Justice, Alexandra Givens from the Center for Democracy & Technology, and Nicol Turner-Lee from The Brookings Institution who shared their expertise and insights into areas of focus for the next US Administration and Congress.
The event closed with a conversation with Sonia Livingstone and John Palfrey who shared insights into ways that parents can adapt their parenting style to this new normal, and allow their children to participate online in healthy, helpful, and engaged ways. They also discussed the motivation behind their recently published books (Parenting for a Digital Future and The Connected Parent, respectively).
Full videos of all plenary and breakout sessions are available on FOSI’s YouTube channel.
Click to view our online commemorative photobook.
Chief Security Evangelist, ESET+
Head of Digital Safety, Verizon
Founder & CEO, Family Online Safety Institute
Director of Technology and Innovation, Utah State University's Center for Growth and Opportunity
VP, Civility & Partnerships, Roblox, FOSI Board Chair*
Senior Director for Global Youth Policy, Twitch
Coordinator of Technology Integration & Implementation, Kansas City Missouri Public School District
CEO, Thorn
Online Safety Director, South West Grid for Learning Trust
Policy Counsel, Microsoft*
Vice President of Alexa and Echo Devices, Amazon
Director, Global Head of Safety, Meta
Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Director, WePROTECT Global Alliance
VP, Product Management, HBO Max, Kids and Family
Media Reporter, Axios Media
Director of International, Strategy and Futures, eSafety Commissioner
Executive Director & Founder, OneMillionOfUs
Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning & Education Director, St. John's Prep & ConnectSafely
Director, Government & Public Affairs, Americas, The LEGO Group
President & CEO, Center for Democracy & Technology
Chief, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, U.S. Department of Justice
Research Associate, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University
Vice President and General Counsel, Tencent
Director of Domestic Regulatory Strategy, Information Commissioner's Office
Director, Innovation & Technology Public Policy, Netflix*
Senior Research Scientist, Data & Society Research Institute
Social Activist, Global Public Speaker
Professor, London School of Economics
Head of Unit, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Senior Vice President, Magid
Senior Fellow, Joan Ganz Cooney Center, Sesame Workshop
Senior Attorney, Privacy and Identity Protection, Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection
Director, League of Innovative Schools, Digital Promise
Professor, Centre for Excellence in Media Practice
Vice President, Magid
Senior Public Policy Associate, Twitter
Law Professor & Digital Parenting Consultant, Council of Europe, e-Enfance
Student, Activist
CEO, The Diana Award
President, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Vice President for Alexa Experience, Amazon
Director, Family Trust for Amazon Kids, Amazon
Managing Director, Aspen Initiative, UK
Head of Discovery, BBC Children's
Co-Founder & President, Let Grow
Founder & Principal, SPQR Strategies
Clinical Psychologist, Consultant
Senior Policy Advisor, UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Director, The Center for Technology Innovation (CTI), Brookings Institution
Vice President, Youth & Education Privacy, Future of Privacy Forum
President, Entertainment Software Rating Board
Founder, Earth Uprising
Executive Vice President, Television Development, DreamWorks Animation
US Director of Public Policy, Snap Inc.
Student, UK
NOVEMBER 18, 2020
8 AM
9 AM
9:15 AM
9:45 AM
Academic and industry experts will respond to the findings from the newest FOSI research and distill the top takeaways into a global context to inform all stakeholders. Panelists will share more details on the study, discuss how they will apply these results in their work, and consider how to integrate findings into consumer outreach to parents.
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
This year has required parents, teachers, and children to adapt their use of technology like never before. Increasingly the Internet is being used for remote working, online schooling and has become the way we’ve stayed connected socially when we must be distanced physically.This remarkable shift has underscored the importance of healthy media consumption, and building resilience in and alongside our children. Join us for this plenary panel of experts in the field.
11:40 AM
NOON
Privacy: Policy and Practice
2020 has seen intense activity in capitals around the world focused on developing privacy legislation to protect users of all ages. This year has also seen advancements in privacy practices of companies designed to give families more control over their data. This panel will discuss the current landscape of policy and practices, as well as look ahead to anticipate activities in the upcoming year.
Ed Tech and Mixed Learning
Against the backdrop of an unprecedented school year, this panel will cover the challenges highlighted by distance learning, best practices in curating educational content, and the importance of creating balance when it comes to online and offline learning. Topics will include how industry and educators have adapted to virtual teaching, the importance of closing the homework gap, and programs and tools that have been most effective for educators.
International Trends and Policy
Countries around the world have taken very different approaches to confronting the challenges and opportunities presented by our ever more connected lives. This panel will invite global experts to share what has worked and what must be improved, as well best practices and plans for future activity.
Streaming Quality Kids’ Content
This panel will focus on the importance of producing quality content for children of all ages. Panelists will discuss the process that goes into creating content that is both engaging and educational. A key focus will be the current use of parental controls, as well as the need for innovation and adaptation of controls for streaming services. Other topics will include regulatory challenges, and the best way to develop content that appeals to a diverse group of families. ​
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
1:45 PM
Young People Online: Staying Safe and Having Fun
When it comes to creating policies and solutions for young people, it’s best to go straight to the source. With a group of panelists, we’ll be discussing safety and citizenship when it comes to gaming, social media, and real life.
Illegal Content: Prevention, Detection, and Enforcement
The challenges of investigating and apprehending criminal actors online has intensified during the pandemic. Experts will examine new trends in illegal activity, developments in investigations, and methods to engage all stakeholders in eradicating global criminal behavior.
Online Activism: Social Justice Meets Social Media
In 2020, social organizing happened online. This year in particular has seen the world change through digital movements and the power of a hashtag. This phenomenon has created a space for vast positive change, but also raises many questions around the social dynamics of our divided world which will be debated in this hour session.
Technology Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities
This panel will feature leaders from top companies as they address recent technical and strategic developments in their work to keep kids safe online. We will hear about the ways in which companies are creating and implementing their approaches to online safety and parental controls, and what they foresee as the major challenges and opportunities going forward.
2:45 PM
3:00 PM
This conversation among leaders from Amazon Kids and Alexa will share insights about how families are using Alexa, Echo, and Amazon Kids during the pandemic. The group will also discuss how Amazon approaches designing the new Alexa features for kids and parents.
3:20 PM
The final discussion of the day will look ahead to future policy trends and activity in the United States and around the world. What we should expect in 2021, how our new constantly online lives will be approached by policymakers and what their priorities should be.
4:20 PM
4:50 PM
Stephen Balkam, Family Online Safety Institute
5:00 PM
6:00 PM