Family Online Safety Institute

Digital Parenting in a Pandemic
2020-04-06 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Webinar
The full Webinar discussion between Stephen Balkam, Janell Burley Hofmann, and Tiffany Shlain can be viewed here.
How on earth do we maintain balance in our families’ digital lives during the unprecedented times that we are in?
What strategies and tools can we use to create some semblance of normalcy while our kids are suddenly learning at home, and we are struggling to either work remotely or bring in child care in order to run essential services?
On Monday April 6, Stephen Balkam, Founder & CEO of FOSI, moderated a discussion exploring the challenges (and opportunities) of being a good digital parent in a time of crisis. We discussed both short term and long term strategies that can help create order, prioritize education, and forge new routines in the midst of uncertainty.
Stephen was joined by two of the leading thinkers in this space:
Janell Burley Hofmann is the author of iRules, an international speaker, facilitator and consultant and mother of 5. Janell helps schools, youth, families, educators and organizations on the topics of technology, media, health, relationships and well-being. She is the creator of the iPhone Contract and founder of The Slow Tech Movement and iRules Academy. More of Janell’s resources can be found here, on her website.
Tiffany Shlain is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, speaker, and Webby Awards Founder, and author of 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, in which she explores her family’s decade-long, transformative practice of turning off screens one day each week. More of Tiffany’s resources are available here. You can sign up for her weekly Zoom baking classes (Fridays at 10am PT/ 1pm ET) here.

ACT | The App Association and FOSI present “Protecting the Vulnerable Online: Why Encryption is Key”
2020-04-14 14:30 - 16:00 | Webinar, Register for Access
The full webinar discussion can be viewed here.
On Tuesday April 14, Stephen Balkam, Founder & CEO of FOSI, and Morgan Reed, President of ACT | The App Association, co-hosted a panel discussion on encryption policy. The conversation included experts from diverse industries and with nuanced perspectives, and each shared their personal experiences with how encryption technologies impact their lives.
The conversation included how encryption functions as a protective mechanism online for particularly vulnerable users and groups, featured real-world examples from people who have personally benefited from and relied on encryption, and set the stage for what policymakers need to know about how law enforcement can best utilize digital evidence to aid in investigations, without necessarily breaking encryption.
Carlos Gutierrez is the Deputy Director and General Counsel at LGBT Tech, and spoke about the specific challenges and difficulties the LGBTQ+ community face around the world, especially in the many countries where it is illegal to engage in same sex activities.
Elaina Roberts is the Technology Safety Legal Manager at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), and discussed the importance of safe and secure communications for those trying to get out of an abusive relationship or family situation, as well as private ways for people to access sensitive resources.
Jennifer Daskal is the Faculty Director for the Tech, Law & Security Program at the American University Washington College of Law and is the author of the often-cited CSIS report “Low Hanging Fruit.” She offered a research-based perspective and spoke to how technology companies can work together with law enforcement in many ways without having to break encryption.
John Wilbanks is the Chief Commons Officer at Sage Bionetworks, and used his technical expertise to guide the conversation about securing sensitive data, at rest or in motion, and what factors are most important to consider, possible to achieve with current technology, and recommendations for broader public policy proposals.
The audience Q&A delved deeper into the technical aspects of encryption as well as some of the ethical issues that it presents. The overall aim of the discussion was to go behind the headlines and advance the conversation, hopefully this was achieved.

Covid-19, Civility and Citizenship
2020-05-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Webinar
The full webinar discussion between Stephen Balkam, Trisha Prabhu, and Rosalind Wiseman can be viewed here.
Recent statistics have shown us that kids’ time spent on devices is surging during the pandemic. As their social lives and educational environment move entirely online, will it mean an increase in bad behavior and bullying?
This is an opportunity to create a teachable moment around digital citizenship and civility. For the parents of younger kids who may not have started the conversation yet, as well as tech savvy teens, now is the time to create guidance on how they can use technology for good, treat others well, and cultivate a positive presence in what is now a completely virtual world. How can we work to create a message of togetherness while staying apart?
Trisha Prabhu, a 19-year-old innovator, social entrepreneur, global advocate and inventor of ReThinkâ„¢, a patented technology and an effective way to detect and stop online hate. As a CEO and social entrepreneur, Trisha has received world-wide acclaim in the business world. In 2016, President Obama and the U.S. State Department invited Trisha to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, to showcase her work and share her story with other entrepreneurs. Not long after, ReThink was featured on ABC’s hit T.V. show, Shark Tank. In 2019, ReThink was the winner of Harvard University’s President’s Global Innovation Challenge & Harvard College’s i3 entrepreneurial Challenge. Trisha is the first ever Harvard College freshman to win the Harvard University’s President Innovation Grand Prize.
Rosalind Wiseman, who has had only one job since graduating from college: to foster civil dialogue and work with communities to build strength, courage and purpose. Rosalind is the founder of Cultures of Dignity, the author of the curriculum Owning Up: Empowering Adolescents to Confront Social Cruelty, Bullying, and Injustice and a multiple New York Times bestselling author including Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl Worldâ€”the groundbreaking book that was the basis for the movie and Broadway musical Mean Girls. She lives in Boulder Colorado with her husband and two sons.

Tackling Online Child Sexual Abuse Material: From Discovery to Prosecution
2020-05-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar, Register for Access
The full webinar discussion can be viewed here.
On Wednesday, May 20, Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI, hosted a panel discussion on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. A group of experts explained the roles they play in the vital work of eradicating CSAM from the Internet and obtaining justice for the victims. The aim of the discussion was to go behind the numbers and understand how a collaborative effort is needed to fight CSAM online.
The conversation featured detailed examples from industry, government, law enforcement, and NGOs, and highlighted how coordination and cooperation between these different actors is crucial to making the internet safer for all children.
Marisa Morin, Policy Advisor for Senator Ron Wyden, outlined the provisions of the Invest in Child Safety Act (S.3629), which would provide significant funding for additional personnel, technology, and coordinated operations throughout the United States to combat the spread of CSAM and prosecute those responsible.
Remy Malan from Roblox, discussed the technology and human reviews that his company employs to detect CSAM and other problematic content. He talked about their work to empower users with reporting tools and the steps they proactively take to stop the material from being uploaded.
Fred Langford from the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK detailed the ways in which IWF processes imagery and works with national and international law enforcement to investigate websites displaying CSAM with the goal of removing the content at its source.
John Shehan from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), expanded on how they work with industry, while also processing millions of reports a year and sending details to law enforcement that help prioritize the most urgent cases where there is imminent risk to a child.
Matt Wright, the Chief of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, explained how his unit investigates reports through a variety of methods including undercover work, while also noting the essential partnerships with NCMEC, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) throughout the U.S., and foreign law enforcement and governments.
Steve Grocki, from the U.S. Department of Justice, discussed how his unit is strategic in responding to cases given the vast scale, complexity, and dangerousness of these crimes, and relies on close collaboration with all the other stakeholders mentioned above to combat such a global problem.
The audience Q&A explored how new technological advancements could help fight the spread of CSAM, how reports are tracked throughout the process, and how additional funding could be used to improve prosecutions.

Covid-19 and the Return of the Free Range Kid
2020-05-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar, Register for Access
The full webinar discussion can be viewed here.
The global pandemic has upended the rhythm of life for most families. Parents are either doing their best to homeschool their kids while working from home, or heading out to do essential jobs. Kids are missing the structure and routine of school, extracurricular activities, sports – and now even summer camp is endangered.
Much attention is being given to the psychological toll this is taking on adults and children alike, but there is another lesson emerging in this time of lockdown. While parents are busy working to find solutions for the new challenges they’re facing, kids are being given greater freedom to structure their days. They are figuring out their own ways to be creative, both online and outdoors, in ways we haven’t seen in years. Some would say that they are flourishing.
On Wednesday, May 27, Stephen Balkam, Founder & CEO of FOSI, moderated a discussion with two remarkable experts in their fields to help us explore the new (and old) ways that kids are adapting to new normals within this national crisis:
Peter Gray is an author and research professor of psychology at Boston College who has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is a founding board member of Let Grow, and president of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education (ASDE), which is aimed at creating a world in which children’s natural ways of learning are facilitated rather than suppressed.
Lenore Skenazy is co-founder and president of Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting independence as a critical part of childhood, and the author of Free Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry). At Let Grow, Lenore oversees school programs, an online community, and legislative efforts all promoting the idea that when adults step back, kids step up, growing resourceful, resilient — and ready for the world.

Gaming in Lockdown: Achieving Safety and Balance in Online Play
2020-07-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
The full discussion between Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, Laura Higgins and Dr. Michael Rich can be viewed here.
On July 1st, FOSI hosted a discussion on gaming, digital parenting, and children’s wellbeing.
Moderated by digital parenting expert Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, this webinar covered the impacts of the pandemic on screen use, how kids are continuing to connect socially online through games, and tips for parents who are looking to create structure around technology use at home. Laura Higgins, Director of Community Safety and Digital Civility at Roblox provided key findings from their recent survey on how teens are experiencing online conversations and friendships during the pandemic, and how the platform approaches safety practices. Dr. Michael Rich of Ask the Mediatrician spoke to the emerging trends seen in kids’ media use during lockdown, highlighting the importance of parents being good digital role models and joining in with their kids’ online activities themselves.
Further resources mentioned during this session included:

Dr. Milovidov’s Digital Parenting Community Facebook GroupThe Family Digital Wellness Guide via the Center on Child and Media HealthDigital Safety, Civility and Wellbeing at Roblox

FOSI Briefs the Hill - Misinformation and the Importance of Media Literacy
2020-07-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar, Register for Access
The full webinar discussion can be viewed here.
In July 2020, the stories leading our news cycle have immediate impacts on public health, social dynamics, and the state of democracy in the face of an upcoming US election. The ways in which information on these topics has been disseminated shows how easily false and misleading coverage can spread online, making it difficult to prioritize safety and accuracy. The current highly charged social atmosphere has exemplified why it is so vital to combat the spread of misinformation, especially when it comes to our youngest tech-savvy citizens. Some schools have begun to teach digital literacy as part of an academic curriculum, encouraging students to think more critically about the media they consume.
This FOSI Briefs the Hill event explored how media literacy is currently taught, what improvements are needed, as well as international approaches and roles of parents, governments and non-profits. Experts on this panel discussed the need to develop positive online habits, and how to teach digital citizenship and media literacy to the next generation.
Featured speakers included:

Tessa Jolls, Center for Media Literacy, Moderator
Matthew Johnson, MediaSmarts
Lindsey Kerr, U.S. Senate Committee on Rules & Administration
Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics
Dewayne McClary, Digital Promise

Webinar - Supporting Virtual Classrooms: Educational and Enriching Content for Kids
2020-09-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
The full discussion can be viewed here.
As many families prepare for distance learning during this unprecedented back-to-school season, concerns around the efficacy of virtual education and increased screen time are coming to the forefront. Parents are now facing the challenge of schooling at home, striving to shift kids’ summer routines to a more structured academic digital environment, while also adapting their own lives to reflect the impacts of COVID-19. This process raises important questions for the industry experts, educators, and content creators who are working to support families in their new in-home virtual classrooms, such as:
– How can we shape kids’ online experiences to include meaningful, enriching material that supports their academic success?
– Where can parents easily find entertaining and educational ways to play and learn online with their children?
– How do parents know their child is interacting with safe, appropriate online, that are positive for their digital wellbeing and protective of their rights online?
On Thursday, September 10th, we covered these questions and more with a panel discussion featuring these leading experts:

Alicia Blum-Ross, Google
James Filippatos, The Walt Disney Company
Josianne Galea Baron, UNICEF
Dr. Leanna Prater, LEGO Education
Deirdre Quarnstrom, Minecraft Education
Stephen Balkam, Family Online Safety Institute, Moderator

FOSI 2020 Annual Conference
2020-11-18 08:00 - 18:00 | A Live Virtual Event
Building Resilience
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 â€˜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.

Digital Literacy in the Streaming Era
2021-02-17 02:00 - 04:00 | Virtual Workshop
A full recording of this event is available on YouTube. View it here.

In 2020, FOSI launched its newest research study, Tools for Today’s Digital Parents, which explored parents’ and teens’ attitudes toward the use of parental controls and online safety tools. The data also delved into the role these tools play inside the household, where approaches to digital parenting can differ.
In 2021, we conducted a poll in the APAC region to see how these findings compared in a new geographic and cultural context. By posing a short series of survey questions to parents in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, we explored their top concerns about kids’ media consumption, and how they view the responsibility of online safety.
At this event, a presentation of these findings was followed by several panel discussions with NGO and industry experts. The aim of the workshop was to bring together participants from industry, civil society, academic and the public sector to discuss online safety, how we think of digital citizenship and how to respond to the many challenges and opportunities that digital technology poses to children and their families.
View the APAC poll results here. Download Stephen Balkam’s presentation here.
Agenda
Opening Remarks
Dr. Ismail Shah, International Telecommunication Union
Research Presentation
Mr. Stephen Balkam, Family Online Safety Institute
NGO Panel Discussion
Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Social Media Matters, India (Moderator)
Mr. Indriyatno Banyumurti, ICT Watch, Indonesia
Ms. Lisa Garcia, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Philippines
Remarks
Mr. Rakesh Maheswari, Ministry of Electronics & IT, India
Industry Panel Discussion
Mr. Stephen Balkam, Family Online Safety Institute (Moderator)
Ms. Shanta Arul, Netflix
Mr. John Medeiros, Asia Video Industry Association
Ms. Wenchi Yu, VIPKid

FOSI Briefs the Hill - In Conversation with Representatives Lori Trahan and Jennifer Wexton
2021-03-11 15:00 - 15:45
A full recording of this event is available on YouTube. View it here.
On Thursday March 11, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted the latest installment of its FOSI Briefs the Hill series, “In Conversation With Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10).”
FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam moderated the conversation with the Representatives, who opened the conversation explaining why online safety is important to them, both in their representative role and within their families. Representative Wexton noted that as part of the Congressional Task Force on Digital Citizenship, she takes a holistic approach to online safety during her online safety conversations. Representative Trahan observed the power and promise of technology, especially during the pandemic.
Representative Trahan highlighted the importance of comprehensive privacy legislation, which is also a priority for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She called out the need for specific privacy protections for children and incorporating safety by design into products. Rep. Trahan noted promising pieces of legislation, including the KIDS Act and CAMRA, and spotlighted the United Kingdom’s Age-Appropriate Design Code. Representative Wexton spoke about the Congressional Task Force on Digital Citizenship, noting the importance of teaching people to be responsible users and producers of content online – no matter the age group. Both highlighted the need for media literacy education, and skill building to recognize misinformation and disinformation, online scams and online manipulation.
The importance of closing the digital divide and improving broadband connectivity was discussed, followed by each Representative giving their predictions for the new Congress, which included updates to COPPA and advancing legislation providing funding for research.

Teens, Screens and Mental Health
2021-05-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
A full recording of this event is available on YouTube. View it here.
On Thursday May 13th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a virtual panel discussion, “Teens, Screens and Mental Health.” Julie Jargon of The Wall Street Journal moderated the conversation between these leading experts: Dr. Kara Bagot of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Kelly Davis of Mental Health America, Tracy Elizabeth of TikTok, Dr. Niklas Johannes of the Oxford Internet Institute; and Becka Ross of Crisis Text Line.
The conversation opened with a brief overview of current research that explores the relationship between technology use and teens’ mental health, emphasizing the importance that longitudinal data provides in explaining tech use and mental health symptoms over time. It was also mentioned that screen time is an imprecise way to measure impact considering the multitude of categories that media presents.
Panelists discussed screen time and digital behaviors that are high risk or most rewarding for teenagers, noting the difference between active and passive screen time and how different groups use social media. For a lot of teens, the communities they find online are a way to get support for the challenges in their lives, and an outlet for them to connect with others. Advice was given for parents seeking to establish and enhance healthier relationships between kids and technology and how parents, educators, and other adults can recognize signs of poor mental health. Experts also shared how teens are using technology to seek mental health support for themselves and for one another online when they may not be able to do so in the offline world.
The discussion ended with reflections on the ways in which the tech industry plays a role in mental health support, emphasizing the collaboration needed between industry and their trusted community and organizational partners. It was agreed that tech must be designed to honor the development of youth, and how governments should support collaboration as well.
In a brief Q&A period, panelists shared digital parenting strategies regarding social media for younger teenagers, widespread tech use, and the ability to stay up to date on the types of content children are consuming online.

Children @ Play: Developing Skills, Community and Connection Online
2021-05-26 15:00 | Webinar
A full recording of this panel is available on YouTube. View it here.

On Wednesday 26th May, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted its 2021 European Forum. Stephen Balkam, FOSI CEO, moderated the conversation between foremost experts in child psychology, wellbeing, and online play. He was joined by Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin of the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Richard Graham of Good Thinking: The London Digital Mental Wellbeing Service, Laura Higgins of Roblox, and Rukayah Sarumi of the LEGO Group.
The panelists began their conversation by reflecting on some of the changes in play that they observed throughout the pandemic. Young children have adapted and remained resilient, often by using technology to maintain social connection and build communities online. Debates about screen time have evolved and parents are now looking at children’s daily tech use in comparison to other healthy behaviors like adequate sleep, nutrition, and socialization.
The conversation pivoted to how diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts make a difference in early childhood play. Research has shown that children from disadvantaged backgrounds often lack access to safe areas for outside play, and thus spend more time on screens for entertainment. This reiterates the importance of creating more high-quality content for kids. Panelists agreed on the importance of closing the digital divide and ensuring all children have access to online opportunities and educational materials.
The panel shared the different social, cognitive, creative, and emotional skills that kids gain when they play online, such as developing a sense of agency and conflict resolution, both of which can be transferred to different experiences in the real world.
To conclude, panelists discussed the rising concerns that parents have as kids transition back to in-person education and how best to maintain the benefits that have come from remote schooling. Encouraging digital citizenship and digital literacy was reiterated by all panelists as a priority for governments and industry around the world.

School’s Back - Now What?
2021-09-15 12:00 - 13:00
A full recording of this event is available on YouTube. View it here.
On Wednesday September 15th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a virtual fireside chat titled, “School’s Back – Now What?” FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam led a conversation with Diana Graber of Cyberwise and Cyber Civics, where they explored a number of topics surrounding what back to school looks like in 2021. They discussed ways that parents, educators, and school administrators can support each other in providing a quality learning environment and experience for students this year.
The conversation opened with a brief overview of the current educational landscape, emphasizing all the work that educators have done to adapt to different styles of teaching in the past few years and how resilient children are for maintaining their academic lessons through the changes as well. As an educator herself, Diana shared personal stories from her classroom, noting that students felt technology and video conferencing software allowed online learning and socialization to happen easily, but not without its drawbacks. She remarked that both students and teachers have become much more tech savvy over the past year and a half, and those skills are valuable moving forward, predicting that the state of education will not regress back to pre-pandemic operations, instead incorporating more technology, devices, and increased EdTech in curriculums.
The importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) was heavily discussed, acknowledging the likelihood that teachers will have to address current events that a student sees at home or while using their device. Being able to have group conversations about what is going on in their students’ lives allow for more engaging lessons and meaningful student-teacher interactions. Diana and Stephen also spoke about the ways communities, schools, and families can come together and set technology rules or “classroom norms” that everyone would operate from to keep their classroom community digitally safe and healthy.
During a Q&A period, Stephen and Diana answered questions from the audience on everything from hybrid learning and how to engage parents in digital academic activities to building and encouraging resilience related to viewing difficult online content, cyberbullying, and sexting.

FOSI 2021 Annual Conference
2021-11-15 08:00 - 18:00 | A Live Virtual Event
Recovery & Renewal: Creating a path to a new normal
On November 15th, FOSI hosted its live, virtual 2021 Annual Conference, entitled “Recovery & Renewal: Creating a path to new normal.” This event highlighted our most important insights from the last year and a half, to ensure that our new normal includes revamped best practices for ourselves, our families, and our world. The event convened leaders across industry, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to discuss a variety of topics within online safety such as content moderation, the digital divide, children’s privacy, and digital wellbeing, among others.
Caroline Curtin, Director of Government Affairs at Microsoft and Chair of the FOSI Board, started the day by giving a welcome address and Stephen Balkam, CEO, gave opening remarks.
The first session of the conference was the launch of FOSI’s new research, “Managing the Narrative: Young People’s Use of Online Safety Tools,” made possible in partnership with Snap Inc. and conducted by The Harris Poll. Findings from the report were presented by researchers David Krane and Jessica Massay, who shared the leading findings from the report, specifically about young people’s attitudes and experiences in the discussion around online safety, their feedback on what remains difficult, and how parents, educators, and industry can provide better blueprints to continue creating helpful solutions.
Following their presentation, a panel of experts shared the stage for the first plenary session, and provided a further dissection of Managing the Narrative. Dr. Ellen Selkie of the University of Wisconsin, Madison moderated a conversation between Jacqueline Beauchere from Snap Inc, David Krane of The Harris Poll, and Amanda Lenhart of Data & Society Research Institute. The panelists shared their reactions to the report as well as discussed the methodology used and how the pandemic provides contextualization to the findings. The panelists also spoke about the importance of a healthy parent-child relationship when it came to technology and discussed the ways in which industry can work together with parents to create a safe and inclusive experience for teens online.
After a short networking break, Dr. Richard Graham of Good Thinking: The London Digital Mental Wellbeing Service led the discussion for the â€˜Setting the Scene: Psychological Wellbeing & Resilience’ plenary. He was joined on screen by Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin of The Mayo Clinic, author and filmmaker Tiffany Shlain, and Rosalind Wiseman of Cultures of Dignity. The panel explored their interpretation of wellbeing and resilience, how to create spaces that encourage digital wellbeing for children and families, and how best to establish honest communication, supportive relationships, and healthy boundaries when it comes to digital exploration.
In the final session of the morning, Stephen Balkam of FOSI was joined in conversation by Karen Ressmeyer of Amazon and Dr. Michael Rich of the Digital Wellness Lab. â€˜Technology’s Positive Role in Child Development’ showcased how Amazon Kids approaches product development and privacy in their new kids products as well as highlighted the ways in which technology can play a helpful and positive role in child development when created thoughtfully and used in moderation.
The first set of breakout sessions explored a wide range of topics including policy, parenting, industry, and research. The policy panel explored the international implications of COPPA and the Age Appropriate Design Code, namely how the AADC can be a model and tool for global privacy and safety protection for children online. The parenting session discussed ways in which families can benefit from having regular conversations about setting tech expectations as well as actionable tips parents can use to manage tech in the home. In the “Industry Solutions” panel, speakers discussed a variety of topics ranging from recent technical safety features and the design process of such products to the importance of research and media literacy campaigns in developing the best user and parental controls for online safety. In “Gathering the Evidence: Latest Research and Insights,” researchers discussed how the pandemic has globally affected teens and young people in regards to their relationship with technology as well as how the past year and a half have affected cyberbullying, resilience measures, and what further research is needed in this space.
Our featured afternoon fireside chat was a discussion between Antigone Davis and James Hairston of Meta and Dr. Lewis Bernstein, formerly of Sesame Workshop. In “Tap into the Metaverse,” the speakers presented a brief explanation of what the metaverse is, the significant opportunities to develop kids’ content and build empathy, and how partnering with organizations can ensure companies build immersive user experiences responsibly and with safety as a key pillar.
The afternoon breakout sessions featured topics on mental health, misinformation, and closing the digital divide. “Promoting Mental Health & Mitigating Self Harm” showcased how social platforms are dealing with complex issues related to the pandemic and social media use for teens. In a discussion called “Facts, Lies & Reality: Addressing False Information Online,” speakers considered the difficulties of combating misinformation online, the history of misinformation before the Internet, constitutional and First Amendment concerns in regulating online speech, plus the responsibility of consumers, policymakers, and tech companies in fighting the spread of misinformation. In the session discussing closing the digital divide, speakers shared the historical context of federal broadband adoption efforts while highlighting what is currently being done in this setting, namely the many consumer, community, and industry programs that work on improving the implementation and accessibility of broadband services.
The penultimate panel of the day addressed “Making the Gaming World Safer Through Research, Parental Controls, and Self-Regulation,” and featured Savannah Badalich of Discord, Linda Norman of Microsoft and Xbox, Stanley Pierre-Louis of the Entertainment Software Association, Katie Salen Tekinbas of UC Irvine, and was moderated by digital parenting expert Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov. The discussion included an overview of the gaming regulatory landscape and how the age and content rating system operates, plus recent research into the benefits of gaming and online connectivity and a view of the parental and user safety controls.
The final panel of Recovery & Renewal considered how to create a path to a new normal. With Laura Higgins of Roblox as moderator, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, The Diana Award’s Tessy Ojo CBE, Oxford Internet Institute’s Dr. Andrew Przybylski, and clinical psychologist Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair discussed the benefits and challenges of our current hybrid lives while tackling the importance of research to inform policymaking and parental guidance, regulatory feasibility and practicality, the mental health challenges facing kids and families, and the strategies used to mitigate the harms while reaping the many rewards of our digital lives.
Full videos of all plenary and breakout sessions are available on FOSI’s YouTube channel.
Click to view our online commemorative photobook.
#fosi2021 #RecoveryandRenewal

Teen Relationships: The Good, The Bad, & How Parents Can Help in a Digital World
2022-02-15 11:00 - 12:00 | DC
A full recording of this panel is available on YouTube. View it here.
Thank you so much, Aura, for your partnership and support in putting together this webinar.

On Tuesday, February 15th, the Family Online Safety Institute and Aura, a provider of intelligent safety solutions, convened a panel discussion entitled, “Teen Relationships: The Good, The Bad, & How Parents Can Help in a Digital World.” Stephen Balkam, FOSI’s Founder & CEO moderated the conversation between these leading experts: Dr. David Greenfield of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction; Erica Olsen of the National Network to End Domestic Violence; Rita Smith of DomesticShelters.org; and Ryan Toohil of Aura.

The panelists began their conversation by discussing the importance of having open conversations about tech expectations and responsibilities as teens and young people join online spaces to explore their identities and relationships – particularly as different generations have different expectations for online safety and data privacy. The panelists agreed that conversations around consent are an effective way to establish privacy and safety online and lessen unintended consequences.

The panelists then discussed ways that parents can identify if their child is in an unhealthy relationship. Some of the advice included getting to know who their child’s best friend is in order to be more approachable and have someone else to ask if anything is wrong; knowing how to recognize signs of withdrawal, secrecy, or stress over a device, account, or notifications; and overall how to engage with teens in order to keep them talking.

The conversation then flowed to the topic of parental controls, specifically about managing expectations while implementing them. For example, it is encouraged that parents be open about the use of controls and explain what will happen when a child reaches a particular website before they are implemented. The panelists agreed that it is best to talk early to children about online safety, citing kindergarten to age 7 as appropriate timing, and that while easy technical solutions do exist for monitoring behavior, it shouldn’t replace the opportunity to have safety conversations with your child.

Finally, the panelists gave commentary on what platforms can do as next steps after a user has reported a violation of their service and how to lessen the effects of minimizing the issue. The panel discussed how the pandemic has affected their work, specifically noting that lockdown periods forced isolation between victims and abusers and allowed abuse to persist. And they gave suggestions on how parents can talk to their teens about suggestive, explicit photos, image-based abuse, and consent. The conversation closed after the panelists gave their thoughts on the emerging metaverse.

A Transatlantic Youth Dialogue on the Future of Digital Safety
2022-03-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
A full recording of this panel is available on YouTube. View it here.
Thank you so much, Microsoft, for your partnership and support in putting together this webinar.

On Tuesday, March 1st, the Family Online Safety Institute convened a youth panel discussion with the support of Microsoft that featured four representatives from Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good US and Council for Digital Good Europe. Stephen Balkam of FOSI facilitated this conversation alongside Dr. Sameer Hinduja of the Cyberbullying Research Center and they were joined by Aishwaryaa and Anna, both 14, of the Council for Digital Good US; and Donagh and Wu-Ji, both 16, of the Council for Digital Good Europe.
The conversation opened with a high-level overview of the recently released 2022 Digital Civility Index from Microsoft which reports on the global perspective of Internet risks, behavior online, and personal safety. The panelists then shared about their relationship with technology as it relates to living the past few years in a global pandemic, specifically how it affected their social relationships, educational experience, and adaptability towards the general use of tech.
The teens then shared about their friendships and how tech either supported fostering new connections or impacted their ability to stay close to those around them. They agreed that while it was much easier to stay connected through different modes of communication, it was also natural to fall out of touch with friends and that online interactions did lead to some level of disconnect and confusion around context and body language.
The panel then shared areas where they were excited about and concerned for emerging technology like the metaverse, how virtual spaces can both foster and hinder empathy, and suggestions for tackling hate speech and biased offenses on platforms. In a short question and answer period, the panelists discussed how tech plays a part in developing social and emotional skills, age recommendations for lessons around empathy, and whether schools are doing enough to teach about online safety and digital civility.

FOSI Briefs the Hill on Global Online Safety Policy
2022-05-16 11:00 - 16:00
A full recording of this panel is available on YouTube. View it here.
On May 16th, FOSI hosted a webinar on international online safety policy as part of its FOSI Briefs the Hill series. The expert panel included:

Asha Allen, Center for Democracy and Technology, Brussels
Charlotte Aynsley, Digital Safeguarding Consultant, UK
Landon Klein, California State Assembly’s Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection, US
Andrew Zack, FOSI (Moderator)

The panelists discussed current policy efforts to improve online safety including the Digital Services Act in the EU, the Age Appropriate Design Code and Online Safety Bill in the UK, and the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act in California. Beyond these policy proposals, the conversation touched on the importance of age assurance, thoughtful considerations in the ed tech and student privacy space, establishing privacy and human rights as a baseline policy, recommendations for Congress, and how to account for future technologies in present-day policies.
The following resources were shared during this panel discussion:

Digital Futures Commission Embedding children’s rights in data-driven education systems
FOSI Policy Briefs Creating an Age Appropriate design Code in California

Stephen Balkam, FOSI’s Founder & CEO, opened the discussion.

2022 European Forum
2022-06-23 09:00 - 14:00 | In-Person – Google, 6 Pancras Square, London, 6 Pancras Square, London, United Kingdom
Recordings from our European Forum are available on the FOSI YouTube Channel.
On Thursday, 23rd June, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted its 2022 European Forum, entitled “Online Safety: A Transatlantic View.” It was our first in-person event since 2019 and was hosted by Google, with additional sponsorship and support provided by TikTok and Yoti. The event aimed to capture multiple perspectives on the online safety landscape between the US, UK, and Europe.
The day opened with remarks from Stephen Balkam (FOSI) and Markham Cho Erickson (Google); who spoke to both the opportunities and challenges that technology presents, and announced Google’s sponsorship of FOSI’s upcoming research on age assurance. Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE, Founder of the 5Rights Foundation, delivered a keynote address on the mandate of responsibility, the balance of rights and access, and setting high standards for how parents, policymakers and companies can do better. She discussed the necessity of translating children’s rights into the digital world, how governments must work together to set a minimum floor for online safety, and how industry must push to innovate both safer and more private solutions to children’s online safety.
The first panel of the day, “Can We Regulate Online Safety?” was moderated by Julie Dawson (Yoti), and featured panelists Martin Drechsler (FSM), Alexandra Evans (TikTok), Fred Langford (Ofcom), and Sonia Livingstone (London School of Economics). The discussion covered high level points such as the intersection of privacy and safety online and attempts by governments and industry to balance free speech and expression with creating safe online environments for all populations, especially children and teens, as well as more specific examples of industry self-regulation and safety by design principles.
The forum’s second panel, “Making Age Assurance a Reality,” was moderated by Stephen Balkam, and featured panelists Asha Allen (CDT), Iain Corby (Age Verification Providers Association), Almudena Lara (Google), Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov (The LEGO Group), and Dr. Rachel O’Connell (TrustElevate). The panel discussed the advantages and disadvantages of age assurance practices including verifiable parental consent, and the delicate balance that is needed between the protection of minors, the proportionality of risk and data minimization, and the importance of child rights. This conversation explored what would make for a holistic approach to age assurance in regards to industry, regulators, users, and other stakeholders.

Emotional Intelligence and EdTech: Essentials for 21st Century Classrooms
2022-09-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Webinar
A full recording of this webinar is available on FOSI’s YouTube channel. View it here.
On September 7th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a webinar on Emotional Intelligence and EdTech: Essentials for 21st Century Classrooms. In 2022, the back to school season looks different from any other year, as educators incorporate the best aspects of technological developments from the past two pandemic years into predominantly in-person classrooms. This panel of experts was moderated by Laura Tierney of The Social Institute, and featured Jimmeka Anderson of the National Association for Media Literacy Education; Richard Culatta of the International Society for Technology in Education; and Amy Koester of the Association of Library Service to Children.
Panelists explored the concept of empowered learning through curiosity, creativity, and communication, as well as innovative ways that educators can foster digital learning environments. Specifically, the speakers discussed how technology is often presented to children as a list of “don’ts,” even though it is more nuanced than a binary good-or-bad tool for learning. The panelists acknowledged that learning to be a digital citizen is a complex skill and, like anything, takes practice.
The panel discussed tips on making learning more fun and engaging by meeting students at their level and borrowing from their creative experiences with technology to inform lesson planning. Additional tips included: building communities and opportunities for collaboration, and modeling good digital habits as adults through inclusion, communication, and consistency.
The panelists acknowledged that educators are tasked with many responsibilities and this community seeks efficient ways to incorporate technology into classrooms after the global pandemic led to a vast increase in reliance on devices for learning. They noted that educators can use the knowledge they already have about tech as a starting point to expand their understanding of digital and media literacy. The panelists believe that now is the time to set guidelines for students about how to use technology appropriately, while also making the most of the digital tools that were introduced during the pandemic. Finally, the panelists shared that we can achieve success in building emotional intelligence among students through collaboration, conversations, and by establishing genuine, open relationships with young people.

FOSI Briefs the Hill: Congressional Action on Online Safety and Privacy Bills
2022-09-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
A full recording of this webinar is available on FOSI’s YouTube channel. View it here.
On September 21st, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a FOSI Briefs the Hill webinar on Congressional Action on Online Safety and Privacy Bills. Congress recently advanced two online privacy bills and one online safety bill out of their relevant committees – COPPA 2.0, the ADPPA, and KOSA. This webinar provided an overview of each bill as well as a robust discussion about the strengths, challenges, potential implications, and unintended consequences of each from a variety of expert voices. The panel featured Adam Kovacevich of the Chamber of Progress, Lauren Merk of the Future of Privacy Forum, Jamie Susskind from the Office of Senator Marsha Blackburn, and was moderated by Andrew Zack of FOSI.
Panelists explored the three bills and their goals: updating existing privacy protections for kids; creating new comprehensive data privacy protections for all Americans; and establishing a new online safety standard. Specifically, they discussed increasing online protections for teens while also giving young people more control and agency, prioritizing safety and privacy by design, installing a duty of care for platforms to protect young users, and the role that age assurance has in online safety and privacy. Each panelist felt encouraged by specific aspects of the proposed legislation, but noted areas where more clarification or improvement could be made.
The panel also discussed the laws of states and other countries, and how Congress can learn from the online safety work in these other jurisdictions. Some panelists praised the design of the UK’s risk-based Age Appropriate Design Code and others acknowledged that this code served as a model when drafting their own legislation. The speakers also considered potential downfalls of a state-by-state, country-by-country patchwork of laws and regulations for a space as borderless as the Internet.
The panelists acknowledged the difficulties of passing such significant laws through a divided Congress, yet remained optimistic about the future. They also noted the recent work of the White House, FTC, and state Attorneys General in online safety policy. Finally, panelists reminded us that the online privacy and safety policy space is active, exciting, and more important than ever before.

FOSI 2022 Annual Conference
2022-11-14 08:00 - 19:00 | InterContinental Washington D.C. – The Wharf, 801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC, MD, 20024, United States
Trust & Assurance: Online Safety in an Uncertain World
On November 14th, FOSI hosted its first in-person Annual Conference since 2019. Entitled “Trust & Assurance: Online Safety in an Uncertain World,” this event featured discussions about the increasing importance of trust and safety work across the tech industry as well as the seismic impact that age assurance processes will have on apps and services we use every day. The day featured leaders from the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors speaking about children’s rights, content moderation, the intersection of privacy and safety, mental health and wellbeing, parenting in a digital world, and much more.
Tami Bhaumik, Vice President of Civility and Partnerships at Roblox, and Chair of the FOSI Board, started the day by giving a welcome address and Stephen Balkam gave opening remarks.
The morning began with the release of FOSI’s new research, “Making Sense of Age Assurance: Enabling Safer Online Experiences,” conducted by Kantar and made possible through support from Google. Chris Carbone and Jillian Domin of Kantar presented highlights from the research, which surveyed children and parents across the US, UK, and France. Some key findings included the high level of engagement and responsibility that parents feel in managing their kids’ online experiences, the attitudes of kids and parents toward the use of biometric components in age assurance methods, and balancing the tradeoff between effectiveness and invasiveness.
After presenting the research, Carbone joined Almudena Lara of Google and Julie Dawson of Yoti for a conversation to further discuss the report, moderated by Tim Sparapani of SPQR Strategies. The panel dug deeper into the findings of the report, and discussed their implications on companies’ efforts to determine user age in order to provide age appropriate experiences, as well as how governments can weave age assurance requirements into their online safety policy work.
Following a short networking break, the first plenary session featured parents discussing how they navigate their kids’ digital lives. Catherine Teitelbaum of Amazon Kids moderated the conversation with Avi Greengart of Techsponential, Kerry Gallagher of St. John’s Prep and ConnectSafely, Alicia Blum-Ross of Twitch, and Terrell and Jarius Joseph, who are parents and influencers. The discussion covered many phases of childhood from establishing healthy tech habits for young children to how to have difficult conversations about navigating all aspects of online life with teenagers. The panelists highlighted certain online safety features, helpful resources developed for families, and personal tips for how to thrive as a modern family with unique digital lives.
The morning breakout sessions gave attendees the option to attend one of four distinct panel discussions. One explored the impact of technology on child development through each developmental cycle of a child’s life and how teachers, parents, and caregivers can navigate tech use through the formative years. Another focused on children’s rights from a global perspective, discussing the importance of online privacy and safety, but also fun and learning in young peoples’ lives. A third panel highlighted many trust and safety challenges online platforms face today and discussed federal and state policies that target some of these challenges, including content moderation. The final morning breakout panel covered online gaming, and discussed new developments in the gaming world from apps to consoles and new safety controls, as well as game design, age ratings, streaming platforms, and educational opportunities.
After lunch and time for attendees to network and view the exhibit booths, the afternoon breakout sessions began. One covered mental health and digital wellbeing and highlighted existing research, as well as the need for much more research in this space, and panelists discussed the nuanced benefits and risks that young people face online. The policy panel discussed the challenges and opportunities of regulating online safety and privacy, highlighting the many legislative efforts in the US right now as well as examining international efforts to include safety and privacy by design and designing age-appropriate online experiences. A third panel featured a diverse group of tech companies discussing their innovative solutions to online safety including family settings and parental controls, curated content targeted to make a positive impact in young peoples’ lives, and more. And the fourth breakout panel discussed media literacy in schools, government and industry efforts to close the digital divide including the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the necessity for access to resources and support for consumers of all ages to better equip all members of the family in identifying misinformation and disinformation.
The afternoon plenary sessions began with a featured conversation between Dr. Shairi Turner of Crisis Text Line and Savannah Badalich of Discord. They discussed how teens and young people use Discord to communicate with friends, family, and find communities, and shared internal research about how teens reach out for help in digital spaces, with the goal of providing the right people and resources in the right places to those online who may be struggling with mental health.
The next plenary session included a fireside chat between Tracy Elizabeth of TikTok and a father-daughter duo of content creators, Billy and Dru Perry. This conversation covered a range of topics including how parents can engage with the same apps, sites, and platforms as their kids, finding common ground when disagreeing, and having honest family conversations around online habits and healthy digital lives.
After a brief break, FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya delivered remarks from the main stage. He discussed protecting teens’ mental health through better privacy protections, designing products and experiences in the best interest of a child, and improving expertise within regulatory bodies (including hiring child psychologists in law enforcement and at the FTC).
The penultimate panel discussed the metaverse and immersive online experiences. David Ryan Polgar of All Tech is Human moderated the conversation that featured Tami Bhaumik of Roblox, Stephanie Montgomery of the XRA, Kristina Podnar of XRSI, and Dr. Louis Rosenberg of Unanimous AI. The panel presented optimism about the future of technology and online interaction, and discussed the opportunities for industry, policymakers, parents, and advocates to cooperate, collaborate, and create technology and online spaces we would all want to engage with.
The final panel of the day featured the announcement of the newly formed Global Online Safety Regulators Network. The four founding members of the network, Celene Craig of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Dame Melanie Dawes of the UK’s Ofcom, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, and Mary Motofaga of Fiji’s Online Safety Commission were joined by FOSI’s Stephen Balkam to discuss the network, what they hope to accomplish, how other countries can join and collaborate, and the prospects of a safer global Internet.
Video recordings of the plenary sessions are available on the FOSI YouTube channel.
Photos from the event can be found on the Event Media Gallery.

FOSI Briefs the Hill: SCOTUS Tackles Section 230
2023-03-02 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
The full webinar discussion can be viewed on FOSI’s YouTube channel, linked here.
On February 21 and 22, the Supreme Court heard two cases that have the power to drastically change some of the apps and platforms we use every day. In Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, the Justices examined whether or not online platforms can be held liable for decisions made by algorithms and content recommendation systems that are core to the function of their products. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 has provided relative immunity to platforms for decades, stating that online platforms cannot be held liable for content that users write or post on their sites and apps. These two cases will test how far Section 230 protections extend, and if justices will differentiate between users’ online posts and platform design features that amplify or minimize the spread of content.
This conversation included a legislative history of Section 230 and overview of the two current cases, an explanation of related court cases that focus on online speech, content moderation, and product design, and the role of Congress in amending Section 230. Panelists also responded to audience questions about a safety by design approach to product development, the existing limitations of Section 230 and when it does not apply, and how the statute impacts businesses that do not primarily rely on user generated content.
Featured speakers included:

Keith Chu, Office of Senator Ron Wyden
Jennifer Huddleston, CATO Institute
Caitlin Vogus, Center for Democracy & Technology
Andrew Zack, FOSI (Moderator)

Stephen Balkam, FOSI’s Founder and CEO, opened the discussion.

FOSI 2023 Annual Conference
2023-04-04 08:30 - 17:00 | InterContinental Washington D.C. – The Wharf, 801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC, MD, 20024, United States

FOSI Briefs the States: Online Safety in the Free State
2023-05-31 12:00 - 13:30 | The Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, 80 Compromise St., Annapolis, MD 21401
Online safety policy has been one of the most bipartisan areas of collaboration recently and jurisdictions are racing to create new regulations that protect their citizens. States across the U.S. are no exception, as the past few years have seen dozens of bills advance through legislatures including the establishment of data privacy rights, new requirements for online content moderation, age restrictions for accessing social media, and age-appropriate design codes.
Maryland joined the conversation as the 2023 legislative session included the introduction and advancement of the Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (also known as the Kids Code) and the Social Media Regulation and Safety for Children. The Kids Code, modeled after California’s act that became law last year and the UK’s Age Appropriate Design Code, passed the House of Delegates but did not advance out of the Senate. The Social Media Regulation would require platforms to delete all data on children under 13 or face a fine, and also did not advance this past session.
On May 31, 2023, FOSI hosted the inaugural FOSI Briefs the States event in Annapolis Maryland. This panel discussion convened a variety of experts to focus on recent online safety legislation in Maryland and how these policies will impact Maryland families.
This in-person event featured a networking luncheon and a panel discussion around the Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, the importance of nuance in drafting online safety policy, the impact of research, and recommendations for families as they navigate life online. Panelists discussed both the positives and the risks of online life and took audience questions.
Panelists for this event included:
– Dr. Mary Alvord, Psychologist & Director– Aliya Bhatia, Center for Democracy and Technology– Delegate Jared Solomon, Maryland General Assembly– Shoshana Weissmann, R Street Institute– Andrew Zack, FOSI (moderator)
Delegate Solomon shared his rationale for introducing the Kids Code and dove into the details of the bill. He argued that a design code is the best middleground, in that broad bans are unworkable (for both families and industry), but his approach would be effective in that it would be possible to comply with and enforce. The panel also discussed that the bill is not focused on content but on data management practices and harms analyses, and contains a 90 day right to cure (which is meant to resolve online safety concerns instead of immediate and punitive fines).
Ms. Weissmann and Ms. Bhatia discussed the thoughtful approach to drafting the Kids Code and highlighted some areas of concern and possible improvements, including the practice and accuracy of age verification methods and the many benefits that a national data privacy law would bring to this bill and online safety legislation generally (something that Congress has been working on for decades). They also elaborated that a risk-based and proportional approach is the right way to consider age assurance, where higher levels of assurance are needed for higher risk content and activities, and added that governments should not be overly prescriptive in age assurance regulation.
Dr. Alvord reflected on the APA’s recent guidance on adolescence and social media use, as well as the Surgeon General’s work in this space. She discussed the nuance in this work, that people are complex and there is no one size fits all recommendation that works well for everyone. Dr. Alvord also pressed the need for media literacy, the importance of continued research into both the harms and benefits of adolescents spending time online, and the power of building resilience in young people.
This was FOSI’s first state capital briefing of this kind, and as online safety legislation remains a focus in state legislatures, we plan to continue the series.

A Connected Community: Empowering LGBTQ+ Teens Online
2023-06-15 11:00 - 12:00
Growing up in a society where acceptance of one’s identity isn’t guaranteed can have adverse effects on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. Recent research from The Trevor Project found that negative treatment at home and at school, as well as legislation targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community, result in negative impacts on young queer peoples’ mental health. Like most young people, LGBTQ+ teens are increasingly connecting with their community online. research conducted by Thorn highlighted the significance of online communities to LGBTQ+ youth, noting that they can often be the places where these young people find the acceptance and affirmation that’s lacking in school and at home.
On Thursday, June 15th, FOSI hosted a webinar discussion centered on the connection between digital life and mental health within the LGBTQ+ community, and the organizations harnessing those connections to create safe spaces online to affirm and empower LGBTQ+ young people.
Panelists included:

Jackson Alder – Senior Digital Strategist, PFLAG National (They/them)
Deborah S. Levine – Chief Program Officer, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers (She/her)
Wren Rhodes (moderator) – Executive Director, Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth (They/them)
Christopher Wood – Executive Director & Co-Founder – LGBT Tech (He/him)

Opening remarks were provided by Jonathon Bridgeman – Administrator, FOSI (He/him)
Panelists discussed some trusted resources available for LGBTQ+ young people and their families to safely connect with their communities, Including:

The PFLAG Connects: Communities program, which provides parents and family members a safe, virtual, moderated space where people with shared experiences can connect each month in affinity groups.
Q Chat Space, which provides secure chat-based discussion groups for LGBTQ+ and questioning teens ages 13 to 19.
imi, which provides tools for LGBTQ+ teens to explore their identities in ways that support their mental health.
The Trans Mentor Project, a national e-mentoring program that securely pairs trans and nonbinary (TGNB) youth and young adults with TGNB adult mentors.

When asked how parents/guardians/family members of LGBTQ+ youth can protect and empower their children online and offline in the current climate, Jackson Alder encouraged folks to approach the LGBTQ+ young people in their lives with affirmation and support, giving them ownership of their exploration of the community while learning with and from them. Jackson shared resources including a Guide to Being a Straight Ally for individuals looking to be more active allies to the LGBTQ+ community.
Chris Wood spoke about the ways in which some schools are monitoring the activity of LGBTQ+ students, teachers, and their allies. Chris shared that LGBT Tech is urging educational tech companies that create products used in schools to include safeguards for LGBTQ+ students and their privacy, but suggested caution when using devices and networks provided by schools in places where state and local laws require teachers and administrators to report searching for anything LGBTQ+ related. Chris encouraged folks living in places with such laws to connect with their local PFLAG chapter or LGBTQ+ community center to acquire additional information and resources, and shared that LGBT Tech offers grants to individuals and community centers through their Power On program to fulfill technology needs.
When asked why safe spaces are so important for the LGBTQ+ community, Deborah S. Levine pointed to “safety and security” within Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Deborah posited that safety is a need for all people, but that minority stress makes it less likely for LGBTQ+ individuals to find the safety they need in spaces not designed for them. Chris Wood spoke about the importance of reviewing privacy settings and the tools available on social media platforms when determining if they’re a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks and their privacy.
The panel then discussed instances of queer joy they’ve experienced working within channels that connect LGBTQ+ young people. Deborah S. Levine talked about the joy she felt seeing young people come into the chat-based discussions on Q Chat Space from less friendly rural areas, who are learning about queer history for the first time, and are talking with people like them for the first time. To conclude the discussion, the panelists each offered advice for parents and caregivers to help the young people in their lives find balance and prioritize their mental health. They emphasized the importance of learning along with their children, and finding resources when questions arise that they can’t answer on their own.

2023 European Forum
2023-06-27 00:00 | The Foundry, Google Ireland, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Google Ireland, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin, 4, Ireland
Regulating and Innovating Online Safety
On June 27th, FOSI hosted its annual European Forum at the Google Safety Engineering Center in Dublin, Ireland. This event, titled “Regulating and Innovating Online Safety,” featured top representatives across industry, government, academia, and the charity sector as they debated the implications of current and pending global legislation, best practices surrounding AI, digital wellbeing, and more.
Recordings from the forum are available on the FOSI YouTube Channel.
The day began with a welcome address by FOSI’s Board Chair, and Vice President of Civility & Partnerships at Roblox, Tami Bhaumik. She then introduced FOSI’s Founder and CEO, Stephen Balkam, and Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Markham Erickson, for a fireside chat on key online safety issues such as the global collaboration between policymakers, regulators and industry, and the importance of keeping children safe online while ensuring that parents feel confident about their children’s online experience.
The first panel of the day, From Pixels to Policies: Exploring the Legislative Challenges on Online Safety, featured two key regulators from Ireland and the UK Gill Whitehead of Ofcom, and Niamh Hodnett of the Online Safety Commissioner, Ireland, and researcher and academic, Lorna Woods, OBE of the University of Essex. This panel discussed the details of online safety bills and regulation that they see on a daily basis, as well as broader policy trends expanding across jurisdictions. Questions included how laws can promote online safety while still being rights respecting and privacy preserving, what opportunities exist for collaboration between public and private sectors, and where age assurance fits into these policies.
The following panel, Burnout to Balance: Wellbeing in a New Digital Era, featured the industry perspective from both Tami Bhaumik of Roblox and Mindy Brooks of Google, the academic point of view from Andy Przybylski of OII, and the non-profit perspective from Ãine Lynch of Ireland’s National Parents Council. The discussion featured digital wellbeing best practices when thinking about the use of social media, immersive technologies, and AI. Panelists also shared their expertise and discussed ways in which both parents and kids can feel more empowered to take control of their relationship with technology in a healthy and balanced way.
After lunch and time for attendees to network and view the exhibit booths, our third panel of the day, Promoting Safety and Trust in genAI, took the stage. AI experts Courtney Gregoire of Microsoft, Vick Nash of OII, Henry Platten of GoBubble, and Matthew Soeth of Spectrum Labs spoke about one of the most hotly debated and discussed technologies of the year, AI. Panelists discussed the pros and cons of genAI through the lens of online safety, how various stakeholders can and should approach this technology, and how we can best prioritize safety for kids in quickly evolving digital experiences.
The final panel of the day looked to the future. Titled Emerging Horizons: Navigating the Future of Online Safety, Julie de Bailliencourt of TikTok, Iain Drennan of WeProtect, Alex Holmes of the Diana Award, and Trisha Prabhu of ReThink reflected on how advancing technologies will impact our everyday lives, and what this means for the future of online safety. Panelists discussed how all stakeholders, as well as parents and youth themselves, can navigate these complex and evolving times. From a variety of different perspectives, panelists examined the most important facets of online safety as we embark on a new era of digital innovation.
FOSI Founder and CEO Stephen Balkam wrapped up the day with closing remarks, thanking event sponsors Google, TikTok and GoBubble.
Recordings from our 2023 European Forum are available on the FOSI YouTube Channel.
Photos from the event can be found on the Event Media Gallery.

Digital Learning: Prepping for the School Year Ahead
2023-09-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Webinar
Getting kids back in the classroom this Fall means tackling tech use from many different angles. In the coming months, parents will be contending with how to balance the extra screen time needed for homework, helping kids navigate complex social dynamics online, and striving to teach them what good behavior looks like by example. Additionally, both parents and kids are learning about generative AI in real time, and how these brand new technologies will impact academics and learning as well as everyday life.
On September 8th, we hosted a discussion with a diverse group of experts about how parents and kids can set themselves up for success this school year in the midst of a quickly evolving digital environment at home and at school.

FOSI Briefs the States: Striking the Right Balance in Online Safety
2023-09-12 00:00 | Park City Ballroom – Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City | 170 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Over the past two years online safety policy has become a top priority throughout state capitals. While many states have embraced their own unique cultures and taken different approaches from each other, it is clear that protecting children online is a bipartisan issue. We started this FOSI Briefs the States event series to highlight these recent policy developments and discuss the important, nuanced, and timely issue that is online safety.
In March 2023, Utah became the first state to pass a law regulating social media use for children and teens. Utah’s SB 152 prohibits kids under 18 from using social media during certain hours, requires parental consent for kids to join the platform, and requires age verification for all users. Policymakers have blamed social media for negatively affecting teenage mental health while others have suggested that providing access to information and building communities online has benefits and positive impacts on mental health. Another Utah law, HB 311, aims to hold social media companies liable for harms caused to children.
Utah’s Social Media Regulation Acts passed in March of this year but do not go into effect until March 2024. State Senator Michael McKell recently expressed that there is both opportunity and motivation to amend these laws in the next legislative session before they are implemented.
On September 12, 2023, FOSI held our second FOSI Briefs the States event in Salt Lake City Utah: Striking the Right Balance in Online Safety. The hybrid event included a networking luncheon, and a panel discussion to explore Utah’s new law and what it means to balance keeping children safe online while allowing them opportunities to learn and explore age appropriate materials.
The panel included:
– Taylor Barkley, Utah State University Center for Growth and Opportunity
– Anne Collier, NetSafety Project
– Melanie Durfee, Utah State Board of Education
– Andrew Zack, FOSI (moderator)
Anne Collier kicked off the panel discussing her work reviewing and contributing to research on the mental health impacts of digital technology use, a very real issue that was acknowledged at the outset of the panel. Anne urged policymakers around the world to learn from each other, especially about the benefits of a trusted flaggers program featured in the EU’s Digital Services Act and utilizing Utah’s existing mental health phone lines by making them into Internet helplines. Anne also recommended for parents to be a steady presence in our kids’ lives and underlined the importance of digital literacy, media literacy, and social emotional learning.
Taylor Barkley discussed the complicated and nuanced research into adolescent technology use and how the issue is personal and hits home for many families. Taylor dove deep into age assurance as required by Utah’s law and the important and often difficult tradeoffs of rights to privacy and free expression. However, Taylor noted how other states and governments have tried to balance privacy and safety laws.
Melanie Durfee explained the impressive amount of technology that Utah students have at their disposal. Their student to technology ratio exceeds 1:1, meaning they have more laptops, tablets, and other devices than students. Ms. Durfee went on to discuss Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate resource which includes digital literacy as one of 13 goals for each Utah student.
In the race to protect children from online harms, the need for thoughtful policy, safe industry practices, and meaningful resources for parents and caregivers is paramount. FOSI encourages enlightened public policy that is evidence-based and nuanced in order to be the most effective.

FOSI Briefs the Hill Privacy and Safety Bills: Feels a Bit Like Déjà Vu
2023-10-04 12:00 - 13:00 | The Capitol Visitor Center, room SVC 210 Washington, D.C. 20515
If it feels like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have. On July 27, 2022, the Senate Commerce Committee passed both COPPA 2.0 and KOSA out of Committee and sent them to the full Senate. The bills did not advance any further before the session ended, and were reintroduced earlier this year. On July 27, 2023, exactly one year later, the Senate Commerce Committee again passed both bills out of Committee, with some updates and amendments. So, now what?
On October 4, FOSI hosted an in-person lunch briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the recent changes to these privacy and safety bills, the path to pass both of these bills, and what each would mean for our online lives. Child privacy and safety champion Senator Edward J. Markey delivered opening remarks, before a panel discussion featuring passionate stakeholders, including:

Dona Fraser, BBB National Programs
Dr. Katharina Kopp, Ph.D, CDD
Mike Pappas, Modulate
Andrew Zack, FOSI (moderator)

This event was free to attend, open to the public and the press.
