Fellows Program
FOSI’s Fellowship Program cultivates thought leadership, innovative research, and practical solutions to advance online safety, digital wellbeing, and responsible technology use for families, educators, and policymakers worldwide.
The Family Online Safety Institute Fellowship Program is designed to cultivate thought leadership, research innovation, and practical solutions addressing critical online safety challenges facing families, educators, and policymakers. Our Fellows contribute to FOSI’s mission by conducting in-depth research, developing policy recommendations, creating educational resources, and fostering community engagement on emerging digital safety issues.
The Inaugural Online Safety Fellow has successfully established the foundational framework for this impactful program, positioning it for growth and sustainability. By collaborating closely with FOSI leadership and external stakeholders, our Fellow has developed a strategic roadmap, identified key research areas, and launched initiatives aimed at enhancing digital safety practices worldwide.
Through this Fellowship Program, FOSI aims to build long-term capacity and expand our influence as a global resource on digital wellbeing, AI and technology safety, mental health, and inclusive digital citizenship. We are committed to providing fellows with a dynamic, supportive environment where their innovative solutions can flourish, ultimately helping create a safer, more informed digital landscape for children and families around the world.
“Rethinking Creativity in the Age of AI Art Tools” by Lyonne Zhu – December 09, 2025
AI art tools are changing how children learn to create. They can turn rough sketches into polished images in seconds, helping kids visualize ideas they cannot yet draw and boosting confidence. However, relying too heavily on these tools can weaken core artistic skills like observation, technique, and hands-on problem solving. The role of the student can shift from maker to director, which can be positive if schools intentionally teach authorship, critique, and creative decision making.
To use these tools well in education, we need clear guidance. Students should learn how AI models work, where they might be biased, and how to compare their own intent with the final output. Schools should balance AI creation with time for traditional art so children develop motor skills, spatial reasoning, and persistence.
With proper policy, training, and equitable access, AI can expand creative opportunities for all children rather than replace or narrow them. Read the full report to learn more.
“Testing OpenAI Parental Controls Parental Controls: An Evaluation of Safety, Gaps, and Policy Implications” by Lyonne Zhu – November 20, 2025
This report evaluates OpenAI’s new parental controls for ChatGPT and examines how well they protect minors in real-world use. Through a series of behavioral tests with a simulated teen account, it identifies where safeguards work as intended and where significant gaps remain. The findings highlight concerns around age assurance, delayed enforcement, risky content exposure, and in-chat purchases.
The report outlines key improvements needed to ensure AI tools are truly safe and accountable for young users. It offers guidance for parents, policymakers, and industry leaders on what meaningful protection should look like as generative AI becomes a larger part of teens’ everyday lives.
“Unwilling Avatars” Revisited: A Technical, Legal, and Social Analysis of AI-Generated Nonconsensual Intimate Imagery by Abby Rochman – May 16, 2025
This white paper examines the growing misuse of AI to create nonconsensual intimate imagery and the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards, more effective detection technologies, and widespread digital literacy. By analyzing current trends and emerging threats, it highlights actionable steps to better protect individuals—especially women and marginalized communities—in an evolving digital landscape.
