social media

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the latest member of the Kennedy dynasty to run for president, regularly shares a dizzying range of falsehoods and conspiracy theories.

RFK Jr. is building a presidential campaign around conspiracy theories

4:28pm July 13, 2023

by Shannon Bond

The latest member of the Kennedy dynasty to run for president regularly shares a dizzying range of falsehoods and conspiracy theories on podcasts and at other campaign appearances.

Are smartphones safe for tweens? Parents should be aware of the risks, a screen consultant advises.

Health & Safety

So your tween wants a smartphone? Read this first

7:02pm July 12, 2023

by Michaeleen Doucleff

When's the right time to start your child with a phone? Is 12 too young? Here's what a professional screen time consultant tells parents about the risks kids face online.

Queue Listen Now

Is Threads really a 'Twitter killer'? Here's what we know so far

5:48pm July 06, 2023

by Emily Olson

Meta's new app, Threads, may be the latest in a long-string of Twitter's competitors, but it appears to have an edge in the game thanks to its ties to Instagram. Over 30 million users have joined.

U.S. is barred from combating disinformation on social media. Here's what it means

7:19pm July 05, 2023

Under a judge's new ruling, much of the federal government is now barred from working with social media companies to address removing any content that might contain "protected free speech."

A deep hole dug from layers of paper covered with text. The layers of paper are of alternating colors.

AI-generated text is hard to spot. It could play a big role in the 2024 campaign

4:10pm June 29, 2023

by Huo Jingnan

Recent research shows how generative AI could make effective and cost efficient propaganda. It's difficult to detect AI-generated text, raising concerns about the 2024 election.

Montana becomes the first state to ban TikTok

9:16am May 18, 2023

by Ayana Archie

Gov. Greg Gianforte banned the app on state government electronic devices last December, and has said he is concerned about people's user data being compromised by the Chinese government.

Many teens and young adults struggle with overuse of screens. They also have good advice for how to have a healthy relationship with social media.

Health & Safety

Teens say social media is stressing them out. Here's how to help them

4:41pm May 17, 2023

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Many parents are worried about their kids losing themselves for hours on their phones. Turns out, teens are troubled too. But they also know a lot about how to get unhooked. Here's how they do it.

Queue Listen Now

There's growing evidence that social media use can contribute to mental health issues among teens. A new health advisory suggests ways to protect them.

Health & Safety

Major psychologists' group warns of social media's potential harm to kids

11:31am May 09, 2023

by Michaeleen Doucleff

At a time of rising rates of depression and anxiety among teens, the American Psychological Association warns parents that their children need more protection when they are online.

Queue Listen Now

A social media meteorologist posted comments about being armed when a 6-year-old girl rang his doorbell. His comments were alarming to some of his followers.

National

A meteorologist's Facebook comments about guns and kids alarm his audience

11:29am May 03, 2023

by Jaclyn Diaz

The founder of iWeatherNet, a Facebook page and website that posts updates about Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta-area weather, commented about being armed and impatient when a child rang his doorbell.

For years, the research picture on how social media affects teen mental health has been murky. That is changing as scientists find new tools to answer the question.

Health & Safety

The truth about teens, social media and the mental health crisis

4:26pm April 25, 2023

by Michaeleen Doucleff

A striking decline in teen mental health has coincided with the rise of smartphones and social media. Is social media causing the mental health challenges? Finally, research can answer that question.