It was the 2024 version of public shaming – relentless on-camera questioning designed to send a message rather than hear answers. It seemed the lawmakers already had their answers. I get their frustration that... social media platforms can't just "install" the digital version of car seats and seat belts or create product labeling like on a cigarette package these companies and their … [Read more...] about What child online safety really needs, senators
Risk & Safety
Supporting the youngest witnesses of this humanitarian crisis
Sometimes we parents feel so helpless when our children come to us hurting as much as us when they see something awful happening in the world. In her email letter to our community, my friend, colleague and fellow parent Michelle Lipkin wrote, when her 19-year-old daughter asked her to explain what's going on, "I tried my best, but I know my response was inadequate. At times like these, I always … [Read more...] about Supporting the youngest witnesses of this humanitarian crisis
The missing piece in US child online safety law
US kids and parents need a toll-free number to call or text for help in getting harmful online content taken down. After studying various kinds of help like this that youth and parents in Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand have, we at The Net Safety Collaborative piloted a proof of concept for this – with independent evaluation – in the last decade. Now, with so many state and federal … [Read more...] about The missing piece in US child online safety law
Generative AI: July 2023 freeze frame
It's feeling like I need a large language model brain to write about safety with large language models. [I certify that I only wish I had such a brain, and I am a human.] So let's freeze the film for a moment and see where we humans are with generative AI safety. First, so that we're all on the same page, a large language model is basically an algorithmic structure called a "neural … [Read more...] about Generative AI: July 2023 freeze frame
Threads: The new social media kid
"Picture Twitter but with a lot less Elon Musk" is how the Wall Street Journal is describing Threads, Meta's new app. That right there is good news, maybe unusual where tech is concerned. I'll give you a list of reasons in a moment, but first it's only fair to state (or rather link to) my bias, which is not only about how Twitter's Trust & Safety Council was treated after Musk took over but … [Read more...] about Threads: The new social media kid