Recent News

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski was featured in MIT Technology Review’s article, “Child-monitoring apps might need a reboot,” which examines how parental-monitoring technologies can affect young people’s safety, privacy, autonomy, and trust.The article highlights Wisniewski’s more than decade-long research on adolescent online safety and her argument that surveillance alone is not the...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski was featured in a CBC News article examining how location sharing has become part of everyday social life for Gen Z—and the potential privacy and mental-health costs that come with constant connectivity. Wisniewski discussed how location sharing can foster connection, security, and belonging, while also creating pressures...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski presented an Emerging Leaders lightning talk at the CRA Summit 2026, titled “Safety by Design: Building the Village That Protects and Empowers Youth Online.” Drawing on more than a decade of research on adolescent online safety, Wisniewski challenged the computing research community to rethink how technology can...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski was featured on Morning Wave in Busan, Korea, for a special interview on the growing debate surrounding social media bans for young people. During the interview, Wisniewski discussed why blanket restrictions may overlook young people’s lived experiences, needs, and rights. She emphasized that efforts to improve online...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski and Dr. Elizabeth A. Sweigart have published a new peer-reviewed book chapter, “Decentralized Governance for Youth Online Safety: Open Innovation, Digital Democracy, and Federated Social Media.” The chapter asks a broader question about youth online safety: What if it is not only a platform problem, but also...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski virtually presented at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Symposium for Employee Engagement and Development (SEED) as part of its Digital Force Protection theme. Her talk, “Cognitive Resilience in the Digital Age: SHIELDing Families from Online Risks,” examined how families can navigate an increasingly complex digital environment...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski recently led and presented, SHIELD, a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Science and Technology (ISAT) study focused on an emerging challenge at the intersection of artificial intelligence, human behavior, and national security. Wisniewski co-led the study with Dr. Amanda Clase, working alongside an interdisciplinary team...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski delivered a Test of Time Award Keynote at NDSS Symposium 2026, reflecting on resilience, bravery, and the research journey behind her work on adolescent online safety. Drawing a connection between her research and her own experience with public speaking, Wisniewski emphasized that resilience cannot exist without adversity—and...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski joined Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development for its Get Screen Smart webinar, focused on the essential technology knowledge parents and caregivers need to help young people navigate digital spaces. Wisniewski discussed digital privacy literacy and youth online safety, including privacy risks such...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski contributed expert guidance to the new Children and Screens Guide for Childhood Development and Media Use: Adolescence (Ages 11–18), a research-based resource designed to help parents and caregivers support adolescents’ well-being, growing autonomy, and healthy relationships with digital media. Wisniewski’s contributions emphasize a developmental approach to online...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski has accepted an invitation to serve as a Non-Resident Fellow with the Algorithmic Fairness and Opacity Working Group (AFOG) at the UC Berkeley School of Information. AFOG brings together scholars across computer science, law, sociology, and the humanities to advance research and dialogue around algorithmic fairness, transparency,...

Dr. Pamela Wisniewski, along with Dr. Liz Sweigart and Aahil Valliani, co-authored a Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) article, “Pause, Reflect, and Redirect: Helping Youth Make Better Digital Choices.” The article presents the Pause, Reflect, and Redirect (PRR) framework as an alternative to punitive blocking and restriction. Rather than...