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What should you do if you’re concerned about your child using social media? Here are some things to keep in mind:

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Social Media and Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Mental Health

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Most teens and young adults use social media, so experts are studying the impact of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok on mental health. Here’s what they found.

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With video gaming becoming an ever growing business, how will this affect workers in the gaming industry going forward as games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty, etc. become more and more popular among the masses?

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"No one works in the game industry unless they love what they do," said "EA Spouse" in an open letter published anonymously in November 2004. "The love of my life comes home late at night complaining of a headache that will not go away and a chronically upset stomach, and my happy supportive smile is running out."

The letter wasn't the first, but it was certainly the most impactful early sign that something was seriously wrong with the way video games are made.

The "EA Spouse Letter," as it came to be known in the gaming community, eventually resulted in multiple lawsuits filed against Electronic Arts (EA) and the publisher paying out tens of millions in settlements.

Nearly 15 years later, little has changed.

The same type of reports are regularly surfacing from major video game development studios: Companies like Epic Games ("Fortnite"), Rockstar Games ("Red Dead Redemption 2"), and, yes, Electronic Arts ("Anthem").

Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive

The second "spouse" letter was published in 2010, and was attributed to, "Determined Devoted Wives of Rockstar San Diego employees" - the studio in charge of developing the first "Red Dead Redemption" game at the time.

Similar to the original "EA Spouse" letter, the letter, attributed to wives of Rockstar San Diego employees, charged the studio with mismanagement, disorganization, and overworking staff.

Even before the Rockstar spouses letter was published, the company had quietly settled a multi-million-dollar lawsuit with former employees over allegations that Rockstar failed to pay adequate overtime.

This was the first public allegation of issues at Rockstar Games, but it wouldn't be the last.

In September 2018, suddenly, the video game developer Telltale Games closed. Hundreds of employees were left without work, seemingly out of nowhere, and didn't even receive severance.

One employee was said to be, "working until 3 AM the night before with no inkling that the studio was about to let them and over 200 other employees go," according to a Kotaku report.

It was an extreme, tragic example of the tumultuous world of video game development, where layoffs are common, even after a successful game ships.

In the case of Telltale, that successful game was a series based on "The Walking Dead." It was a hit for the studio, winning awards and selling millions of copies. Subsequent attempts to replicate that success went significantly less well.

Telletale's story was yet another example of mismanagement in video game development leading directly to real human costs. Hundreds of people were instantly out of work in a hyper-competitive field, many of whom lived in the San Francisco Bay Area - a notoriously expensive place to live.

Unfortunately, Telltale was just the first of several recent examples.

Epic Games

When "Fortnite" launched in the summer of 2017, it wasn't an immediate hit. It didn't even have the Battle Royale mode at first - it wasn't until September 2017 that the game added its absurdly popular mode and catapulted into mainstream culture. Across the next year, it became the most popular game in the world.

But the massive success of "Fortnite" came at a cost: "I work an average 70 hours a week," one person told Polygon. "There's probably at least 50 or even 100 other people at Epic working those hours. I know people who pull 100-hour weeks."

Another said, "I hardly sleep. I'm grumpy at home. I have no energy to go out. Getting a weekend away from work is a major achievement."

At "Red Dead Redemption 2" maker Rockstar Games, a similar story played out.

"We were working 100-hour weeks," Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser said in a New York Magazine interview, which prompted game developers across the industry to speak out. "Working conditions in the industry have improved, but when the co-founder of a studio working on one of the biggest releases of the year can openly brag about their '100 hour work weeks' and have it lapped up as a marketing pitch, it's clear how much further we have to go," one developer wrote.

A Kotaku investigation further detailed the sometimes grueling hours worked by Rockstar Games employees to complete "Red Dead Redemption 2."

A similar story played out at EA with "Anthem," where employees reportedly were put on "stress leave" due to working conditions. "I actually cannot count the amount of 'stress casualties' we had on 'Mass Effect: Andromeda' or 'Anthem,'" one developer at EA's BioWare studio told Kotaku.

Game Workers Unite

Unlike other entertainment production mediums, like TV and film, the video game industry has no real union options.

One advocacy group, Game Workers Unite, wants to change that.

The group isn't a union unto itself, but it is a grassroots organization attempting to encourage unionization across the industry. GWU's mission is, "to connect pro-union activists, exploited workers, and allies across disciplines, classes, and countries in the name of building a unionized game industry."

GWU is still new, and thus far it's unclear if any game studios have unionized as a result.

One thing is clear: something has to give. As video games get more expensive and more complex to create, working conditions aren't likely to improve by themselves. Unionization is just one possible solution, but clearly, steps need to be made toward better conditions.

More: Features Video Games Mobile Game Workers Unite

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Grueling, 100-hour work weeks and 'crunch culture' are pushing the video game industry to a breaking point. Here's what's going on.

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"No one works in the game industry unless they love what they do," said "EA Spouse" in an open letter published anonymously in November 2004. "The love of my life comes home late at night complaining of a headache that will not go away and a chronically upset stomach, and my happy supportive smile is running out."

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Should you consider privacy concerns when purchasing something?

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At a time when many Americans believe their personal information is less secure and are concerned with how companies and the government use their personal data, a substantial share of the public has opted out of using a product or service because of privacy concerns, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 3-17, 2019.

About half (52%) of U.S. adults said they decided recently not to use a product or service because they were worried about how much personal information would be collected about them.

There are some distinctions among certain Americans. For instance, people's own experience with data breaches in the last 12 months is a factor. Those who said someone attempted to open a line of credit or apply for a loan using their name were more likely than those who did not experience this to say they decided not to use a product or service out of privacy concerns (64% vs. 51%). A similar pattern exists when comparing those who said someone took over their social media or email account without their permission and those who did not experience this (63% vs. 51%). And those who said someone put fraudulent charges on their debit card or credit card were more likely than those who did not experience this to share this concern (56% vs. 51%). Overall, adults who experienced any of these three data breaches were more likely than those who did not to avoid products or services out of privacy concerns (57% vs. 50%).

There are also some differences between those with higher and lower levels of education and annual household incomes. Some 55% of college graduates and adults with some college education said they had decided not to use a product or service because of privacy concerns, compared with 45% of those with a high school education or less who said the same. And 54% of adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more annually shared this concern, compared with 48% of those who make $30,000 or less.

The survey also included a two-part open-ended question. Adults who had decided not to use a product or service out of concern for their personal information were asked to describe a recent situation where they decided not to use a product or service. They were then asked, specifically, what the product or service was, and what they found problematic. Roughly one-in-five Americans (21%) said they decided not to use particular websites. A smaller share (11%) said they decided not to use certain electronics. Similar shares said they avoided social media or specific services such as DNA ancestry kits, financial tools or health care.

As far as the reasons for not using these things, the most cited concern was that they must share personal information (15%) in order to get access to the product or service. The second largest concern was that the product or service is untrustworthy (9%). A similar share (8%) cited surveillance as a concern. Smaller shares mentioned concerns such as giving payment information, potential third-party involvement and the risk of spam.

Some respondents elaborated on their reasoning. For instance, a 64-year-old man said: "An email arrived with links to articles. When I clicked the link, the site asked for demographic information about me. I declined to provide the information."

Explaining her concern about electronics, a 29-year-old woman wrote, "My smart TV requested permission to collect audio data and other types of data for research. I am not comfortable with that, so I declined."

Some people said they were interested in using various services but did research that changed their minds. One 27-year-old woman said, "I recently was interested in doing a gene analysis to get a better understanding of my ancestors. After doing research I found that companies actually keep this information and use it in other situations. This deterred me from going further with their service. I honestly do not have a clear understanding of what happens with such services but that is exactly what makes me wary of using such services."
Key takeaways on Americans' views about privacy, surveillance and data-sharing Note: Here are the questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology.

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Half of Americans have decided not to use a product or service because of privacy concerns

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At a time when many Americans believe their personal information is less secure and are concerned with how companies and the government use their personal data, a substantial share of the public has opted out of using a product or service because of privacy concerns, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 3-17, 2019.

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In the day of technology, how does unequal access to technology affect people?

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Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech

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The coronavirus outbreak has driven many commercial and social activities online and for some the internet has become an ever more crucial link to those they love and the things they need.

A new Pew Research Center survey conducted in early April finds that roughly half of U.S. adults (53%) say the internet has been essential for them personally during the pandemic and another 34% describe it as "important, but not essential."

As Americans turn to the internet for critical purposes, there are rekindled debates about how the digital divide - that is, the gap between those who do or do not have access to technology - may hinder people's ability to complete everyday tasks or even schoolwork. Most recently, President Donald Trump announced plans to address broadband connectivity in future economic relief efforts related to the outbreak.

The new national survey of 4,917 U.S. adults conducted April 7 to 12 using the Center's American Trends Panel explores public attitudes about the role of government in addressing these issues and finds that a majority of Americans (62%) do not think it is the federal government's responsibility to ensure that all Americans have a high-speed internet connection at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. And a similar share (65%) do not think the federal government should be responsible for ensuring cellphone services to all.

There are partisan differences when it comes to views about the government's role in ensuring internet and mobile connectivity during this time. Roughly half of Democrats and independents who lean to the Democratic Party (52%) say it is the federal government's responsibility to ensure that all Americans have a high-speed internet connection at home during the outbreak, and 45% think it is the government's responsibility to ensure that people have cellphone services. By comparison, smaller shares of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents hold this view about the government ensuring home broadband access (22%) or cellphone services (21%).

As most schools around the nation have closed and classes and assignments have shifted online, some policymakers have raised concerns about how less digitally connected students will fare in this new learning environment.

When asked about the role of schools in providing technology to students, 37% of adults say K-12 schools have a responsibility to provide all students with laptop or tablet computers in order to help them complete their schoolwork at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. And 43% think schools have this responsibility, but only for students whose families cannot afford it. In total, 80% of Americans think schools have this obligation to at least some students, while about one-in-five (19%) say they do not have this responsibility to any students.

While majorities of both Democrats and Republicans - including independents, who lean towards these parties - believe that schools have a responsibility to provide technology to at least some students to help them complete their schoolwork, there are partisan differences when it comes to the idea of providing laptops or tablets to all students. Some 45% of Democrats believe schools should be obligated to provide computers to all students during the outbreak, compared with 28% of Republicans. Meanwhile, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe schools do not have a responsibility to provide computers to any students (29% vs. 11%).

Amid concerns that students' learning may be harmed due to the widespread school closures, the early April survey also finds that 94% of parents who have children in elementary, middle or high school say their children's school is currently closed due to the outbreak. And a portion of these parents say it is at least somewhat likely their children will struggle with schoolwork because of technology limitations.

Overall, roughly one-in-five parents with homebound schoolchildren say it is very or somewhat likely their children will not be able complete their schoolwork because they do not have access to a computer at home (21%) or have to use public Wi-Fi to finish their schoolwork because there is not a reliable internet connection at home (22%). And about three-in-ten parents (29%) report that it is at least somewhat likely their children will have to do their schoolwork on a cellphone.

These concerns are especially prevalent among parents with lower incomes. Some 43% of lower-income parents with children whose schools shut down say it is very or somewhat likely their children will have to do schoolwork on their cellphones; 40% report the same likelihood of their child having to use public Wi-Fi to finish schoolwork because there is not a reliable internet connection at home, and about one-third (36%) say it is at least somewhat likely their children will not be able to complete schoolwork because they do not have access to a computer at home.

At the same time, rural and urban parents whose children's schools have closed are more likely than their suburban counterparts to think that it is at least somewhat likely their children will struggle with their schoolwork because of lack of digital resources at home.

This survey conducted April 7 to 12 also covered another key aspect of the digital divide: whether Americans are worried about their ability to pay their internet or cellphone bills over the coming months. Some 28% of those who have a high-speed connection at home say they worry a lot or some about paying for this service over the next few months, and 30% of smartphone owners say they worry at least some about paying their cellphone bill. Hispanic or black broadband or smartphone users and those with lower incomes are especially likely to say they worry about these types of bills.

The vast majority of Americans view the impact of the internet positively, and nearly nine-in-ten say it's been an essential or important tool during the coronavirus outbreak

There is evidence that some people are using the internet more in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and that new kinds of online activities are gaining popularity. The early April survey examines how this might be affecting people's overall views about the role of the internet in their lives and in society, more broadly.

Asked to state their views when they add up all the advantages and disadvantages of the internet for them personally, nine-in-ten Americans say the internet has mostly been a good thing for them. At the same time, 78% believe it has been a mostly good thing for society. As has been true in previous Center surveys, the public is more likely to say the internet has been a bad thing for society than a bad thing for them personally (21% vs. 10%). This overall positive view of the internet is shared by vast majorities across each of the major demographic groups surveyed.

Americans were also asked how important the internet has been for them during the coronavirus pandemic. Fully 87% of adults say the internet has been at least important for them personally during the coronavirus outbreak, including 53% who describe it as essential. Relatively few Americans - 13% - think the internet has been not too or not at all important for them during the outbreak.

Majorities across all demographic groups consider the internet at least important during this time, but there are some distinctions on whether they have found it be essential. Roughly two-thirds of adults under the age of 50 say the internet has been essential for them during the outbreak, compared with 49% of adults ages 50 to 64 and 31% of adults age 65 and older.

There are also some differences by education level. Some 65% of college graduates say the internet has been essential during the outbreak, compared with 52% of adults with some college education and 42% of those with a high school education or less. Upper-income adults, Hispanics, and urban or suburban residents are also particularly likely to describe the internet as essential for them during the coronavirus outbreak.

Roughly half of Americans with lower incomes are worried about paying their broadband and cellphone bills over the coming months

With numerous everyday tasks being driven online, there is renewed attention on the impact of the digital divide. Before the pandemic, Center surveys showed that there is still a share of the population that is not digitally connected in some way.

Other Pew Research Center reports show that many Americans face substantial new financial struggles because of this outbreak. About half say the coronavirus poses a major threat to their personal finances, and, as of early April, 43% of Americans say that someone in their household has lost their job or experienced a pay cut.

In light of this, the new survey asked digital technology users how worried they are about being able to pay for their high-speed internet connection in their home and the cellphone services over the next few months. Some 28% of home broadband users say they have some (19%) or a lot of worry (9%) about affording this expense over the next few months. And 30% of smartphone users say they worry a lot (11%) or some (18%) about paying their cellphone bills.

Americans with lower incomes are especially likely to express concern about broadband and cellphone bills. Roughly half of lower-income broadband users (52%) say they worry a lot or some about being able to pay for their high-speed internet connection over the coming months, compared with 26% of those with incomes in the middle and just 9% of those in the high-income tier. Among smartphone owners, 54% of those who have lower incomes say they worry at least some about paying their cellphone bills, compared with 25% of those who are middle income and just 9% of upper-income users.

At the same time, Hispanic adults are particularly likely to express concerns about paying their tech-related bills. For example, 54% of Hispanic broadband users say they worry about being able to pay for their home internet services, compared with 36% of black users and 21% of white users. Similar patterns are present when asked about worries related to paying cellphone bills over the next few months, with Hispanic smartphone owners being more likely than their black or white counterparts to say they worry about this.

There are also some differences by age. Broadband and smartphone users ages 18 to 64 are more likely than those ages 65 and up to say they worry about being able to pay their internet or cellphone bills.

Democrats are more inclined than Republicans to believe the government has a responsibility to ensure internet and mobile connectivity during this time

A central question in the digital divide debate is what role, if any, should government play in helping those without access. More recently, some states have started to subsidize broadband access for those who currently lack access, while President Trump announced plans to tackle connectivity issues during the outbreak.

Overall, a majority of Americans in this early April survey say it is not the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that all Americans have a high-speed internet connection (62%) or cellphone service (65%) amid the pandemic, while about four-in-ten believe that the government should bear this responsibility.

While there is not clear majority support among either party for this, Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party are more likely than their Republican and Republican-leaning counterparts to believe that the government should have a role in providing these services. Roughly half of Democrats (52%) say the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans have a high-speed internet connection at home during the COVID-19 outbreak, while just 22% of Republicans hold his view. Democrats are also about twice as likely as Republicans to believe the federal government has responsibility to provide cellphone service for all Americans amid this crisis (45% vs. 21%).

There are also differences within the Republican Party by income. Among Republicans and Republican leaners, 36% of those with lower incomes say the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans have a high-speed internet connection at home during this pandemic, compared with 20% of those in the middle-income tier and just 13% of those who in the upper income tier. When asked about their views about ensuring cellphone services, 35% of lower-income Republicans and Republican leaners agree that the government bears this responsibility, while smaller shares of middle- and upper-income Republicans say this (19% and 13%, respectively).

By comparison, there are more modest differences found between upper- and lower-income Democrats.

Broadband users who express concern about affording their high-speed internet bill in the coming months are more likely than those who are less worried about their internet connectivity bills to back the idea that the federal government should ensure high-speed internet access during the coronavirus outbreak (52% vs. 31%). Similarly, smartphone users who say they worry about affording their cellphone bills for the next few months are more likely than those who are less worried about their phone bills to say that they think the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans have cellphone service during the coronavirus (47% vs. 29%).

Americans mostly believe that K-12 schools should provide computers to at least some students during the COVID-19 outbreak

In this more challenging education environment, the question becomes: Should school systems provide technology to K-12 students? When asked about schools' responsibility to provide laptop or tablet computers to students in order to help them complete their schoolwork at home during the coronavirus outbreak, 37% of Americans say K-12 schools have this responsibility to all students, and 43% say they are only responsible for providing these resources to students whose families cannot afford them. By comparison, 19% believe schools do not have this responsibility to any students.

While majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say schools have the responsibility to provide computers to at least some students, there are partisan differences when it comes to whether this should be available to all students. Democrats and the independents who lean Democratic are more likely than Republicans and their leaners to say schools have this responsibility to all students (45% vs. 28%).

At the same time, 29% of Republicans (compared with 11% of Democrats) say schools do not have a responsibility to provide computers to any students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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53% of Americans Say the Internet Has Been Essential During the COVID-19 Outbreak

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The coronavirus outbreak has driven many commercial and social activities online and for some the internet has become an ever more crucial link to those they love and the things they need. A new Pew Research Center survey conducted in early April finds that roughly half of U.S.

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People feeling less secure.  What do you think when you hear "Privacy"?

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Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech

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Americans have had a variety of ways of thinking about privacy over the centuries. Though the word "privacy" is not used in the Constitution, the idea that citizens are "to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures" is enshrined in the Fourth Amendment. Before he was a Supreme Court justice, Louis Brandeis proclaimed in a 1890 Harvard Law Review article that Americans enjoyed a "right to privacy," which he argued was the "right to be let alone." In a landmark birth control case in 1965, the Supreme Court embraced the Brandeis view, ruling that the right to privacy can be inferred from the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth and 14th Amendments. More modern concepts have focused on Americans' views that they ought to be able to control their identity and their personal information.

This new survey asked Americans for their own definitions of the words "privacy" and "digital privacy." Their written answers were coded into broad categories, and they reveal that across both questions, participants most often mention their concerns about the role other people and organizations can play in learning about them, their desire to shield their personal activities and possessions, and their interest in controlling who is given access to their personal information. By comparison, fewer participants mention third parties and the selling of their information, tracking or monitoring, crime and other threats of illicit activity, or interference from the government.

When asked what privacy means to them, 28% of respondents mention other people or organizations:
"Keeping my personal information out of the hands of the big data companies." - Man, 34 "My personal information is secure. No one knows my credit card numbers, address info, where I have been, my banking info, my health info, etc. People don't know anything about me I do not intend to share." - Woman, 51
Around one-quarter (26%) mention control or their ability to decide what aspects of their lives are accessible to others:
"I have control of all my personal and financial information, no one else can access without my permission." - Man, 50 "Personal privacy means everything about me personally is private unless I personally opt-in to allow it to be public. Opt-in means not by default or convoluted user agreement that circumvents the purpose of privacy laws." - Man, 57
Another 15% of respondents focus on themselves and their personal possessions, without referring to outside organizations or people:
"Privacy is being able to feel like your personal information is safe." - Woman, 18 "That I am in complete control of my personal information." - Woman, 29
When asked about "digital privacy," respondents again focused on similar topics as when they were asked about "privacy:" control, the role of other people and organizations, and themselves and their personal possessions. Some 17% mention only themselves and the protection of their own personal information, making no reference to other people or organizations:
"Personal information such as [Social Security numbers], banking information, medical records remain private and secure." - Man, 59 "I should be able to surf the web and do it anonymously." - Woman, 55
And 14% of respondents mention control and the desire to decide which aspects of their lives are accessible to others:
"Digital privacy would mean that you could use digital technology without the fear of your information or messages being vulnerable to someone gaining access to it that was not your intended receiver." - Woman, 72 "Having control and ownership of my online data. Have control and the ability to delete information I have not explicitly given the right to use or disseminate." - Man, 60
Another 13% mention the role other people or organizations play in their digital privacy:
"Security and lack of ability to easily find information put into the digital world like on the internet (passwords, ability to find social media posts), via phone/tablet, etc." - Woman, 34 "Activity/data about me and from my interactions with websites and digital services being unavailable to other people." - Man, 22
A smaller share of respondents (9%) believe that "digital privacy" is a myth and doesn't actually exist:
"Digital privacy does not exist, in my opinion. Once one puts something on a computer that is connected to the internet, privacy is compromised and no longer 'private.'"
- Woman, 75 "Nothing.... No matter what type of security you think you have, any hacker that wants in will get in. Just a matter of time in my opinion." - Man, 49
Many of respondents' written answers about their definitions of "digital privacy" repeated thoughts that were in answers about "privacy." At the same time, words like "social media," "online," "internet" and "data" were more common when respondents described "digital privacy."

Seven-in-ten Americans say they feel as if their data is less secure today than it was five years ago

Large data breaches have become a regular feature of modern life - affecting companies like Capital One, Facebook, Equifax and Uber. To that end, Pew Research Center surveyed Americans about how they feel about their own personal data. This survey finds that seven-in-ten Americans feel their personal information is less secure than it was five years ago, only 6% say their information is more secure, and about a quarter (24%) feel the situation has not changed.

Majorities across demographic groups believe their personal data is less secure than it was in the past, but some groups are more likely to feel this than others. Those with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to believe things are worse. Fully 78% of those with a bachelor's or advanced degree say their personal information is less secure, compared with 64% of those with a high school education or less. Those over age 50 are also more likely to think their data is less secure, compared with those ages 18 to 49.

More than half of the public say they follow privacy news at least somewhat closely

In the midst of this concern, how much attention are Americans paying to privacy issues? Some 57% of Americans say they follow news about privacy very (11%) or somewhat (46%) closely, while 43% say they don't follow it too closely, or at all.

Two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older say they follow privacy news at least somewhat closely, compared with just 45% of those 18 to 29 who do the same. Those living in households earning $75,000 or more a year are also more likely to follow privacy news at the same rate - with 60% saying they do so - compared with 53% of those with a household income less than $30,000 saying the same.

There is little difference, however, between those who follow news about privacy issues and those who do not when it comes to expressing concern about the way things are trending. Some 74% of those who follow privacy news at least somewhat closely believe their data is less secure than it was five years ago and 64% of those who do not follow privacy news too closely also feel the same way.

Roughly three-in-ten Americans have experienced some kind of data breach in past 12 months

When asked about three different types of data breaches or identity theft, 28% of Americans say they have experienced at least one of them in the past 12 months. About one-in-five adults (21%) say someone has put fraudulent charges on their debit or credit card in the past year, while smaller shares say someone has taken over their social media or email account without their permission, or attempted to open a line of credit or apply for a loan using their name.

Black adults (20%) are roughly three times as likely as their Hispanic (7%) or white counterparts (6%) to say someone has taken over their social media or email account in the past year. Black Americans are also more likely to say someone attempted to open a line of credit or applied for a loan using their name in the past 12 months, compared with smaller shares of white and Hispanic adults who say the same.

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1. How Americans think about privacy and the vulnerability of their personal data

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Americans have had a variety of ways of thinking about privacy over the centuries. Though the word "privacy" is not used in the Constitution, the idea that citizens are "to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures" is enshrined in the Fourth Amendment.

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How much privacy do we really have left?

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Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech

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For more recent findings on data privacy, read our 2023 report "How Americans View Data Privacy."
A majority of Americans believe their online and offline activities are being tracked and monitored by companies and the government with some regularity. It is such a common condition of modern life that roughly six-in-ten U.S. adults say they do not think it is possible to go through daily life without having data collected about them by companies or the government.

Data-driven products and services are often marketed with the potential to save users time and money or even lead to better health and well-being. Still, large shares of U.S. adults are not convinced they benefit from this system of widespread data gathering. Some 81% of the public say that the potential risks they face because of data collection by companies outweigh the benefits, and 66% say the same about government data collection. At the same time, a majority of Americans report being concerned about the way their data is being used by companies (79%) or the government (64%). Most also feel they have little or no control over how these entities use their personal information, according to a new survey of U.S. adults by Pew Research Center that explores how Americans feel about the state of privacy in the nation.

Americans' concerns about digital privacy extend to those who collect, store and use their personal information. Additionally, majorities of the public are not confident that corporations are good stewards of the data they collect. For example, 79% of Americans say they are not too or not at all confident that companies will admit mistakes and take responsibility if they misuse or compromise personal information, and 69% report having this same lack of confidence that firms will use their personal information in ways they will be comfortable with.

There is also a collective sentiment that data security is more elusive today than in the past. When asked whether they think their personal data is less secure, more secure or about the same as it was five years ago, 70% of adults say their personal data is less secure. Only 6% report that they believe their data is more secure today than it was in the past.

But even as the public expresses worry about various aspects of their digital privacy, many Americans acknowledge that they are not always diligent about paying attention to the privacy policies and terms of service they regularly encounter. Fully 97% of Americans say they are ever asked to approve privacy policies, yet only about one-in-five adults overall say they always (9%) or often (13%) read a company's privacy policy before agreeing to it. Some 38% of all adults maintain they sometimes read such policies, but 36% say they never read a company's privacy policy before agreeing to it.

Moreover, the practice of reading privacy policies doesn't necessarily guarantee thoroughness. Among adults who say they ever read privacy policies before agreeing to their terms and conditions, only a minority - 22% - say they read them all the way through before agreeing to their terms and conditions.

There is also a general lack of understanding about data privacy laws among the general public: 63% of Americans say they understand very little or nothing at all about the laws and regulations that are currently in place to protect their data privacy.

These findings point to an overall wariness about the state of privacy these days, but there are some circumstances where the public sees value in this type of data-driven environment. For example, pluralities of adults say it is acceptable for poorly performing schools to share data about their students with a nonprofit group seeking to help improve educational outcomes or for the government to collect data about all Americans to assess who might be a potential terrorist.

These findings come from a survey of 4,272 U.S. adults conducted on Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel between June 3-17, 2019.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

P revalence of tracking: 72% of Americans report feeling that all, almost all or most of what they do online or while using their cellphone is being tracked by advertisers, technology firms or other companies. Another 19% think some of what they do is being tracked. Close to half (47%) of adults believe at least most of their online activities are being tracked by the government.

When it comes to their offline behavior such as where they are or whom they talk with, 69% believe companies are tracking at least some of that activity. And 56% of Americans think the government is tracking at least some of their activities, like who they are talking to or their whereabouts.

Not feeling in control of personal data: Roughly eight-in-ten or more U.S. adults say they have very little or no control over the data that government (84%) or companies (81%) collect about them.

When it comes to different kinds of information, the picture varies by the specific type. While relatively few Americans feel as if they have a lot of control over who has access to everything from their physical location to their social media posts, there are experiences in which some Americans especially feel a lack of control. Roughly half of Americans (48%) say they feel as if they have no control over who can access the search terms they use, and 41% say the same about the websites they visit. By comparison, a smaller share of the public feels as if they do not have control over who can access their physical location.

Risks vs. rewards of data collection and profiling: 81% of Americans think the potential risks of data collection by companies about them outweigh the benefits, and 66% say the same about government data collection about them. Relatedly, 72% of adults say they personally benefit very little or none from company data collection about them, and 76% say this about the benefits they might get from government data collection.

One aim of the data collection done by companies is for the purpose of profiling customers and potentially targeting the sale of goods and services to them based on their traits and habits. This survey finds that 77% of Americans say they have heard or read at least a bit about how companies and other organizations use personal data to offer targeted advertisements or special deals, or to assess how risky people might be as customers. About 64% of all adults say they have seen ads or solicitations based on their personal data. And 61% of those who have seen ads based on their personal data say the ads accurately reflect their interests and characteristics at least somewhat well. (That amounts to 39% of all adults.)

Data collection and sharing for specific purposes: Despite their broad concerns about data collection and use by companies and the government, pluralities of U.S. adults say it is acceptable for data to be used in some ways. For instance, by a 49%-27% margin, more Americans find it acceptable than unacceptable for poorly performing schools to share data about their students with a nonprofit group seeking to help improve educational outcomes. Similarly, 49% say it is acceptable for government to collect data about all Americans to assess who might be a potential terrorist threat. That compares with 31% who feel it is unacceptable to collect data from all Americans for that purpose.

On the other hand, more find it unacceptable than acceptable for social media companies to monitor users' posts for signs of depression so they can identify people who are at risk of self-harm and connect them to counseling services (45% vs. 27%). The same pattern arises when it comes to companies that make smart speakers sharing audio recordings of customers with law enforcement to help with criminal investigations: 49% say this it is unacceptable, while 25% find it acceptable.

The public is more evenly divided when it comes to the acceptability of fitness tracking app makers sharing user data with medical researchers to better understand the link between exercise and heart disease.

Concern about how data is used: 79% of adults assert they are very or somewhat concerned about how companies are using the data they collect about them, while 64% say they have the same level of concern about government data collection.

Separately, Americans have mixed views about which groups concern them in getting access to their data: About four-in-ten are concerned a lot about the personal information social media sites (40%) or advertisers might know about them (39%). But only 9% of Americans worry a lot about the information family and friends might know and 19% have similar concerns about what their employers might know.

Still, the majority of Americans are not confident about the way companies will behave when it comes to using and protecting their personal data. Roughly seven-in-ten or more say they are not too or not at all confident that companies will admit mistakes and take responsibility when they misuse or compromise data (79%), will be held accountable by government if they misuse data (75%), or will use customers' data in ways that people would feel comfortable with (69%).

When it comes to data use for specific purposes, Americans have varying views depending on the purpose for the data use. For example, 57% of adults say they are very or somewhat comfortable with companies using their personal data to help companies improve their fraud prevention systems. But they are evenly split when the issue is their comfort with companies using their personal data in developing new products. About a third (36%) of adults say they are at least somewhat comfortable with companies sharing their personal data with outside groups doing research that might help them improve society, but a larger share (64%) say they would be uncomfortable with this practice.

Lack of understanding: 78% of U.S. adults say they understand very little or nothing about what the government does with the data it collects, and 59% say the same about the data companies collect. Only 6% of adults say they understand a great deal what companies do with the data collected, and a similar share (4%) say they know a great deal about what the government does with the data.

Some Americans also admit they struggle to understand the privacy laws that govern use of their data. Roughly six-in-ten Americans (63%) say they have very little or no understanding of the laws and regulations that are currently in place to protect their privacy. Only 3% of adults say they understand these laws a great deal, and 33% say they have some understanding.

How Americans handle privacy policies: Core parts of the current system of data collection and privacy protection are built on the idea that consumers are given notice about how firms collect and use data and ask for their consent to having their data used that way. Fully 97% say they are ever asked to approve privacy policies, yet only one-in-five adults overall say they always (9%) or often (13%) read these policies. Some 38% of U.S. adults maintain they sometimes read such policies, and 36% say they never read a company's privacy policy before agreeing to it. In all, about four-in-ten adults say they understand privacy policies great deal (8%) or some (33%).

In addition to the concerns cited above about how companies handle personal data, a majority of Americans (57%) say they are not too confident (40%) or not at all confident (17%) companies follow what their privacy policies say they will do with users' personal data.

Several other key findings in the survey:

Roughly three-in-ten Americans (28%) say they have suffered at least one of three kinds of major identity theft problems in the previous 12 months at the time of the survey: 21% have had someone put fraudulent charges on their credit or debit card; 8% have had someone take over their social media or email accounts without their permission; and 6% have had someone try to open a credit line or get a loan using their name.

A majority of U.S. adults (57%) say they follow privacy news very closely (11%) or somewhat closely (46%).

There are some differences by age on some privacy issues: People in different age groups have varying views on some key privacy and surveillance issues. Americans ages 65 and older are less likely than those ages 18 to 29 to feel they have control over who can access things like their physical location, purchases made both online and offline and their private conversations. At the same time, older Americans are less likely to think they benefit from data collection: Just 17% of those 65 and older believing they benefit from the data government collects about them, and only 19% think the same about data collected by companies.

There are also age differences on the issue of how data gets used once obtained. Americans ages 65 and older are more likely than younger adults to say it is acceptable for law enforcement to use customers' genetic data to help solve crimes, approve data collection to assess terrorist threats, and have smart speaker makers share users' audio recordings in investigations. By contrast, young adults ages 18 to 29 are more likely than older adults to find acceptable the idea that social media companies monitor users for signs of depression and to allow fitness tracking user data to be shared with medical researchers.

In addition, two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older say they follow privacy news at least somewhat closely, compared with just 45% of those 18 to 29 who do the same.

There are differences by race and ethnicity on some privacy issues: Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to say they believe the government is tracking all or most of what they do online or on their cellphone (60% vs. 43%). Similar gaps are present in views about offline activities: 47% of black adults think all or most of their offline activities are tracked by the government, compared with just 19% of white adults.

In addition, black and Hispanic adults are more likely than white adults to say they are concerned to some degree about what law enforcement officials, employers and family and friends know about them.

When it comes to identity-theft issues, black adults (20%) are roughly three times as likely as their Hispanic (7%) or white counterparts (6%) to say someone has taken over their social media or email account in the past year. Black Americans are also more likely than white and Hispanic adults to say someone attempted to open a line of credit or applied for a loan using their name in the past 12 months.
CORRECTION: In the chart, "Majority of Americans feel as if they have little control over data collected about them by companies and the government," the explanatory text for the findings related to "Risks outweigh benefits" was transcribed incorrectly. The correct text is, "Potential risks of ___ (companies or the government) collecting data about them outweigh the benefits."
At the same time, white adults also report feeling less control across several information types when compared with black and Hispanic adults. For example, 50% of white Americans feel they have control over who can access information about their on- and offline purchases, compared with 69% of black adults and 66% of Hispanic adults.

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Brooke Auxier, Lee Rainie, Monica Anderson, Andrew Perrin, Madhu Kumar and Erica Turner

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Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information

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Majorities of U.S. adults believe their personal data is less secure now, that data collection poses more risks than benefits, and that it is not possible to go through daily life without being tracked.

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How harmful and widespread is the issue of texting while driving, especially among younger people?

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Studies show that approximately 660,000 drivers attempt to use their cell phones while driving every day. While this number includes people who are texting, it also includes people who are checking their email, making, receiving or checking phone calls and using mobile apps.

Statistics regarding the use of texting while driving are alarming, with some reports showing the dangers are even greater than drinking and driving. Texting while driving is reported to be six times more likely to cause an accident than drunk driving. The National Safety Council estimates that cell phone use leads to more than 1.6 million crashes every year. Additionally, 330,000 injuries arise each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. Currently, one out of every four accidents are caused by texting and driving. Eleven tends die each day because of texting while driving.

Texting while driving is particularly problematic for teen drivers due to this issue being coupled with inexperience driving. Teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to get into motor vehicle accidents when texting and driving. Approximately 21 percent of teen drivers who are involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents were distracted by their cell phones. Even though the vast majority of teen drivers said that they were aware of the dangers of texting and driving, 35 percent of them admitted to the act.

A person who texts while driving has his or her ability to safely drive impaired. When a person answers a text, he or she loses attention from the road for about five seconds or a 400 percent increase in time when someone is not watching the road. If the individual is traveling at 55 miles per hour, this impairment lasts long enough that the driver travels the entire length of a football field. Texting while driving is considered to be the most dangerous form of distracted driving because it takes a person's eyes off the road, distracts his or her mind and removes his or her hands from the wheel.
In order to combat the rampant problems with texting while driving, many states have issued bans on texting while driving.
Currently, 46 states have text messaging bans while driving. All of them are primary enforcement except for five. This means that a law enforcement officer can stop a driver for this reason alone without having to witness any other traffic violation. In most of these states, a first offense results in a small fine of $50 or more.

Some of the cell phone bans pertain only to novice drivers while some restrict bus drivers. Fourteen states prohibit drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving, 38 states ban all use of cell phones for novice drivers, 20 states prohibit cell phone use for school bus drivers.
Approximately 94 percent of drivers support imposing a ban on texting while driving and 74 percent say that there should be a ban on hand-held cell phone use. Municipalities support such bans because they believe that they help improve the safety of the roadways.
Cell phone bans can impose a hardship on law enforcement when it comes to enforcement. Law enforcement officers may have to observe someone texting while driving instead of simply manipulating the device. This may be possible when the law enforcement officer is driving beside someone in a vehicle but may be more difficult when they are traveling in the opposite direction. Some communities find it difficult to see how such bans work until there have been multiple citations and cases involving the ban. Being stopped for such a simple reason may result in more significant charges being lobbied against someone after law enforcement finds evidence of other crimes or violations, such as no insurance or drinking and driving.
Individuals who believe that their stop was unjustified or who fear how a traffic violation may affect them may choose to contact a lawyer knowledgeable about traffic laws. He or she can help explain the individual's rights and look for ways to minimize the consequences of an encounter with law enforcement after carefully reviewing the case. Victims of car accidents caused by cell phone use may choose to hire a lawyer to seek compensation for injuries sustained.
Provided by HG.org

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer.

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Studies show that approximately 660,000 drivers attempt to use their cell phones while driving every day. While this number includes people who are texting, it also includes people who are checking their email, making, receiving or checking phone calls and using mobile apps.

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How is the use of online dating apps dangerous for young adults?

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Online dating has grown in popularity, but many young women report experiencing some form of harassment on these platforms, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.

Six-in-ten women under the age of 35 who have used online dating sites or apps say someone continued to contact them after they said they were not interested, compared with 27% of men in this age range. Younger female users are also about twice as likely as their male counterparts to say someone on a dating site or app has called them an offensive name (44% vs. 23%) or threatened to physically harm them (19% vs. 9%).

Pew Research Center has a history of studying online harassment. This particular report focuses on online harassment via online dating sites and apps in America, while considering the larger context of harassment in other online spaces. These findings are based on three surveys. The first is a study of online dating conducted Oct. 16 to 28, 2019, among 4,860 U.S. adults. These include those who took part as members of the Center's American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. Additional respondents who indicated that they identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) were drawn from the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling. The second study was about online harassment conducted Jan. 9 to 23, 2017, among 4,248 U.S. adults; and the third was a study of teens' experiences with online harassment conducted March 7 to April 10, 2018, among 743 U.S. teens.

Recruiting ATP panelists by phone or mail ensures that nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. This gives us confidence that any sample can represent the whole U.S. adult population (see our Methods 101 explainer on random sampling). To further ensure that each ATP survey reflects a balanced cross-section of the nation, the data are weighted to match the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories.

To learn more about the methods used for each of these studies, see the online dating survey's methodology, the online harassment survey's methodology or the teen survey's methodology. Here are the questions used for this report, along with responses.

Other encounters that young women describe are more overtly sexual: 57% of female online dating users ages 18 to 34 say someone has sent them a sexually explicit message or image they did not ask for. This compares with 28% among male users in the same age range. (In this analysis, online dating users are the 30% of U.S. adults who answered yes to the following question: "Have you ever used an online dating site or dating app?")

These findings come at a time when online dating companies are deploying new tools to help combat harassment on their platforms - from using artificial intelligence to providing in-app features to report abusive behaviors. Still, some critics say these measures don't go far enough.

A broader problem

Previous Pew Research Center studies have shown that these patterns are not confined to dating sites or apps: Young women are often the target of this type of digital abuse more broadly.

A 2017 Center survey that used somewhat different measures of online harassment found that 45% of men and 39% of women have experienced some form of online harassment; however, women were more likely to encounter more sexualized forms of harassment. For example, women ages 18 to 34 were twice as likely as men in this age range to say they had been sexually harassed online (20% vs. 9%).

The same survey found that 52% of women ages 18 to 34 reported receiving an explicit image they didn't ask for, compared with 36% of their male counterparts.

In addition, women who had been harassed online were more likely than men to say they were targeted because of their gender (29% vs. 11%). This difference was most pronounced among those ages 35 to 49, with women about five times as likely as men to say this treatment was due to their gender (29% vs. 6%).

For women of all ages, the aftermath of online harassment is also more acutely felt than it is by men. In the 2017 survey, 36% of women who had experienced any type of online harassment described their most recent incident as either extremely or very upsetting. Among men, 16% described their most recent incident that way.

These issues don't just affect adults. Teens also report being recipients of unwanted messages online, according to a separate Center survey conducted in 2018. In that survey, roughly a third of teen girls ages 15 to 17 said they had received sexually explicit images they didn't ask for, again higher than the share among boys in this age range (as well as younger teens).

Gender differences in perceived harassment on dating sites

Men and women who have used online dating sites and apps hold somewhat differing views about how widespread online harassment is on these platforms, according to the most recent survey. For example, while 32% of female users say people being harassed or bullied is a very common occurrence on online dating platforms, that share falls to 19% among male users. These gender differences persist across all age ranges.

Similarly, women who have used online dating platforms are more likely than men to say it is very common for people to receive sexually explicit messages or images they didn't ask for (55% vs. 42%). This gender gap is more pronounced among online daters under the age of 50 than among those 50 and older.

Among those who have used an online dating platform - as well as among Americans overall - women are less likely than men to view meeting someone through a dating site or app as safe. Around a third of women who have online dated (36%) believe these platforms are not too or not at all safe for meeting people, compared with 22% of men. Still, majorities of online daters view these platforms as a safe way to meet others.
Note: Here are the questions used for this report, along with responses, and the methodology for the most recent survey cited.

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Young women often face sexual harassment online - including on dating sites and apps

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Six-in-ten women under 35 who have online dated say someone continued to contact them after they said they were not interested.

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Does social media negatively influence our mental health?

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Is using social media making our kids unhappy? Evidence is mounting that there is a link between social media and depression. In several recent studies, teenage and young adult users who spend the most time on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms were shown to have a substantially (from 13 to 66 percent) higher rate of reported depression than those who spent the least time.

Does that mean that Instagram and Facebook are actually causing depression? These studies show a correlation, not causation. But it's worth a serious look at how social media could be affecting teenagers and young adults negatively.

The Child Mind Institute is offering telehealth services. Learn more about Telehealth.

One reason the correlation seems more than coincidental is that an increase in depression occurred in tandem with the rise in smartphone use.

A 2017 study of over half a million eighth through 12th graders found that the number exhibiting high levels of depressive symptoms increased by 33 percent between 2010 and 2015. In the same period, the suicide rate for girls in that age group increased by 65 percent.

Smartphones were introduced in 2007, and by 2015 fully 92 percent of teens and young adults owned a smartphone. The rise in depressive symptoms correlates with smartphone adoption during that period, even when matched year by year, observes the study's lead author, San Diego State University psychologist Jean Twenge.

Over that same time period there was a sharp spike in reports of students seeking help at college and university counseling centers, principally for depression and anxiety. Visits jumped 30 percent between 2010 and 2015.

Social media and depression

One of the biggest differences in the lives of current teenagers and young adults, compared to earlier generations, is that they spend much less time connecting with their peers in person and more time connecting electronically, principally through social media.

Some experts see the rise in depression as evidence that the connections social media users form electronically are less emotionally satisfying, leaving them feeling socially isolated.

"The less you are connected with human beings in a deep, empathic way, the less you're really getting the benefits of a social interaction," points out Alexandra Hamlet, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. "The more superficial it is, the less likely it's going to cause you to feel connected, which is something we all need."

Indeed, one exception to the depression correlation is girls who are high users of social media but also keep up a high level of face-to-face social interaction. The Twenge study showed that those girls who interact intensely offline as well as through social media don't show the increase in depressive symptoms that those who interact less in person do.

And there are some teenagers who aren't successful in connecting with peers offline, because they are isolated geographically or don't feel accepted in their schools and local communities. For those kids, electronic connection can be lifesaving.

Related: Is the Internet Addictive?

Social media and perceived isolation

Another study last year of a national sample of young adults (age 19-32) showed correlation between the time spent on social media and perceived social isolation (PSI). The authors noted that directionality can't be determined. That is, "Do people feeling socially isolated spend more time on social media, or do more intense users develop PSI?"

If it's the latter, they noted, "Is it because the individual is spending less time on more authentic social experiences that would decrease PSI? Or is it the nature of observing highly curated social feeds that they make you feel more excluded?"

Which brings us what we now call FOMO, or fear of missing out.

Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, observes that "FOMO is really the fear of not being connected to our social world, and that need to feel connected sometimes trumps whatever's going on in the actual situation we're in. The more we use social media, the less we think about being present in the moment."

Instead we might be occupied with worrying why we weren't invited to a party we're seeing on Instagram, or making sure we don't miss a single post from a friend. But if we're always playing catch-up to endless online updates, we're prioritizing social interactions that aren't as emotionally rewarding and can actually make us feel more isolated.

Social media and self-esteem

Another theory about the increase in depression is the loss of self-esteem, especially in teenage girls, when they c ompare themselves negatively with artfully curated images of those who appear to be prettier, thinner, more popular and richer.

"Many girls are bombarded with their friends posting the most perfect pictures of themselves, or they're following celebrities and influencers who do a lot of Photoshopping and have makeup and hair teams," explains Dr. Hamlet. "If that's their model for what is normal, it can be very hard on their self-confidence."

Indeed, image-driven Instagram shows up in surveys as the platform that most leads young people to report feeling anxiety, depression and worries about body image.

Curation of a perfect image may not only make others feel inadequate, it's unhealthy even for those who appear to be successful at it, notes Dr. Bubrick. "Kids spend so much time on social media trying to post what they think the world will think is a perfect life. Look at how happy I am! Look how beautiful I am! Without that they're worried that their friends won't accept them. They're afraid of being rejected." And if they are getting positive feedback from their social media accounts, they might worry that what their friends like isn't the "real" them.

Related: How Your Teen's Phone Is Ruining Her Concentration

Less healthy activity

Another possible source of depression may be what teenagers are not doing during while they're spending time on social media, including physical activity and things that generate a sense of accomplishment, like learning new skills and developing talents.

"If you're spending a lot of time on your phone, you have less time for activities that can build confidence, a sense of achievement and connectedness," explains Dr. Hamlet.

Kids who are spending a lot of time on devices are not getting much in return to make them feel good about themselves, she adds. "Yes, you get a little dopamine burst whenever you get a notification, or a like on a picture, or a follow request. But those things are addicting without being satisfying."

Disrupted concentration

Another thing disrupted by social media is the process of doing homework and other tasks that require concentration. It's become common for teenagers to engage with friends on social media at the same time they are studying. They take pride in being able to multi-task, but evidence shows that it cuts down on learning and performance.

"Basically, multitasking isn't possible," Dr. Hamlet notes. "What you end up doing is really just switching back and forth between two tasks rather quickly. There is a cost to the brain." And with poorer concentration and constant interruption, homework takes substantially longer than it should, cutting into free time and adding to stress.

Sleep deprivation and depression

Some of the ways in which social media use impacts mood may be indirect. For instance, one of the most common contributors to depression in teenagers is sleep deprivation, which can be caused, or exacerbated, by social media.

Research shows that 60 percent of adolescents are looking at their phones in the last hour before sleep, and that they get on average an hour less sleep than their peers who don't use their phones before bed. Blue light from electronic screens interferes with falling asleep; on top of that, checking social media is not necessarily a relaxing or sleep-inducing activity. Scrolling on social media, notes Dr. Hamlet, can easily end up causing stress.

"Social media can have a profound effect on sleep," adds Dr. Bubrick. "You have the intention to check Facebook or Instagram for 5 minutes, and the next thing you know 50 minutes are gone. You're an hour behind in sleep, and more tired the next day. You find it harder to focus. You're off your game, and it spirals from there."

How to minimize negative effects of social media use

While we don't yet have conclusive evidence that social media use actually causes depression, we do have plenty of warning signs that it may be affecting our kids negatively. So it's smart for parents to check in regularly with kids about their social media use, to make sure it's positive and healthy, and guide them towards ways to change it, if you think it's not.

Also, be alert for symptoms of depression. If you notice signs that your child might be depressed, take them seriously. Ask your child how he is doing, and don't hesitate to set up an appointment with a mental health provider.

Steps you can take to insure healthy social media use:

Focus on balance: Make sure your kids are also engaging in social interaction offline, and have time for activities that help build identity and self-confidence.

Turn off notifications: App developers are getting more and more aggressive with notifications to lure users to interrupt whatever they're doing to engage constantly with their phones. Don't let them.

Look out for girls at higher risk of depression: Monitor girls who are going through a particularly tough time or are under unusual stress. Negative effects of social media can have more impact when confidence is down.

Teach mindful use of social media: Encourage teenagers to be honest with themselves about how time spent on social media makes them feel, and disengage from interactions that increase stress or unhappiness.

Model restraint and balance in your own media diet: Set an example by disengaging from media to spend quality family time together, including phone-free dinners and other activities. Kids may resist, but they'll feel the benefits.

Phone-free time before sleep: Enforce a policy of no smartphones in the bedroom after a specific time and overnight. Use an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake up.

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Does Social Media Cause Depression? | Child Mind Institute

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Is using social media making our kids unhappy? Evidence is mounting that there is a link between social media and depression. In several recent studies, teenage and young adult users who spend the most time on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms were shown to have a substantially (from 13 to 66 percent) higher rate of reported depression than those who spent the least time.

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How has texting while driving endangered others on the roads and themselves.

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Each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. ¹

Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

What are the types of distraction?

There are three main types of distraction:

Visual: taking your eyes off the road;

Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and

Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving.²

Distracted driving activities

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction. Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are a few examples of distracted driving. Any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others.

Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distraction. 3 When you send or read a text message, you take your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, long enough to cover the length a football field while driving at 55 mph. ⁴

How big is the problem?

US deaths

In 2016, 3,450 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver. ¹

US injuries

In 2015, 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. ¹

Who is most at risk?

Young adult and teen drivers

Drivers under the age of 20 have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.¹

In 2017 9% of all teen motor vehicle crash deaths involved distracted driving.⁵

CDC's national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors health-risk behaviors among high school students, including texting or emailing while driving.6,7 Recent YRBSS findings include:

In 2017, 42% of high school students who drove in the past 30 days reported sending a text or email while driving.⁷

Students who reported frequent texting while driving were:

Less likely to wear a seatbelt.⁶

More likely to ride with a driver who had been drinking.⁶

More likely to drink and drive.⁶

What is being done?

States

Many states are enacting laws-such as banning texting while driving, or using graduated driver licensing systems for teen drivers-to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to help prevent it from occurring. However, the effectiveness of cell phone and texting laws on decreasing distracted driving-related crashes requires further study. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety keeps track of distracted driving laws. ⁸

As of March 2019, 16 states and the District of Columbia had banned drivers from hand-held phone use. ⁸

As of March 2019, texting while driving is banned in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Two additional states ban texting while driving for new drivers. ⁸

Some local governments also have bans on cell phone use and texting while driving.⁸

Federal government

On September 30, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving on government business or with government equipment.⁹

On September 17, 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration banned cell phone and electronic device use of employees on the job.¹⁰

On October 27, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted a ban that prohibits commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving.¹¹

In 2011, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration banned all hand-held cell phone use by commercial drivers and drivers carrying hazardous materials.¹¹

From 2010 to 2013, NHTSA evaluated the Distracted Driving Demonstration Projects. These projects increased police enforcement of distracted driving laws and increased awareness of distracted driving using radio advertisements, news stories, and similar media. After the projects were complete, observed driver cell phone use fell from 4.1% to 2.7% in California, 6.8% to 2.9% in Connecticut, 4.5% to 3.0% in Delaware, and 3.7% to 2.5% in New York.13, 14

In April of 2014, NHTSA began their annual "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.15
NHTSA provides campaign materials for state and local law enforcement:

References

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts Research Notes 2016: Distracted Driving.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC: NHTSA; 2015. Available at https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812517external icon . Accessed 25 March 2019.

2. Vegega, M., Jones, B., and Monk, C. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Understanding the effects of distracted driving and developing strategies to reduce resulting deaths and injuries: A report to congresspdf icon external icon . U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC: 2013.

3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Teen and Distracted Driving 2017. Available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812667. Accessed 25 March 2019.

4. Olsen, E.O., R.A. Shults, and D.K. Eaton. Texting while driving and other risky motor vehicle behaviors among US high school studentsexternal icon . Pediatrics, 2013. 131(6): p. e1708-15.

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2015pdf icon . Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/features/yrbs/. Accessed 25 March 2019.

6. Chaudhary, N. K., Casanova-Powell, T. D., Cosgrove, L., et. al. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Evaluation of NHTSA distracted driving demonstration projects in Connecticut and New Yorkpdf icon external icon . U.S Department of Transportation, Washington, DC; 2012.

7. Chaudhary, N. K., Connolly, J., Tison, J., Solomon, M. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Evaluation of the NHTSA distracted driving high-visibility enforcement demonstration projects in California and Delawarepdf icon external icon . U. S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC; 2015.

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Each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. 1 Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

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How can technology be a potential dangerous place for young adults and children? Cyber bulling is more common then you may think.

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Cyberbullying Facts - Cyberbullying Research Center

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Summarizes the latest and most important cyberbullying facts, statistics, and references to help you deal or prevent cyberbullying.

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How can teachers provide equal learning experiences when there is unequal access to technology?

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When by the Gates Foundation in November 2015 about the biggest barriers to using digital resources, the most common response was "My students do not have access to technology outside of the classroom." 3,100 teachers were surveyed

The lack of access to high-speed internet and its impact on learning is well-documented. What has been coined as "the digital divide" is one of many problems that threaten students from mid to low-income families nationwide. 33% of low and moderate-income families-and 50% of families below the poverty line- do not have home access to high-speed internet.The Joan Ganz Cooney Center's recent Opportunity for All? report succinctly describes the impact, both negative and positive, that technology and the lack thereof can have:

Unfortunately, the students that lack the means to use this technology are the students that need it the most-and it doesn't just affect them outside of the classroom.

Sure, there is incredible work being done to make high-speed internet accessible to everyone. For example, the FCC voted a few weeks ago to expand the Lifeline program to include access to broadband internet. But we are still years away from the gap being eliminated. When 3,100 teachers were surveyed by the Gates Foundation in November 2015 about the biggest barriers to using digital resources, the most common response was "My students do not have access to technology outside of the classroom."

Educators are no strangers to making micro-changes in the classroom before policy and administration have the chance to catch up. Great teachers diagnose the needs of their classroom and develop a patchwork solution that improves the learning environment for every student. So, what can a classroom teacher do to mitigate the effects of unequal internet access at home-while still maximizing the use of classroom technology in a strategic and effective way?

1. Start with the basics-research your student and their families, and respond accordingly

Don't assume that because students can see your posts on a website or can access a service like Remind or Edmodo that they have uninhibited internet access. Students may be accessing these through inconsistent means, such as a parent's mobile device that relies on a monthly data plan. Opportunity for All says 33% of families below the poverty line access the internet solely through a mobile device. What happens when a large project is due towards the end of the month and the student's family has consumed all data for the month?

Additionally, the Opportunity for All report suggests "parents with less education and lower incomes tend to help their children less, but to depend on their children more" as it relates to using technology. In families without home internet access, parents are less likely to be able to "evaluate and interpret" information and content that students encounter online.

Teachers need to be cognizant of how their students and families interact with technology. For example, spend some time at the beginning of the year discovering the digital landscape of the classroom by giving students and parents a "Student Technology Access & Use Survey" (STAUS) similar to the one created by Brian Sersion and Douglas Stevens of Cincinnati Public Schools.

2. Be proactive in creating lessons and assignments, thoughtfully

Think carefully before assigning online research, a lab simulation, or writing assignments that need to be done at home on a desktop or laptop. LMS's and many web pages provide a considerably different experience on a mobile device, and may have limited functionality if the sites weren't designed with mobile in mind-and that's assuming that there's actually mobile access at home.

We differentiate based on student exceptionalities, but we need to start thinking about how we differentiate for the digital divide, as well.

In every classroom, there must always be a strategic response to the question "How does the use of technology contribute to the learning taking place in this lesson?" When creating a lesson with technology as an integral piece, be able to explain why that technology is an integral piece and-more importantly-how you are going to accommodate for students without home access.

3. Put extra effort towards pushing digital literacy

Basic tips for any classroom in teaching digital literacy are especially important to be aware of when considering students that may be new to the internet in an academic setting. Routine tasks in word processing, web browsing, creating PowerPoints and YouTube videos should be built into classroom procedures at the beginning of the year to accommodate those students that are unfamiliar. Do not expect students to have the same familiarity with the web that you do, even if they can Snapchat faster than you can snap your fingers. For example, spend some time discussing what a credible web page looks like.

4. Provide extra opportunities for technology and internet access

Once you've got a better idea of your students and parents' access at home, find a consistent time before or after school where students can come in and use the technology available in the school-and allow their parents to join. In fact, consider hosting an optional technology night that teaches parents about the school's expectations and provides tutorials on commonly-used apps, programs, and basic digital literacy skills.

There are also access opportunities outside of school and the home-but sadly, those opportunities aren't always known. Only 21% of those students without home access use public libraries to access the internet. Provide students and parents with a guide with basic information on nearby libraries' locations, policies, and hours, as many students may not be aware of the community centers in close proximity to their homes.

5. Advocate for more resources in your district or school

What resources and solutions are available to students without access at the school or district level? One potential answer might be the Kajeet SmartSpot, a broadband hotspot that can be purchased by the school and loaned out to students in need.

While the students and schools in most need of these devices are the ones least likely to be able to afford them, educators could apply for grants or seek alternative funding to purchase these devices. And if your district can afford them, talk to your administration about what is purchased and being done to eliminate the digital divide.

And access doesn't just come with tools-it comes with smarter educators. Push for more professional development, and open the dialogue within the professional community at your school and district.

Digital inequality is cyclical in nature. As the "Opportunity for All?" report explains, "Digital inequality can contribute to educational inequality, which in turn perpetuates economic inequality." Hence, this is not just the problem of students, teachers, or parents-it's everyone's problem. But instead of waiting for national policies and programs to save the day, educators must adapt and create flexible solutions to combat the troubling cycle of unequal access.

Sean Wolohan (@sean_wolohan) is a Math and Science Teacher at St. Peter and Paul School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This post is part of the EdSurge Fifty States Project (representing the state of Oklahoma). The project is supported in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors alone and do not reflect the views of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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How Teachers Can Provide Equal Learning in a World of Unequal Access - EdSurge News

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When by the Gates Foundation in November 2015 about the biggest barriers to using digital resources, the most common response was "My students do not have access to technology outside of the classroom." 3,100 teachers were surveyed The lack of access to high-speed internet and its impact on learning is well-documented.