Recent data indicates a significant increase in persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness among teenage girls. These challenges can have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only academic performance but also the overall quality of life for young girls. Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness can hinder their academic performance, leading to a decline in grades and educational engagement. Additionally, these challenges can strain relationships with friends and family, isolating them at a time when social connections are crucial for development. Emotional distress may also man ..read more

Social media is an integral part of life for today’s teens. Online interactions and social media platforms offer teens avenues for self-expression, connection, and information sharing. However, the extensive use of social media – especially video- and image-oriented platforms like TikTok and Instagram – may negatively affect teenage mental health. On these platforms, many teens constantly compare themselves to carefully curated, idealized images and lifestyles of peers. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Furthermore, cyberbullying, which frequently occurs on ..read more

The integration of apps into education revolutionized the way students learn and teachers instruct them. Educational apps offer a versatile platform for interactive and engaging learning experiences, catering to various subjects and age groups. They enable personalized learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace and providing teachers with valuable insights into individual student performance. Moreover, apps facilitate remote and blended learning, making education more accessible and adaptable, especially in the face of changing educational landscapes. However, educational apps a ..read more

Teenage gun ownership remains a concerning issue for schools. The emergence of ghost guns deepened that concern. According to NPR, ghost guns are personally assembled and untraceable. The “buy build shoot” kits can be ordered online or 3D printed. Some take only thirty minutes to put together. Everytown Research and Policy tracks incidents of gun violence. According to Everytown, in the first eight months of 2023 alone, there were at least seventeen shootings involving ghost guns. Five of those incidents involved teenagers. The Department of Justice reports that in 2021, law enforcement agenci ..read more

From nationwide threats of on-campus violence to tragic school shootings, school safety is a primary concern for parents, administrators, and educators. However, the need for school safety doesn’t stop at the campus or classroom. Online safety is essential to a safe learning environment. As students increasingly rely on technology for learning and communication, it’s crucial to create a secure online environment. According to a recent study, only one in ten teachers feel confident about their students’ safety and security online. Schools should implement robust policies and practices that incl ..read more

Over the past fifteen years, the prevalence of suicidal ideation and of suicide attempts among adolescents has increased dramatically. This is especially true of adolescents who are Black and Hispanic. In 2019, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that as many as one in five students in high school had at some point considered suicide. Of those students, one in six had actually made a plan. The pandemic worsened the situation. Not only did school closures lead to social isolation, they also separated vulnerable students from school counselors and other mental health resou ..read more

Over the course of the pandemic, teenagers’ use of social networking apps increased exponentially. According to Common Sense Media, “media use by 8- to 18-year-olds has grown faster during the two years of the pandemic than it had over the four years before the pandemic began.” Social media allowed isolated teens to connect with their peers during school closures and social distancing. And, with the proliferation of social platforms tailored to their age group, teens are able to connect with peers who share similar interests and experiences. The convenience and accessibility of these platforms ..read more

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on student mental health, exacerbating existing challenges and introducing new ones. Children faced disruptions in their daily routines, isolation from peers, and the abrupt shift to remote learning. All of these changes contributed to heightened stress, anxiety, and feelings of uncertainty. In a study published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, researchers asked students about their anxiety during the pandemic. According to this study, “more than one in four children report[ed] sleep problems due to worries, feeling unhap ..read more

Few issues in education generate more controversy than generative artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI includes ChatBot tutors and programs like ChatGPT. On one hand, Generative AI tools can help overloaded teachers develop quizzes, study guides, summaries, and other course materials. On the other hand, generative AI apps can hinder student learning. This is particularly true of ChatGPT, which students can use to generate essays and homework answers. Additionally, this leads to questions about plagiarism and about academic integrity. Moreover, many experts worry that the use of generati ..read more

The K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021 set guidelines and strategies to prevent cyberattacks in schools. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), such attacks can lead to weeks of learning loss. It can also take schools months – in some cases, nearly a year – to recover. And the financial impact can be dire for schools already struggling with decreasing budgets. The GAO states that the costs of school cyberattacks range “from $50,000 to $1 million.” This includes “replacement of computer hardware and enhancing cybersecurity to prevent future attacks.” The K-12 Cybersecurity Act req ..read more