The Inevitable, Tragic Lawsuit

A Florida mother, Megan Garcia, filed a federal lawsuit against Character.AI and Google following the suicide of her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III, in February 2024. The lawsuit claims Setzer became emotionally attached to a Character.AI chatbot modeled after the fictional "Daenerys Targaryen" from Game of Thrones. Continue Reading →

Student Gets Screwed for Using AI

A high school senior in Massachusetts is at the center of a legal dispute after being disciplined for using AI in a class assignment. His parents have filed a lawsuit against the history teacher, school district, and local school committee, arguing that the disciplinary actions taken against their son were unfair and not supported by the school's policies at the time of the incident. Continue Reading →

Meta’s New Safety Measures for Teens: What Parents Must Know

Meta is rolling out new restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook to enhance online safety, particularly for users aged 13 to 18. Shelly Palmer, Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, breaks down the details and implications of Meta's teen accounts. Continue Reading →

Congressional Hearings on Child Safety

Yesterday's Senate hearing on child safety in social media saw CEOs from TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Meta (Facebook's parent company), Discord, and Snapchat face questions from lawmakers. The hearing focused on the impact of social media on children's safety and the bipartisan effort to more effectively regulate these platforms. Continue Reading →

Google’s New AI For Education Features

Just in time for my upcoming lecture at the Newhouse School – Generative AI Co-teachers and Co-students: A New Relationship – Google has introduced several new features for its Classroom aimed at enhancing classroom management, accessibility, and the integration of AI in educational tools. Continue Reading →

Teen Screen Time: Insights from a Gallup Survey

A recent Gallup survey revealed significant insights into U.S. teenagers' social media habits. More than 51% of teens spend an average of 4.8 hours daily on social platforms. Age and gender differences are evident: 13-year-olds average 4.1 hours, 17-year-olds reach 5.8 hours, and girls spend nearly an hour more than boys. Continue Reading →

The AI Revolution in the Classroom

Shelly Palmer, Professor of Advanced Media at the Newhouse School of Public Communication, speaks with Dan Bowens on Fox 5's Good Day New York about the growing debate over AI in schools. Original Airdate: August 29, 2023 Continue Reading →