The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) new policy statement on digital ecosystems marks an important shift in how we should think about young people’s relationships with technology. Specifically, rather than narrowly focusing on screen time, the AAP notes what researchers and advocates have long identified: youth interactions with digital ecosystems are vastly nuanced, and our responses must move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions.
Our research, co-created with young people, consistently shows that digital spaces are often a double-edged sword. While social media continues to pose risks, it also plays a beneficial role in supporting the mental health and well-being of young people, especially Black, Brown, and Queer young people. For many, social media provides an important source of connection, community, and access to resources, including for mental health. However, these same groups are also at risk for greater exposure to discrimination and hateful content.
Our 2024 national survey of over 1,200 young people ages 14-22 revealed that young people are already thoughtful critics of their digital environments. In the prior year, 76% put in place a range of measures to try to control the content they do not want to see on social media. They understand the difference between authentic connection and algorithmic manipulation. But putting the burden on young people to navigate the constantly evolving algorithms and wade through the endless streams of mis- and disinformation is the wrong approach. As professor and adolescent psychologist Jessica Schleider notes in responding to the AAP guidance, the focus must shift from individual responsibility to the predatory design practices that exploit young users.
As a white nonbinary teen noted in our research: “Throughout my entire life, I have been bullied relentlessly. However, when I’m online, I find that it is easier to make friends … I met my best friend through role play [games]. Without it, I wouldn’t be here today … It’s the friendships I’ve made online that have kept me alive all these years.”
Indeed, for many young people—especially those in rural areas or whose identities aren’t affirmed in their immediate environments—digital connection isn’t optional. It’s essential. These experiences make clear that to truly address well-being concerns, young people must be directly involved in redesigning digital ecosystems to maximize benefits and reduce harm. They are not passive victims—they’re active navigators who must have seats at decision-making tables where their lived experiences can be integrated into the broader solutions.
This means, in part, transparent algorithms, meaningful privacy protections, and design choices that prioritize youth development and healthy engagement over addictive patterns. And, knowing what we do now, we must insist that young people be directly involved in creating the guardrails. Already, we have seen the power of young people in the fight against the twice-introduced AI Moratorium in Congress, which would have prevented state and local governments from regulating AI.
Platform providers must implement safeguards, and policymakers must enact reforms that improve digital experiences for all young people. But critically, we must move from adult-centered recommendations about young people to genuinely youth-informed approaches in partnership with young people. Their mental health and well-being depend not on controlling their digital access, but on co-creating digital ecosystems that serve their flourishing.
