As a Licensed Master Social Worker working closely with adolescents, I’ve seen firsthand how today’s digital world shapes the minds, behaviors, and emotional landscapes of our students. Screens are ever-present. Social media is omnipresent. AI is evolving faster than we can regulate it. And misinformation? It spreads with a tap.

Agencies in at least 28 states and the District of Columbia have issued guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 schools.

As a mental health professional, I’ve witnessed firsthand how today’s digital world profoundly shapes the emotional well-being of young people. Students today are navigating far more than academics—they’re juggling the pressures of social media, the complexities of digital relationships, and the constant presence of screens in nearly every aspect of their lives.