“I don’t know what’s real anymore.” That’s a sentence I’ve heard more than once from teens in my therapy office. Sometimes it’s about a video that turned out to be fake. Other times it’s about a friend who used an AI filter so convincing it felt like deception. What these moments reveal is deeper than confusion about technology—it’s about trust. Teens today are growing up in a world where the line between what’s real and what’s manufactured is thinner than ever. As a therapis

(AI) is becoming a significant part of our everyday lives. From smart home devices to educational apps, AI is changing how children learn and play. While these technologies can offer incredible benefits, they also come with unique challenges and risks. As a parent, it's vital to know how to protect your child in this era of AI. This post will share valuable tips to help you navigate the complexities of technology and ensure your child's safety. Understanding AI and Its Impact

Do your students know how to tell if a post about politics or current events is real or just really persuasive? In a year filled with elections, social issues, and breaking news, young people are seeing more civic content than ever before. But they’re not just watching; they’re participating—commenting, sharing, debating, and shaping opinions online. As a therapist and educator, I’ve seen how these digital interactions can spark critical thinking and empathy, but also confusi

(This article has been republished from the author's substack with express permission.) The Spectacle of Cruelty Recently, an AI-generated video circulated online showing a crowned Donald Trump flying a fighter jet and dropping what appeared to be feces on protesters, including a well-known liberal influencer. Trump himself reposted it—cementing it not only on social media, but in the official Presidential Record ( source ) (a topic for another day, under “Digital Footprint”

(Editor's note: This article has been republished with permission from the author) Caveat - This article is a forward-looking reflection grounded in what we are already observing with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, our understanding of what draws teens to digital spaces, and early indicators of where the next generation is heading as they mature into their teen years. In many ways, we’re looking into the AI crystal ball, not with speculation, but with informed i

Have you ever watched your teen scroll through their feed and wondered, “How do they know what’s real?” You’re not alone. Every day, young people navigate a digital world overflowing with news, opinions, memes, and ads, all competing for their attention. As a therapist, I see how this nonstop information stream affects teens’ mental health, shaping how they see themselves, others, and the world around them. That’s why media literacy , the ability to critically evaluate and un