Family Online Safety Institute

🌐 Safer Internet Day 2026 Webinar

Join FOSI, Discovery Education, and NoFiltr.org for a Safer Internet Day conversation exploring how youth navigate technology across home and the classroom.

📅 Feb 10th
⏰ 12–1:00 PM EST
💻 Virtual | Free registration

🔗 Register here:
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Join us in Tallahassee on February 4 for a timely discussion on kids’ online safety & Florida’s role in shaping national policy ✅

🕙 Drop in between 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Governors Club, Tallahassee, FL
🤝 In collaboration with the The James Madison Institute

Register now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

📢 FOSI Briefs the States: Florida

Join FOSI’s policy team in Tallahassee on February 4 for a presentation and roundtable discussion on kids’ online safety in Florida.

🕙 Choose a session at 10am, 11am, or 12pm
📍 Governors Club, Tallahassee
👉 Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We’re excited to welcome Emily Cashman Kirstein as our new Vice Chair of the Board at FOSI 🎉

Emily brings deep expertise in child safety and public policy, and we’re delighted to have her step into this role with us. 🤝

Welcome, Emily — we’re so glad to have you as part of FOSI’s leadership! 🌐 ✅

Yesterday, we welcomed members to our Washington, DC offices for our bi-annual strategic planning session. 🤝💡

We’re incredibly grateful to our partners for their thoughtful participation, collaboration, and commitment to advancing online safety for children and families. ✅

We’re looking forward to today’s iRAISE event where FOSI's own Alanna Powers-O'Brien will be participating in a panel discussion on children and AI 🤖👧

The discussion will be co-led by the Paris Peace Forum and everyone.AI 🌍 We’re glad to be part of this important dialogue!

We’re excited to announce that Eric Ebenstein, Senior Director of Public Policy at TikTok, has been appointed Chair of FOSI’s Board of Directors 🎉

We’re thrilled to have his leadership as we look ahead to 2026 and beyond. Welcome, Eric!

🔗 Read the full press release here: fosi.org/family-onlin...

Every year children’s digital lives evolve faster than our guidance can keep up📱

In our latest blog Kaylin Peete explores why catching up isn’t about having all the answers: listening to children’s lived experiences and resisting one-size-fits-all solutions.💬

➡️ Read here: fosi.org/online-safet...

Many parents support bans.
Kids aren’t so sure.

Our latest issue of The Assurance dives into The Great Divide: Parents, Kids, and the New Tech Bans, unpacking what new research shows as technology restrictions gain momentum globally. 📊

📖 Read the full issue here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/great-...

We’re pleased to welcome Sarah Bean as our new Director of Research & Programs at FOSI 🎉

With experience spanning research, education, and media, Sarah brings a valuable perspective to our work supporting children and families as they navigate digital life. ✅

Welcome to FOSI, Sarah!

⏰ Happening today at 12 PM ET!

Join FOSI for a timely webinar briefing on the online safety policy issues that shaped 2025, and what policymakers should be watching next. 🌐 ✅

🔗 Register and join us today:
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: FOSI Briefs the Hill: Online Safety Policy Developments from 2025. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. As 2025 comes to an end, join FOSI staff’s briefing to reflect on all of the online safety policy developments from this year. What bills passed into law, what laws survived legal challenges, what law...

📢 Join FOSI for a year-end look at online safety policy!

We’re holding a webinar that takes a look at the biggest policy moments of the year. We’ll revisit what advanced, what stalled, and what all of it means for families and lawmakers. ✅ ✍️

🔗 Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A Ban Briefing: Children and Parents’ Perceptions of Social Media and Classroom Smartphone Bans in the U.S. and Australia This research brief examines how parents and children in both the United States and Australia view emerging policy conversations around social media bans and school-based smartphone restrictions. Usin...

📢 New Research from FOSI!

Australia’s new under-16 social media ban is reshaping conversations about online safety, so we asked families what they think...📊

This research highlights just how differently parents and children experience technology.

Read the full report ⬇️
fosi.org/research/a-b...

Let’s Talk About Generative AI Let’s Talk About Generative AI is a practical, research-informed guide designed to help families understand how teens are using generative AI in their daily lives. Drawing from FOSI’s 2025 Generative ...

✨ New Resource for Families: Let’s Talk About Generative AI

Gen AI is becoming part of teens’ everyday lives, from homework help to creative exploration. But for many families, it’s still unclear what healthy, responsible use should look like. 💬✨

🔗 Read the full resource: fosi.org/program/lets...

The Family Online Safety Institute Welcomes Qustodio as Its Newest Member Washington, D.C., December 4, 2025 — Today, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) welcomes Qustodio, part of the Qoria family, as its newest member, furthering a shared commitment to advancing […]

We’re excited to welcome Qustodio (part of the Qoria family) as the newest member of the FOSI community 🎉

We’re looking forward to working with their team and learning from each other as we continue supporting families and kids online. ✅

🔗 Read the full announcement here: fosi.org/the-family-o...

Cracking the Code(s): What Age Appropriate Design Means for Parents and Families Introduction States have taken up the gauntlet of children’s online safety and privacy as federal options stall. Parents and policymakers are concerned over addictive design features, ensuring their c...

🚨 New from FOSI: Understanding Age-Appropriate Design Codes

Our State Policy Lead Marissa Edmund breaks down what Age Appropriate Design Codes in California, Maryland, Nebraska, and Vermont actually mean for parents, young people, and platforms.

📘 Read the full piece: fosi.org/policy/crack...

Highlights from the FOSI 2025 Annual Conference In this month’s issue of The Assurance, we take a closer look back at the FOSI 2025 Annual Conference, a day filled with thoughtful conversations, new insights, and a shared commitment to strengthenin...

The latest issue of The Assurance is here and it’s a full recap of the FOSI 2025 Annual Conference 🌟🌐

It’s a snapshot of the conversations and trends shaping youth online safety.

📩 Read the full issue below: www.linkedin.com/pulse/highli...

About 4 in 10 teens who use generative AI say they’ve talked about their feelings with a chatbot. 🤖💬

Today’s insight from our research highlights why it’s essential for families to stay engaged as teens navigate this new digital terrain. 📊

🔗 Explore the full research: fosi.org/research/gen...

More than half of teens (57%) say their parents don’t have rules about using generative AI. 🧠✨

This week we’re highlighting new findings from FOSI’s latest research, Generative AI in Uncertain Times.

🔗 Explore the full research findings to learn more:
fosi.org/research/gen...

What an incredible day! 💻✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Monday for the #FOSI2025 Annual Conference: Online Safety in Tumultuous Times in Washington, DC. The conversations, connections, and ideas shared made this year’s event one of our most engaging yet. ✅

YouTube video by Family Online Safety Institute What’s the Deal with Age Assurance?

Google’s Kate Charlet and FOSI’s Andrew Zack just led an important discussion at #FOSI2025 about how industry can approach age assurance with clarity and responsibility. ✅🛡️

We also premiered our first animated explainer, “What’s the Deal with Age Assurance?” 💭

🎥 Watch now: youtu.be/xlxTyR45fKg

We just wrapped a powerful session at the #FOSI2025: “What is the FTC’s Role in Online Safety?”

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson joined Cecilia Kang of The New York Times for a conversation about the evolving role in protecting children and families online. ✅

“We are living through a pivotal moment in history, when political, cultural, and technological forces are shifting faster than our institutions can adapt, and with no clear resolution in sight." - @stephen.bsky.social

🔗 Read Stephen's remarks for the #FOSI2025 conference: fosi.org/stephen-balk...

Generative AI in Uncertain Times: How Teens are Navigating a New Digital Frontier As generative AI rapidly reshapes how we learn, create, and communicate, teenagers are among its earliest adopters. To better understand how young people are navigating this new digital frontier, FOSI...

Today is the #FOSI2025 Annual Conference, and we’re excited to kick things off with new research! 📊

This study offers a look at how teens are using and understanding generative AI in 2025. 🔗 Read the report: fosi.org/research/gen...

We look forward to a full day of discussion and collaboration! ✅

🎥 In this week’s Andrew the Policy Guy, Andrew Zack previews what’s ahead at next week’s #FOSI2025 Annual Conference — from new policies and platform shifts to the growing influence of generative AI.

🎟️ Watch to learn more + register for the livestream next week! www.eventbrite.com/e/fosi-2025-...

FOSI 2025 Annual Conference Preview In this month’s issue of The Assurance, we’re looking ahead to next week’s FOSI 2025 Annual Conference. As we prepare to come together on Monday, November 10th in Washington, DC, this issue offers a c...

This month’s edition of The Assurance is here — and we’re looking ahead to next week’s #FOSI2025 Annual Conference in Washington, DC. ✅

This edition offers a glimpse into the ideas that will define next week’s discussions.

📖 Read the full issue now: www.linkedin.com/pulse/fosi-2...

🧠 ReThink Citizens is hosting a free, youth-led virtual workshop October 30th, at 7:30 p.m. EST that explores how young people are using social media, the challenges they face, and what families can do to encourage healthy online habits. ✍️💭

Register here: ➡️ rethinkcitizens.org/youth-squad/

🌐 We’re hiring: Director of Research & Programs

💼 Position: Full-time, Hybrid (Washington, D.C.)
💰 Salary: $135,000–$150,000
🗓️ Start Date: January 5, 2026

If you have a passion for creating a safer digital world for families, we want to hear from you.

Learn more below!
fosi.org/current-job-...

🎟️ Don’t Miss Out — Registration Closing Soon!

The countdown is on for the #FOSI2025 Annual Conference: Online Safety in Tumultuous Times, happening November 10th in Washington, D.C.

Seats are almost gone, register now! 👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/fosi-2025-...

New from FOSI: Balancing Safety & Privacy – A Proportionate Age Assurance Approach.
A flexible, inclusive framework for how platforms, industry, and regulators can protect kids online while respecting privacy.
🔗 fosi.org/policy/balancing-safety-and-privacy-a-proportionate-age-assurance-approach