Family Online Safety Institute

Our CEO @stephen.bsky.social joined TikTok’s Trust and Safety event for a panel discussion on how teens and parents can better navigate the online world together.

The conversation focused on the role of open communication, youth voice, and practical tools in supporting healthy digital habits. 🌟📱

The Coming Wave of Child Influencer Regulation | TechPolicy.Press States are increasingly stepping up to protect kids’ financial interests and empower child content creators, Marissa Edmund writes.

📲 As child influencers rise, states are stepping in.

In @techpolicypress, FOSI’s Marissa Edmund breaks down the new wave of legislation aimed at protecting kids from financial exploitation & digital harm.

🧵 Read more: www.techpolicy.press/the-coming-w...

📊 After a week of thought-provoking questions the results are in!

More than 100 members of our online community weighed in on key questions about digital parenting, online safety, and kids’ tech use. ✅

Swipe through the results and see how your views stack up! 👀🗣️

As we continue our poll series on kids, tech, and digital safety, today’s question gets to the core of accountability: ⚖️ 🧠 Who’s most responsible for teaching kids to be safe online?

👇💭 Vote below and let us know what you think. Different answer? Drop your response in the comments!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The New Rules of Digital Parenting – Let’s Talk About It

We’re launching a new poll series exploring what it means to raise kids in today’s connected world.

Each day, we’ll pose a fresh question designed to spark conversation in the online safety space. 🤔💭

Let’s dive into today’s question:

The Family Online Safety Institute Welcomes Nex Playground as Its Newest Member Washington, D.C., July 16, 2025 — Today, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) announces that Nex Playground, an active play system that gets families moving year-round, will become its newest […]

📣 We're excited to welcome Nex as the newest member of FOSI!

Nex brings a dynamic approach to online safety—turning screen time into movement with interactive games that prioritize physical activity, family connection, and privacy. 🌟

📰 Read the full release! fosi.org/the-family-o...

On Thursday, July 17, FOSI will host Data and Dialogue: Bridging Online Safety Research and Policy — an in-person roundtable in Washington, DC, bringing together experts to explore how these findings and more can shape online safety legislation. ✍️📚

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

The FOSI Guide to YouTube YouTube is the most widely used platform among teens, offering countless opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. This comprehensive guide helps parents and caregivers understand how yo...

📢 Just launched: The FOSI Guide to YouTube

Our new resource helps parents and caregivers understand how YouTube works, what safety tools are available, and how to encourage healthy, age-appropriate use. ✍️📚

👉 Explore the brand new guide here!
fosi.org/program/the-...

FOSI is heading to the Hill! 🇺🇸

Join us on Thursday, July 17 for an in-person roundtable examining how new research can drive smarter, evidence-based policy.

🕤 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Convene Hamilton Square, Washington, DC
☕ Coffee and lunch provided

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

Kids are growing up with AI like it’s second nature—asking Alexa before they can read. 🤖

In her latest blog, Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey, founder of Mother AI, shares how parents can guide kids to use AI with curiosity, creativity, and care. 🤲

🔗 fosi.org/teaching-kid...

Wellbeing Hub | Discord Safety Discover resources for ways to help protect your wellbeing or to support your teen’s mental health online.

We're excited to see our member Discord deepen its commitment to mental health with the launch of the Wellbeing Hub. 🧠💙

This space brings together trusted resources while highlighting research on how online communities can support emotional wellbeing. 🤝

Learn more! discord.com/safety-wellb...

The Safety Features We’re Not Using In this month’s issue of The Assurance, we’re taking a closer look at the safety features we’re not using—and asking why. While many platforms offer tools designed to help families stay safer online, ...

Online safety features are evolving—but awareness and adoption haven’t always kept pace. ⚖️

This issue offers valuable insights on what’s working, what’s not, and what comes next. Click below to read more ⬇️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/safety...

🎈 We’re gearing up for this Sunday’s Internet Safety Festival at Mitchell Park!

✅ Admission is free
🗓️ Sunday, June 29 | ⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Mitchell Park Site DC
👉 RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/fosi-inter...

We can’t wait to see you there! 👋

☀️ It’s the Summer of Online Safety, and Andrew the Policy Guy is reporting from the beach!

This week’s update covers new laws, advancing bills, and what they mean for families, kids, and tech—including the return of KOSA and movement on COPPA 2.0. 🌊

Watch now to learn more! ⬇️🏝️

🚨 This week, FOSI CEO @stephen.bsky.social is in Norway for the 2025 IGF!

🎤 Stephen will join “Elevating Children’s Voices in AI Design,” to share insights from FOSI’s latest research and highlight why children’s wellbeing must be prioritized in generative AI.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🌎 ✅

📣 Join FOSI on Sunday, June 29th for a free, family-friendly festival in Washington, DC in celebration of Internet Safety Month! 🎉

From 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM at Mitchell Park Site enjoy an afternoon of learning, connection, and summer fun for kids. 🌟

RSVP today! 🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/fosi-inter...

Thank you to all who joined us in Amsterdam for the FOSI 2025 European Forum! 💬🌍

From youth voices to global policy leaders, the day was packed with insight and collaboration.

📸 Photos + livestream recordings coming soon to our website—stay tuned!

Should Social Media Be Allowed or Banned for Kids? By Leah Ringelstein, Director of Digital Wellness, Zigazoo When it comes to parenting in the digital age, there’s one question that’s on nearly every parent’s mind: Should my kids be […]

Should social media be banned for kids—or just made safer? 📲

A recent panel by Zigazoo had experts discuss how we can build platforms that support safety. The takeaway? Kids need better tools + guidance.

📖 Read the blog: fosi.org/should-socia...
🎥 Watch the panel: youtube.com/watch?v=LCi9...

🎬 Just wrapped: A powerful session on storytelling and youth voice at the #FOSI2025 European Forum.

We screened a clip from Netflix’s Adolescence—thank you to the youth participants who shared their voices and insights. This is exactly the kind of honest dialogue that moves the needle forward. ✅

📢 Now happening live at the FOSI 2025 European Forum:
Does Europe Have the Answers to Online Safety Regulation? 🇪🇺

Don’t miss this deep dive into the evolving global policy landscape moderated by FOSI's Senior Policy Manager, Andrew Zack ✅: netflix.zoom.us/j/99529911561

Stephen Balkam's Opening Remarks - EU Forum 2025 We titled this gathering, “The Philosophy, Policy, and Practice of Online Safety” and we have gathered an extraordinary collection of experts and practitioners from across government, industry, the no...

📍 It’s here! The 2025 FOSI European Forum is live from Netflix’s headquarters in Amsterdam 🇳🇱

We officially opened with reflections from FOSI Founder & CEO @stephen.bsky.social, who offered a powerful reflection on the values that ground our work. 🗣️

🎤 Read his full remarks: fosi.org/stephen-balk...

🎥 Join Us Virtually for the #FOSI2025 European Forum!

We’re excited to announce this year's FOSI 2025 European Forum will be livestreamed from Netflix’s EMEA Headquarters in Amsterdam on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

📲 Register now for free to join the conversation! www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-europ...

Same Screen, Different Views: How Parents and Kids See Online Safety In this month’s issue of The Assurance, we’re exploring what it means for families to share the same screen..

📰 June’s issue of The Assurance is here!

We’re exploring how families experience digital life in unique ways—and how understanding those perspectives can strengthen communication and safety at home. ✍️

Read the full piece below to learn more! ✅
www.linkedin.com/pulse/same-s...

The FOSI Guide to Roblox Roblox is one of the most popular online platforms for kids, offering a vibrant world of interactive games, imaginative play, and creative self-expression. With so many opportunities to explore, it’s ...

🎮 New Resource for Parents: The FOSI Guide to Roblox

We’ve teamed up with Roblox to launch a guide for parents looking to support safe, creative play on the platform.

Download the full guide now to learn more! 📘
fosi.org/program/the-...

🗣️89% of children say they feel comfortable talking to their parents when something online makes them feel unsafe.

We’re continuing to highlight key findings from our newly released 2025 Online Safety Survey. 📊

🔎Explore the full report in our new resource hub: fosi.org/research/con...

📊Parental controls are still underutilized....Only 51% of parents use them on tablets, 47% on smartphones, and 35% on game consoles.

Today, FOSI released new research that offers fresh insight into how families approach their digital lives. ✍️📚

🔗Dive into the findings here: fosi.org/research/con...

Yesterday FOSI gathered policymakers, tech leaders, and safety experts to discuss a safer digital world for kids. 🌐

Nearly 30 participants came together for a solutions-driven roundtable on the future of online safety. 🔗

We’ll be back next year to keep the conversation going - stay tuned! ✅

Changemakers in California: Join Us in Sacramento! 🌟

Next week on May 20th, FOSI is bringing the conversation on kids’ online safety to California’s capital with a roundtable discussion. We’re diving into the policies shaping the digital world for families.✅

Register now! fosi.org/event/fosi-b...

FOSI Response to the App Store Accountability Act - Family Online Safety Institute By Stephen Balkam, CEO and Founder, Family Online Safety Institute The holy grail of a privacy-preserving, effective age assurance solution has eluded the technology industry for decades. As I’ve writ...

New legislation aims to protect kids online—but are we putting too much burden on app stores alone? ✍️💭

FOSI CEO @stephen.bsky.social outlines why the App Store Accountability Act falls short of delivering a privacy-preserving and equitable solution for age assurance ⬇️:
fosi.org/policy/fosi-...

FOSI’s 2025 European Forum is coming up on June 11 in Amsterdam 🇳🇱, and we’re excited to share something with our early attendees…

📘 The first 100 registrants will receive a signed copy of Pete Etchells’ latest book, Unlocked. ✅

Register now to get your free copy!
www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-europ...