Family Online Safety Institute

That’s a wrap! ? Yesterday FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam finished moderating a powerful discussion at?#SXSW2025?on?“Access to Play: Protecting Children and Privacy.” The session brought together experts from across the industry to explore how we can ensure?kids’ access to safe and enriching online spaces?while prioritizing?privacy and security. A huge thank you to the incredible panelists: ??Kieran Donovan ??Stacy Feuer ??SXSW ??GDC ??Jennifer Lane??SXSW ?? GDC As the digital world continues to evolve, these conversations are essential in shaping?a safer, more inclusive online future for kids. Thank you to everyone who joined us—let’s keep the momentum going! ????

??Big moves in online safety! First Lady #MelaniaTrump just relaunched her Be Best campaign, bringing bipartisan focus to critical digital safety issues. At the same time, a new piece of legislation is being passed through Congress, aiming to protect people from online harms. ????? What’s in the bill, and how could it change the landscape of online protection? This week’s Andrew the Policy Guy breaks it down—watch now below to find out more ??:?

FOSI member, TikTok, just announced new updates to its Family Pairing tools, giving parents more ways to guide their teens’ digital habits. These features reflect ongoing efforts to balance safety, independence, and open family conversations. ??????????? Our CEO Stephen Balkam shared his perspective: “TikTok’s latest iteration of its parental controls and online safety tools is a welcome development for families looking to both protect their children from harm and empower them as responsible digital citizens. Most importantly, these tools give parents greater support in fostering open, ongoing conversations about their children’s technology use.” ? ?? We believe empowering parents and teens with the right tools is key to a safer digital experience. Read more about TikTok’s new features here ??: https://lnkd.in/eER6AtZT

?? FOSI at #SXSW2025! We’re excited to share that our?CEO Stephen Balkam,?will be speaking at?SXSW 2025?next week! He’ll join a panel discussion on?“Access to Play: Protecting Children and Privacy”?to explore how we can balance online safety with accessibility for kids. Joining Stephen on the panel: ???Kieran Donovan, CEO & Co-Founde, k-ID ???Stacy Feuer ??SXSW ??GDC, SVP, Privacy Certified, ESRB ???Jennifer Lane??SXSW ?? GDC, GM, Gorilla Tag Franchise, Another Axiom The session will take place on?Thursday, March 13, from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM CT at the Hilton Austin Downtown. If you’ll be at SXSW, don’t miss this important discussion on the future of online safety and privacy for kids! ???

?? FOSI is Kicking Off Women’s History Month ?? As we celebrate the strength and resilience of women throughout history, we're spotlighting an important conversation about?raising confident girls in a digital world. ?? Our latest guest blog written by?Cori Stott?from the?Digital Wellness Lab, dives into the impact of social media on teen girls and how parents can guide them toward?healthy and empowered digital habits.?From setting boundaries to fostering media literacy, this piece offers valuable insights for parents navigating the digital age. ?? Read the blog & watch our video to learn more!??? https://lnkd.in/eAe3UEnA

Introducing FOSI’s Digital Wellbeing Guide!??? Our latest research found that?parents and teens are eager to improve their digital wellbeing—but many aren’t sure where to start. That’s why we created this?comprehensive resource?to help families navigate their online lives and answer questions like: ??What is digital wellbeing?? ??Why does it matter?? ??How can families improve their digital wellbeing? Whether you’re just starting your?digital wellbeing journey?or looking to improve, these tips will help your family stay on track. Watch the video with our Research and Program Specialist?Alanna Powers for practical advice to get started, and check out the full guide here ??:?https://lnkd.in/eiw5Yeh4

?? Big news! The Family Online Safety Institute is proud to welcome 1Password as our newest member. With a shared dedication to online safety, security, and digital literacy, we’re looking forward to working together to empower families and organizations to navigate the digital landscape safely. "1Password’s dedication to security and education makes them an invaluable addition to the FOSI community,”? said Stephen Balkam, FOSI CEO. “We look forward to working together to promote digital safety and empower families across the digital landscape." ? ??? Learn more about our partnership in our full press release below ??: https://lnkd.in/eM49TRbi

?? We’re excited to share that FOSI’s Research and Program Specialist Alanna Powers will participate in the upcoming event, ‘Beyond the Likes: Social Media, Mental Health, and You Virtual Youth Forum’ hosted by the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health! Alanna will join the panel “How to Spot Mis- and Disinformation Online” on March 1st from 1:30-2:10 pm ET, alongside Holly Gerla and the Youth Advisory Program members for an engaging presentation on understanding and navigating today’s disinformation landscape. ????? Register now for this 2-day event and check out the poster below for more details ?? ?https://lnkd.in/eJ9KNBkU

Andrew the Policy Guy is back in DC ???? Yesterday, FOSI testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the urgent need to strengthen online safety protections for kids. Lawmakers reviewed bipartisan bills that aim to combat child exploitation and improve platform accountability, including: ?? STOP CSAM Act ?? TAKE IT DOWN Act ?? No Fakes Act ?? Kids Online Safety Act ?? Reauthorization of the Protect Our Children Act We urged Congress to make parental controls easier to use and keep safety a priority in AI policy. Online protections shouldn’t be complicated. Watch the latest episode for more ??

During his testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam outlined a vision for online safety that balances protection with empowerment. ?? In his remarks, he emphasized: ??The importance of digital resilience and giving teens the tools to navigate online spaces safely ??The need for thoughtful restrictions over blanket bans that limit access to beneficial experiences ??The role of industry collaboration and updated privacy laws in creating a safer digital world Read his written testimony here ??: https://lnkd.in/ebcHK9pf And, watch the full segment recording ??: https://lnkd.in/eYhB23xE