What's Happening in Boys' Digital Worlds

A new study from Common Sense Media just dropped some eye-opening findings about how adolescent boys are navigating masculinity online. As a researcher and a parent of two adolescent boys, I have a personal stake in helping boys understand that there are multiple ways to be a man, not just a narrow version promoted in social media feeds and gaming communities. Some of the findings about what's happening with boys in digital spaces confirmed my own observations, and others surprised me. But it all has implications for your classroom too, where you may see impacts from a wide range of influencers. 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/boys-in-the-digital-wild-online-culture-identity-and-well-being

Digital Citizenship Week is October 20–24, 2025

Digital Citizenship Week | Common Sense Education

Each year during the third full week of October, Common Sense Media leads Digital Citizenship Week, an annual campaign to promote a healthy, balanced, and positive approach to media and tech use among young people.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship-week?lid=xnrtg83sig0m

Movies with Positive Role Models for Boys | Common Sense Media

Boys deserve more from their movies than narrow or biased representations. These films offer examples of kindness, compassion, selflessness, courage, and sensitivity—all things that are good for everyone to see, but especially for boys, who too often are bombarded with messages that prioritize the importance of being protectors, extremely fit, and financially successful. Inspire the kids in your life with these fun, family-friendly films that portray healthy masculinity. For other worthy role models, try these TV shows and books.

Read more: 

Movies with Positive Role Models for Boys | Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/movies-with-positive-role-models-for-boys

How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids | Pew Research Center

From YouTube to smartphones to tablets, tech is part of kids’ lives. AI chatbots are part of the mix now, too. While parents strive to manage screens, 42% say they could do better

ByColleen McClain,Olivia Sidoti,Michelle FaverioandSuvi Lama

This Pew Research Center report, "How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids," surveyed over 3,000 U.S. parents of children ages 12 and younger about their efforts to balance the benefits and challenges of technology in their kids' lives. Essentially, the report highlights that screens are an unavoidable part of modern childhood, leading to parental struggles to find balance, a strong desire for external regulation, and a sense that they're doing their best, even if they could improve.

Read the full article: 

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/10/08/how-parents-manage-screen-time-for-kids/

Lessons to Teach Media Literacy

How2Internet | Be MediaWise—Lessons to Teach Media Literacy | PBS LearningMedia

https://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/be-mediawise-news-literacy-lesson-plans/t/how2internet/

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones

Main idea: Giving children more freedom to play unsupervised with friends is essential to decreasing their smartphone dependence and improving their overall learning and well-being.

One Way Parents Can Fight the Phone-Based Childhood - The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/kids-smartphones-play-freedom/683742/

The role of hope in bullying and cyberbullying prevention

The role of hope in bullying and cyberbullying prevention 

Introduction: Research is clear that the cognitive-motivational internal asset of hope is significantly related to enhanced life satisfaction and psychological wellbeing. It has also shown promise in preventing participation in a variety of negative externalizing behaviors, especially antisociality, maladaptive coping, and various forms of aggression among young people. The current exploration evaluates the relationship between hope and youth participation in bullying and cyberbullying.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sociology/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1576372/full