A panel discussion at UC Irvine on September 8 addressed the complexities of raising children in an increasingly digital environment. The event, titled "Raising the Next Generation in the Age of AI," was the third in a series and was co-presented by UCI’s School of Social Ecology, the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, the Office of Research, the Connected Learning Lab, and CERES (Connecting the EdTech Research EcoSystem).
Moderated by Candice Odgers, UCI Chancellor’s Professor of psychology and informatics, the discussion featured Yalda Uhls, founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA; Melissa Mazmanian, UCI professor of informatics and organization and management; Vani Henderson, head of UX Research, Youth, Trust and Safety at YouTube; and Larz May, founder of #HalfTheStory and co-founder and CEO of Ginko. The panelists guided the conversation towards empowering parents with concrete strategies.
Yalda Uhls reminded the audience that parental concerns over new media are not a new phenomenon. She referenced historical fears regarding books in the 1800s and video games like Pac-Man in the 1980s. Uhls stated that research often presents a more nuanced picture than initial fears suggest. She advised that strategies effective offline also tend to work online, emphasizing the importance of reasonable rules combined with genuine warmth. Uhls encouraged parents to trust their instincts, sharing her own experience of allowing her daughter significant video game time, which she described as a beneficial decision. She also highlighted the need to equip children with media literacy, enabling them to evaluate digital content, recognize misinformation, and understand content production.
Melissa Mazmanian, whose research included extensive observation within family homes, found that effective media rules typically stemmed from a parent’s intuitive understanding of their own child, rather than externally imposed guidelines. Mazmanian urged parents to examine the root of their fears about technology. Her study involving parent-teen pairs indicated that teenagers were more understanding of their parents' screen time than parents were of theirs. She also noted that families experienced more conflict when teens perceived their parents as not understanding their online activities, whether for socializing, creating, or pursuing hobbies.
Vani Henderson from YouTube indicated that many parents are unaware of the existing control features within the platform's ecosystem.
Panelists generally agreed that outright bans, whether on phones or AI tools, serve as a starting point rather than a complete solution. Larz May, who works directly with students, stated the reality of technology use among young people, saying, "Whether you want to hear it or not, your kids are using AI." May warned that fear-based approaches can lead to apathy in teens, which she identified as a greater risk than any specific technology. She cited an example of a student recording homework sessions due to anxiety over unclear AI policies. May advocated for using technology to amplify a child's abilities, not replace them, and suggested that genuine engagement in real-world interests and relationships serves as an antidote to overuse of screens. She also challenged parents to consider if their anxieties are truly about their children or about their own discomfort with a rapidly changing world. May suggested using technology as a window into a child's interests, such as using AI to help a child narrate and draft an essay, allowing their authentic voice to lead.
Odgers noted that bans and existing cell phone policies might not be delivering on their promises, reinforcing the panel's focus on finding effective solutions. The discussion aimed to provide actionable advice for parents navigating the ongoing digital evolution.
