CoSN2026 Keynote Series: Building What's Next: Supporting Youth in a Digital World

In this special episode, recorded live at CoSN2026, Dr. Candice Odgers, Associate Dean and Chancellor's Professor at the University of California, Irvine, shares insights from more than 25 years of research on adolescent mental health and digital technology.Drawing on decades of longitudinal research following thousands of young people, Dr. Odgers explores what the evidence actually tells us about smartphones, social media, and youth well-being. She examines the growing gap between headlines and scientific findings, discusses the risks of fear-driven technology policies, and explains why supporting young people requires addressing broader factors that shape their lives.Throughout the keynote, Dr. Odgers challenges common assumptions surrounding screen time and social media while advocating for evidence-based approaches that help students thrive in an increasingly digital world.In This EpisodeWhat more than 25 years of research reveal about adolescents and digital technologyThe gap between headlines and scientific evidence surrounding social media and youth well-beingWhy fear-driven approaches can lead to poor technology decisionsLessons from longitudinal studies following thousands of young peopleThe importance of addressing the underlying causes of youth mental health challengesWhy banning technology may not produce the outcomes adults expectLessons from international efforts to restrict social media accessHow schools and communities can better support students in healthy digital environmentsAbout the SpeakerDr. Candice Odgers is Associate Dean and Chancellor's Professor at the University of California, Irvine. For more than 25 years, her research has focused on adolescent mental health, inequality, and the role technology plays in the lives of young people. Through large-scale longitudinal studies, her work provides some of the most comprehensive evidence available on how digital technology intersects with youth development and well-being.ResourcesWatch the original CoSN2026 keynote on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2I8ZpVi2WYLearn more about CoSN:https://www.cosn.orgLearn more about Dr. Candice Odgers and her work:CoSN is vendor-neutral and does not endorse products or services. Any mention of a specific solution is for contextual purposes. Produced in partnership with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠edCircuit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠