California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and California Partners Project Convene TikTok, Meta, Pinterest, and Local Families to Discuss Keeping Kids Safe Online
The Californer/10294134

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2024 ~ In San Francisco today, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and her non-profit organization, California Partners Project, hosted a meeting with representatives from popular social media platforms TikTok, Meta, and Pinterest. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to keep children safe while using these platforms. The event also featured parents who were highlighted in California Partners Project's new report and family guide titled "Tech/Life Balance: Helping Families Thrive in a Digital World," which was released today. The report and family guide can be accessed here.

First Partner Siebel Newsom, who is also a mother of four, expressed her understanding of the concerns that parents and caregivers face in raising children in today's digital age. She stated that the launch of the Tech/Life Balance series by California Partners Project aims to assist families in navigating difficult conversations about responsible technology and social media use. She emphasized the importance of guiding and protecting children to ensure their safety online.

The bilingual Tech/Life Balance series is designed to support families as they address issues related to youth mental health and technology use. With parents continuing to struggle and the U.S. Surgeon General issuing multiple advisories on the dangers of social media, First Partner Siebel Newsom and California Partners Project are providing free resources to help families create healthier digital environments for their children.

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The Tech/Life Balance report is a result of focus groups conducted by California Partners Project with nearly 100 parents and caregivers from California over the past year. These discussions aimed to address the challenges faced by families raising children in today's world where technology addiction and youth mental health are major concerns. The report also includes insights from interviews with over 65 top youth mental health experts from around the world. It is the first installment of a four-part series that examines how technology impacts not only youth mental health but also other aspects such as nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two crucial pieces of legislation that reinforce California's commitment to protecting children from the harmful effects of technology. The first, SB 976, authored by Senator Nancy Skinner, prohibits online platforms from delivering addictive content to minors without parental consent and also blocks disruptive notifications during school hours and late at night. The second, AB 3216 Phone-Free Schools Act, ensures that students can focus on learning by limiting smartphone use during school hours.

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First Partner Siebel Newsom stressed the importance of safeguarding children from the negative mental health impacts of addictive technologies. She stated that it is the responsibility of everyone - whether it be through government, business, or technology - to prioritize the health and safety of our nation's most vulnerable citizens, especially children.

These new laws, along with initiatives like the Age Appropriate Design Code, demonstrate California's dedication to creating safer and more mindful digital spaces for children both at school and at home. Through her initiative "California for ALL Kids," First Partner Siebel Newsom is advocating for programs that support children's mental and physical health while also providing families with tools to build a strong foundation for learning. This initiative focuses on addressing issues related to children's minds, bodies, and environments. The Office of the First Partner and California Partners Project are working together to raise awareness about the importance of these connections in ensuring that every child in California has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

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