Neighbors,

Since we all first went into quarantine over a year ago, our daily screen time averages have increased.

But parents aren’t the only ones who have spent more time on our phones, tablets and computers -- our kids also heavily relied on their devices to complete their school work and stay in touch with their friends. Earlier this year, Axios reported that kids’ total screen time is up 50% over the past year. 

So when I recently learned that leading technology platforms like Facebook and Instagram are looking into developing social media apps specifically for younger kids, I was extremely alarmed. As a former tech executive and the mom of two young girls, I understand the power of these platforms and I want to make sure we’re looking at how their usage affects kids’ mental and physical health.

I recently had the opportunity to ask some of these leading tech executives about why they’re targeting our children as the next frontier to growing their profits. Take a listen to one of my questions:

While many of the details of these companies’ plans are still in the works, I think it’s critical we stay in front of this development.

We need to look at these prospective plans through the lens of mental health, physical health, and safety -- and my goal is to make sure our kids are not collateral damage in big tech’s plans for financial gain and corporate expansion.

I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as these discussions unfold and we uncover more information. Thank you for your support in keeping our kids safe online.

-- Lori 

PO Box 1161, Lowell, MA 01853