Family Online Safety Institute

Introducing The Assurance 🌟 We’re excited to launch 'The Assurance,' FOSI's new monthly newsletter designed to keep you informed, empowered, and connected on the most pressing topics in digital safety. Each issue features expert insights, timely policy updates, and practical tools for families, caregivers, and industry leaders navigating the online world. ✅ Our first issue dives into age assurance—what it means, why it’s gaining global attention, and how it could reshape how we protect kids and teens online. We break down what you need to know and how it impacts families, platforms, and policymakers alike. ✍️ 📰 Read the first issue and subscribe now:

Introducing The Assurance 🌟 We’re excited to launch 'The Assurance,' FOSI's new monthly newsletter designed to keep you informed, empowered, and connected on the most pressing topics in digital safety. Each issue features expert insights, timely policy updates, and practical tools for families, caregivers, and industry leaders navigating the online world. ✅ Our first issue dives into age assurance—what it means, why it’s gaining global attention, and how it could reshape how we protect kids and teens online. We break down what you need to know and how it impacts families, platforms, and policymakers alike. ✍️ 📰 Read the first issue and subscribe now:

We’re back with Day 2 of Age Assurance Week 🧠 Yesterday, we asked how platforms should determine a user’s age and received some great responses. Today, we’re shifting the focus to responsibility. When it comes to keeping kids safe online, who should be taking the lead? Cast your vote and let us know what you think or type below for longer responses! 🗳️⬇️

Welcome to 'Age Assurance Week' at FOSI  🎉 Age assurance is one of the biggest topics in online safety right now—how do we know who’s behind the screen, and what’s the best way to protect children without sacrificing privacy? We want to hear directly from you! We’ll be exploring this topic all week—join the conversation below 👇

Big shake-up at the FTC 🚨 Trump has removed two Democratic commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission, raising concerns about the future of online safety enforcement. The #FTC plays a critical role in protecting kids’ privacy and digital well-being, and this move could slow progress. ✍️ 💡 We need more resources and expertise at the FTC—not less. Watch this week's Andrew, the Policy Guy to learn why this matters. ⬇️

That’s a wrap! ✅ Yesterday FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam finished moderating a powerful discussion at #SXSW2025 on “Access to Play: Protecting Children and Privacy.” The session brought together experts from across the industry to explore how we can ensure kids’ access to safe and enriching online spaces while prioritizing privacy and security. A huge thank you to the incredible panelists: 🔹Kieran Donovan 🔹Stacy Feuer 🔜SXSW 🔜GDC 🔹Jennifer Lane🔜SXSW 🔜 GDC As the digital world continues to evolve, these conversations are essential in shaping a safer, more inclusive online future for kids. Thank you to everyone who joined us—let’s keep the momentum going! 🌐🌟

🚨Big moves in online safety! First Lady #MelaniaTrump just relaunched her Be Best campaign, bringing bipartisan focus to critical digital safety issues. At the same time, a new piece of legislation is being passed through Congress, aiming to protect people from online harms. ✍️🛡️ What’s in the bill, and how could it change the landscape of online protection? This week’s Andrew the Policy Guy breaks it down—watch now below to find out more ⬇️: 

FOSI member, TikTok, just announced new updates to its Family Pairing tools, giving parents more ways to guide their teens’ digital habits. These features reflect ongoing efforts to balance safety, independence, and open family conversations. 🗣️🧑🧑🧒🧒 Our CEO Stephen Balkam shared his perspective: “TikTok’s latest iteration of its parental controls and online safety tools is a welcome development for families looking to both protect their children from harm and empower them as responsible digital citizens. Most importantly, these tools give parents greater support in fostering open, ongoing conversations about their children’s technology use.” ✅ 📱 We believe empowering parents and teens with the right tools is key to a safer digital experience. Read more about TikTok’s new features here ➡️: https://lnkd.in/eER6AtZT

📢 FOSI at #SXSW2025! We’re excited to share that our CEO Stephen Balkam, will be speaking at SXSW 2025 next week! He’ll join a panel discussion on “Access to Play: Protecting Children and Privacy” to explore how we can balance online safety with accessibility for kids. Joining Stephen on the panel: 🔹 Kieran Donovan, CEO & Co-Founde, k-ID 🔹 Stacy Feuer 🔜SXSW 🔜GDC, SVP, Privacy Certified, ESRB 🔹 Jennifer Lane🔜SXSW 🔜 GDC, GM, Gorilla Tag Franchise, Another Axiom The session will take place on Thursday, March 13, from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM CT at the Hilton Austin Downtown. If you’ll be at SXSW, don’t miss this important discussion on the future of online safety and privacy for kids! ✅✍️

🌟 FOSI is Kicking Off Women’s History Month 🌟 As we celebrate the strength and resilience of women throughout history, we're spotlighting an important conversation about raising confident girls in a digital world. 🌐 Our latest guest blog written by Cori Stott from the Digital Wellness Lab, dives into the impact of social media on teen girls and how parents can guide them toward healthy and empowered digital habits. From setting boundaries to fostering media literacy, this piece offers valuable insights for parents navigating the digital age. 🤲 Read the blog & watch our video to learn more! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eAe3UEnA