Online Gambling. AI Risks. Cyberbullying. What Every Parent Needs to Know Before Summer.
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Soon, schools across the country let out for summer. For tens of millions of kids, that means significantly more time on phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and apps their parents may never have heard of. For most families, it also means heading into the season underprepared for what their kids are actually encountering online.
Today, Stanford Social Media Lab, in collaboration with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and California Partners Project, released A Parent’s Guide to Digital Safety: Helping Kids Navigate Online Risks and Build Healthy Habits. The guidebook synthesizes the best existing research on what children and teens face online right now and introduces CALMER, a practical framework that gives parents a clear way to act rather than simply worry.
The timing is deliberate. Summer is consistently when kids spend the most unsupervised time online. It is also when families are least prepared.
“Every parent I talk to is feeling the same thing: deep love for their children and real worry about the digital world they are growing up in. This evidence-based resource guides families through navigating the full range of today’s online risks, from cyberbullying and body image pressures to AI companions and sextortion. Our kids’ safety must always come before any company’s bottom line, and no parent should be left to figure this out alone.” — Jennifer Siebel Newsom, First Partner of California and Co-founder of the California Partners Project
What the Research Shows: Three Risks Parents Are Underestimating
3 in 10 children ages 11 to 17 spent their own money on gambling in the past 12 months – and that number is rising, up from 27% in 2024. (Gambling Commission, Young People and Gambling 2025)
1 in 5 children say they have been cyberbullied. In some countries, the number of children affected has jumped by 50% or more in just a few years. (UN Office of the Special Representative -General on Violence Against Children, 2026)
64% of teens use AI chatbots — but only half of parents think their children use these tools. And, 12% of teens are already turning to chatbots for emotional support or advice, raising urgent questions about what families need to understand before summer begins. (Pew Research Center, 2026)
These figures reflect independent research compiled and synthesized by the guidebook’s authors. Full citations are available in the guidebook, which is free at Stanford Social Media Lab, FOSI, CPP.
“Online gambling has become increasingly pervasive — and not just for adults. It’s easier than ever to place a bet straight from a smartphone, and even though it’s illegal for children, some are still doing it. This guidebook helps parents understand youth gambling culture and gives them the tools to help their kids recognize the real risks before it becomes a problem.” — Alanna Powers-O’Brien, Research Specialist FOSI
A Framework, Not Just a List of Warnings
What makes A Parent’s Guide to Digital Safety different is not just the breadth of what it covers. It is the CALMER framework — a structured, repeatable approach that gives parents a consistent way to respond to any online risk, whether they are navigating it today or preparing for what comes next.
CALMER stands for:
- Communicate — with curiosity, not judgment
- Assess and Address — evaluate exposure and take collaborative steps
- Listen and Learn — understand what your child is actually experiencing online
- Monitor and Manage — stay aware without surveilling
- Educate and Encourage — build skills, not just rules
- Report and Use Resources — know when and how to escalate
The goal is not to keep kids offline. It is to raise kids who can handle being online — and to give parents the confidence to guide them.
“Digital parenting is tough, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. We created this guidebook to give parents and caregivers clear, practical information and support. With the CALMER framework, we want to help families turn those digital challenges into chances for connection, learning, and growth, so our young people can explore technology safely.” — Sunny Xun Liu, Ph.D., Director of Research, Stanford Social Media Lab
Four Things Parents Can Do Before Summer Gets Away From Them
The guidebook offers dozens of evidence-based strategies. Here are four families can act on immediately:
- Have a device conversation now, not after the first problem. The best time to set expectations is before the unstructured time begins.
- Talk specifically about online gambling. Ask your teen directly if they have seen sports betting ads. Most have. Most have never been asked.
- Find out which AI tools your child is using. Nearly two-thirds of American teens use generative AI, and 30% use it daily. Ask what they are using it for and whether they understand how it works. (Pew Research Center, 2025)
- Check gaming consoles, not just phones. Kids can also encounter online risks on consoles including in-game purchases and public communication. Review the game’s age rating and the console-wide family controls to stay informed and in control.
To learn more about Stanford Social Media Lab
To learn more about the Family Online Safety Institute
To learn more about the California Partners Project
Contacts
Amy Bartko
PR Specialist FOSI
[email protected]
480-201-6733
