In striking new statistics, experts warn of social media’s growing grip on young people, with use among children and teens soaring by more than 200% since before COVID and showing no sign of decline.

A new study published in AJPM Focus found that the risk of child firearm injuries was 45 percent higher during the 2-6 pm afterschool period on school days, compared to non-school days, among students at public schools in New York City. This risk nearly tripled in the immediate period at the end of the school day, typically about 2 pm. A second study, published in Prevention Science, examined the benefits of summer youth employment programs and found that these programs not only reduce youth involvement in crime and violence, but also improve youth educational outcomes, social connections, and community engagement.

New research from Dartmouth reveals that artificial intelligence can now corrupt public opinion surveys at scale—passing every quality check, mimicking real humans, and manipulating results without leaving a trace. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show just how vulnerable polling has become.