Photo by Emily O'Brien

Hi, I’m Emily Weinstein: a psychologist, author, educator, parent, and longtime tech researcher.

• I co-founded the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard Graduate School of Education: a future-focused research and innovation center. As the Center’s Executive Director, I champion translational research and resources grounded in youth voice alongside Carrie James, Beck Tench, Eduardo Lara, and Amber Kamilah.

• Carrie James and I wrote the book Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing). It’s based on our research with more than 3,500 teens. In each chapter, we share what teens told us they most wish adults understood about social media, activism tensions, sexting pressures, digital footprints, social conflict, friendship, and more.

• I am also co-founder, with Jacqueline Nesi, of Tech Without Stress, which provides evidence-based, practical support for tech parenting. Jackie and I are parents right alongside many of you and we started Tech Without Stress to bring parents research-informed answers to questions like: When is a kid ready for a new phone or app? How do I support them through digital drama? What should we know about tech mistakes and missteps?

• In alternating years, I teach a course about adolescence and social media at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

At the heart of my work is a longstanding commitment to helping us all lean into empathy over eye rolling as we make sense of adolescents’ experiences and chart the paths to digital agency. As a social scientist, I’m endlessly curious about how tech is reshaping our lives and development. As a parent, I’m constantly seeking out reasons to be hopeful and ways to build a future where we can all thrive.