Key Takeaways
- AT&T has launched the ScreenReady Advisory Board to help families navigate online safety, screen time, social media, cyberbullying, and emerging digital risks.
- The board brings together four independent experts in online safety, children’s media, youth mental health, and cybersecurity.
- Members will help shape ScreenReady content and contribute practical, evidence-based resources for parents and caregivers.
Today, AT&T announced the launch of the ScreenReady Advisory Board, a group of four independent experts who will help shape ScreenReady content and develop practical resources for families navigating children’s online safety and digital well-being.
The challenge facing families is both significant and increasingly urgent. Pew Research Center found that nearly two-thirds of parents believe parenting is more difficult today than it was 20 years ago, with many pointing to smartphones, social media and other technological changes as contributing factors. Additional Pew research found that parents also express widespread concern that children spend too much time on screens. Together, these findings underscore the need for clear, trusted information to help families make informed decisions about technology.
That is the role of the new ScreenReady Advisory Board: to bring together experts who can help turn research, professional knowledge and real-world experience into practical guidance families can use every day — from establishing screen-time expectations to setting parental controls to navigating social media.
The inaugural ScreenReady Advisory Board members are:
- Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO, Family Online Safety Institute
- Jill Murphy, Chief Content Officer, Common Sense Media
- Dr. Jacqueline Nesi, clinical psychologist, Associate Professor at Brown University and creator of Techno Sapiens
- Fareedah Shaheed, internet safety expert and Founder and CEO of Sekuva
Together, the Advisory Board members will help strengthen ScreenReady with practical, research-backed guidance families can use to build confidence using technology and practice healthy digital habits.
“Families should not have to navigate a rapidly changing digital world alone,” said Mylayna Albright, vice president of corporate responsibility, AT&T. “This Advisory Board is an important step forward for ScreenReady, bringing trusted expertise to the platform and helping families feel more confident guiding children through an increasingly complex digital landscape.”
The launch advances AT&T’s broader commitment to helping people participate safely and confidently in the digital world — from expanding connectivity to supporting digital literacy and online safety.
Stephen Balkam: Online Safety and Digital Parenting
Stephen Balkam is Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, an international nonprofit working to make the online world safer for kids and families. For more than 30 years, he has brought parents, tech companies, and policymakers to the same table and spoken in more than 20 countries about what families need as technology changes. He has appeared on CNN, CBS, NPR, and the BBC.
“Technology keeps changing, but the habits that keep kids safe stay the same: talking early, asking questions, and listening to the answers,” Balkam said. “I want families to feel confident using them, whatever the next app or device turns out to be.”
Jill Murphy: Children’s Media and Healthy Digital Habits
Jill Murphy is Chief Content Officer at Common Sense Media and has more than two decades of experience helping families navigate media and technology. A mother of two, she brings professional expertise and a parent’s perspective to decisions about devices, content, screen use and children’s well-being.
“Technology is woven into everyday family life, and parents need realistic guidance that supports healthy and informed decisions,” Murphy said. “My goal is to ensure families have the resources they need to make confident choices while centering children’s well-being and family connection.”
Dr. Jacqueline Nesi: Youth Mental Health and Technology
Dr. Jacqueline Nesi is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at Brown University. Her research examines how social media and digital technology affect young people’s mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. Through Techno Sapiens, she translates complex research into practical, evidence-based guidance for parents.
“Digital technology offers real opportunities for learning, creativity and connection, but families also need evidence-based guidance to navigate its many challenges,” Dr. Nesi said. “The goal is to translate the research into practical strategies that can help young people thrive, and to help bring those resources to as many families as possible.”
Fareedah Shaheed: Cybersecurity and Family Online Safety
Fareedah Shaheed is an internet safety expert, cybersecurity professional and Founder and CEO of Sekuva, an organization that helps parents keep children safe online. She developed the SAFE Method, an approach to digital safety grounded in trust, communication, and proactive guidance. Shaheed is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree.
“Keeping children safe online starts with creating an environment where they feel comfortable turning to a trusted adult,” Shaheed said. “By combining practical safeguards with open communication, families can help children recognize risks and become more resilient online.”
Throughout the coming year, ScreenReady Advisory Board members will contribute insights and original resources tied to key moments for families, including Mental Health Awareness and Internet Safety months, and the holiday gifting and back-to-school seasons.
To learn more and explore ScreenReady resources, visit att.com/screenready.
Read more AT&T news