Joan Ganz Cooney Center: Into the Digital Future

About Joan Ganz Cooney Center: Into the Digital Future

Join hosts Jordan Shapiro (Cooney Center Senior Fellow) and Laura Higgins (Director of Community Safety & Digital Civility at Roblox) as they talk to experts about the opportunities and challenges facing kids in the digital world. Acknowledging that parents are overwhelmed by frightening headlines about screen time and online predators, Jordan and Laura guide listeners through a series of casual, fun, yet thought-provoking conversations around topics like youth trends during the pandemic, combating toxic behaviors, and what tech and gaming companies are trying to do to create healthy spaces.

Publisher

Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop: Into the Digital Future

Category

technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Dec 2021

Latest episode

27 Feb 2025

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Feb 2025

   Teens, Technology, and Truth with Amanda Lenhart

   In this episode of 'Into the Digital Future,' hosts Jordan Shapiro and Laura Higgins sit down with long-time mixed methods researcher Amanda Lenhart to discuss her journey into internet research and her extensive work focused on youth, their mental health, and digital interactions. They delve into myths and misconceptions about digital media, screen time, and the nuanced impact of technology on young people. The conversation also explores the emerging role of generative AI in education, the challenges schools face in integrating this technology, and the importance of a balanced and informed approach to digital literacy. Amanda offers insights from her research and personal experiences, highlighting the need for multi-pronged strategies involving parents, educators, tech companies, and regulators to navigate the complexities of the digital age.

2. 

   11 Dec 2024

   Online Safety Through the Eyes of Young People with Lucy Thomas

   Laura Higgins and Jordan Shapiro interview Lucy Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Project Rockit, on amplifying youth voices to create safer online spaces through innovative approaches and inclusive digital development.

3. 

   11 Dec 2024

   The Kids Are Alright with Dr Michael Rich

   Jordan Shapiro and Laura Higgins discuss with Dr. Michael Rich how to foster healthy relationships with screens using his "Five M's" strategy and create a more balanced digital world for kids.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

334,595

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

37

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

32

Contact Joan Ganz Cooney Center: Into the Digital Future

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.