The Youth and Media project at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, aims to understand young people‘s interactions with digital media — and gain detailed insights into youth practices and digital fluencies, harness the associated opportunities, address challenges, and ultimately shape the evolving regulatory and educational framework in a way that advances the public interest.
Coalition Representative
Sandra Cortesi, PhD, Director of Youth and Media, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society
Additional Colleagues
Leah Plunket, JD, Meyer Research Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law School; Faculty Associate, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
Madeline McGee, Project Coordinator
Faculty Lead
Christopher Bavitz, JD, Principal Investigator,, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
Harvard Affiliation
Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Mission / Focus
The Youth and Media project (YaM) at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University encompasses an array of research, advocacy, and development initiatives around youth (age 12-18) and digital technology.
Interacting closely with other teams at the Berkman Klein Center, YaM draws on the knowledge and experiences of individuals with various backgrounds, including psychology, ethnography, sociology, education, media theory, and the law. Building upon this interdisciplinary approach, YaM invites and amplifies the voices of youth throughout the research process, aiming to develop contributions that reflect and address young people’s needs, perspectives, experiences, and interests. The team’s work builds upon an evidence-base that offers unique insights into the creative, educational, and revolutionary possibilities of youth activity in the digital space while addressing the genuine concerns that come with living life online.
As a project, YaM embraces the core pillars of the Berkman Klein Center, which can be summarized as: study, educate, build, and connect.
Areas of Study
The Youth and Media project at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society’s areas of focus include: researching topics related to youth and digital life, information quality and the news ecosystem; well-being; risks to safety and privacy; future of work, digital skills, and lifelong learning; emerging technologies (e.g., AI, AR, VR; and spaces for youth participation, civic engagement, and innovation.
Projects →