Webinar Recording Now Available: Social Media & Our Youth

November 7, 2024

The recording and slides are now available from our November 1st webinar, Social Media & Our Youth, featuring Dr. Jill Walsh, Sociology Professor at Boston University and Founder of Digital Aged, and Liza Hirsch, Director of the Children’s Justice Unit at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. National conversations around social media safety and mental health have intensified, with 42 state attorneys general calling for a Surgeon General warning label. In this webinar we covered the evolving landscape of social media and its influence on young people, potential benefits and risks, the role of parents and educators in promoting healthy usage, implications of the proposed Surgeon General warning, strategies for addressing social media-related challenges, as well efforts underway by the Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.

Speaker Bios

  • Jill Walsh is a Sociology professor at Boston University. She is also the founder of Digital Aged, a consulting group that educates students, families, and educational institutions about positive technology use. She earned a PhD in Sociology from Boston University, a Masters in Public Policy from Brown University and a B.A from Harvard University. Before going to graduate school, she taught 9th-12th grades at an independent school in the Boston area. Her research looks at the way that digital media use impacts psychosocial well-being and development. Her book Adolescents and their Social Media Narratives: A Digital Coming of Age was published in 2017 and she publishes academic research on youth development and emerging media. Her research interests include social media and identity work, parasocial relationships, and the links between technology and mental health.
  • Liza Hirsch is the Director of the Children’s Justice Unit at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office where she works to advance justice and equity for Massachusetts children and youth through civil investigations, litigation, policy, and community engagement. She is a member of the AGO team working to address the impacts of social media on youth mental health. Prior to joining the AGO, Liza was a Senior Attorney at Massachusetts Advocates for Children, where she provided representation to low-income families in special education and school discipline matters and directed a program on disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. She previously worked as a manager in the Holyoke Public Schools, and as a Skadden Fellow/Staff Attorney at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and at Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston where she represented homeless and low-income families in housing and shelter matters. She is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law.


share this

Related Articles

Join Us May 27: Air Watch App Launch

May 6, 2026
The new Air Watch app provides accurate neighborhood data, personalized alerts, and environmental updates in a simple, easy-to-use app.

New Report! The Health of Western & Central Massachusetts

April 17, 2026
We’re excited to announce the release of The Health of Western & Central Massachusetts: Key Findings from the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessments. Every three years, hospitals are required to do a Community Health Needs Assessment . While each hospital posts its report publicly and focuses on its specific service area, we recognized the value of stepping back to look at the broader regional picture. This regional health report thoughtfully synthesizes findings across the five counties represented in those service areas. By summarizing shared needs and opportunities at a regional level, we aim to support more coordinated action. Now, more than ever, working and advocating together across the region is essential! We hope this report is useful to your organization and strengthens your collaborative efforts. We would love to hear your feedback and learn how it’s been helpful in your work.
Dr. Gregory Todd

Proactive vs. Reactive Leadership

April 14, 2026
Putting Resources into Practice: A Race & Health Equity Blog