Saturday, August 16, 2025
Special Edition: Kids & AI Companions – Friend or Faux?
Listen below:
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AI is making its way into classrooms and even into kids’ social lives through AI “companions.” This episode explores what that means for learning, social skills, and academic integrity. We cover the risks of over-reliance, who’s responsible for oversight, and how educators can help students use AI without letting it do the thinking for them.
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Research Reports:
Resources:
Foundation for Social Connection
American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Plan Wizard
Digital Wellness Lab's Family Guide to Creating Shared Media Use Agreements
Guest: Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter
Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter is a Program Administrator at the Digital Wellness Lab, where she supports the implementation of special projects, impact, content, and fundraising efforts. Brinleigh holds dual degrees in Gender Studies and Communications from the University of Southern California where she focused her studies on gender representation in children’s media. Brinleigh holds a Master’s in Education with a focus on Learning, Design, Innovation, and Technology, along with a concentration in Early Childhood Education, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Prior to joining the Digital Wellness Lab, Brinleigh worked across the technology and entertainment industries. She began her career in Los Angeles at William Morris Endeavor, went on to work in the Original Programming department at Disney Channel, and later spent time focusing on pro-social brand strategy development for brands such as Mattel, Dove, and Disney. Brinleigh later transitioned to the tech industry, moving to San Francisco to work for Google and YouTube for over eight years. A mother of two young children, Brinleigh has always been passionate about the impact of media and technology on youth, and sees an inspiring opportunity to bridge industry and academia to advance shared goals in creating a healthy online future for our youngest global citizens.
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