Candice Odgers
@candiceodgers.bsky.social
Scientist, runner, Canadian still trying to figure out how to live in the US.
Psychology Prof at UCI, who sometimes writes about why we should trust science and avoid panic to really help our kids.
Psychology Prof at UCI, who sometimes writes about why we should trust science and avoid panic to really help our kids.
Pinned
Candice Odgers
@candiceodgers.bsky.social
· Jun 23
What we're getting wrong about teens and tech
For years, the warning has been: smartphones are destroying a generation. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that decades of data on teens tells a different story — violence, alcohol u...
go.ted.com
Scary stories about teens sell. The data tells a different story.
After decades studying adolescent mental health, here's what I found: This isn't an anxious generation. It's a resilient one. Let's start treating them that way. go.ted.com/candiceodgers
After decades studying adolescent mental health, here's what I found: This isn't an anxious generation. It's a resilient one. Let's start treating them that way. go.ted.com/candiceodgers
Reposted by Candice Odgers
Many of you are asking how you can help me.
My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket and share its content. demdock.com/4w6emld
My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket and share its content. demdock.com/4w6emld
September 11, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Many of you are asking how you can help me.
My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket and share its content. demdock.com/4w6emld
My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket and share its content. demdock.com/4w6emld
New study out this week using passively sensed and mobile phone sensor data showing that how an adolescent is feeling predicts their future phone use (but not the other way around).
candiceodgers.substack.com/p/adolescent...
candiceodgers.substack.com/p/adolescent...
Adolescent passive phone use may be a symptom, not the cause
New findings out this week
candiceodgers.substack.com
September 8, 2026 at 6:04 PM
New study out this week using passively sensed and mobile phone sensor data showing that how an adolescent is feeling predicts their future phone use (but not the other way around).
candiceodgers.substack.com/p/adolescent...
candiceodgers.substack.com/p/adolescent...
Finally a social media ban that I can get behind.
Save the children. Ban everyone age 18 and older from social media www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
Save the children. Ban everyone age 18 and older from social media www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
Save the children. Ban everyone age 18 and older from social media
OPINION: If any demographic has proved it cannot handle an unmoderated feed, it is fully grown adults, contributing columnist Joe Mathews writes.
www.sfchronicle.com
August 31, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Finally a social media ban that I can get behind.
Save the children. Ban everyone age 18 and older from social media www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
Save the children. Ban everyone age 18 and older from social media www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
"Age verification forces all of us to hand over our sensitive data to companies who have repeatedly shown that they are unwilling or unable to protect it." Psychologist @candiceodgers.bsky.social on why social media bans for under-16s aren't the answer candiceodgers.substack.com/p/why-i-cha...
Why I Changed My Mind About Age-Gating and Social Media Bans
Last week I spoke with Amelia Gentleman at The Guardian about the growing movement to ban young people under the age of 16 from social media platforms.
candiceodgers.substack.com
August 25, 2026 at 1:54 PM
"Age verification forces all of us to hand over our sensitive data to companies who have repeatedly shown that they are unwilling or unable to protect it." Psychologist @candiceodgers.bsky.social on why social media bans for under-16s aren't the answer candiceodgers.substack.com/p/why-i-cha...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
Come on, folks.
Your chance to get you voice heard.
It’s comment time! (until October 13th)
Your chance to get you voice heard.
It’s comment time! (until October 13th)
The NIH just released a proposal that will apparently hide peer reviewers’ impact scores and percentiles from the research team, their institution, and NIH program officers.
All the better to obscure how funding decisions will be made primarily via political review, I’m guessing.
All the better to obscure how funding decisions will be made primarily via political review, I’m guessing.
NOT-OD-26-088: Request for Information (RFI) on Proposed Changes to Reporting Outcomes from NIH Peer Review
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Request for Information (RFI) on Proposed Changes to Reporting Outcomes from NIH Peer Review NOT-OD-26-088. NIH
grants.nih.gov
August 15, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Come on, folks.
Your chance to get you voice heard.
It’s comment time! (until October 13th)
Your chance to get you voice heard.
It’s comment time! (until October 13th)
Mike Males reminds us to look adult mental health and abuse within homes versus headlines if we want to really understand depression among girls. He also reminded me of the time I was called crazy for letting my child use social media. That was interesting...
mikemales.substack.com/p/gee-our-to...
mikemales.substack.com/p/gee-our-to...
Gee. Our top authorities just can’t figure out why teenagers got more depressed during the 2010s. “It must be social media!”
“Elephant? I don’t see no elephant!” An update on political and “experts’” rampant obtusity on “teenage mental health.”
mikemales.substack.com
August 15, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Mike Males reminds us to look adult mental health and abuse within homes versus headlines if we want to really understand depression among girls. He also reminded me of the time I was called crazy for letting my child use social media. That was interesting...
mikemales.substack.com/p/gee-our-to...
mikemales.substack.com/p/gee-our-to...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
“One baby at a time, the world is marching toward a grim milestone: Because of global cuts to foreign aid, the Gates Foundation has predicted that 2025 will be the first year this century where child deaths will increase.” apnews.com/article/usai...
August 14, 2026 at 12:53 AM
“One baby at a time, the world is marching toward a grim milestone: Because of global cuts to foreign aid, the Gates Foundation has predicted that 2025 will be the first year this century where child deaths will increase.” apnews.com/article/usai...
Wow, it turns out all those teens arrested in the teen takeovers, were not actually...teens. Mike Males asks whether we should stop blaming teens and start looking at what is going wrong with adults today (who were actually the ones arrested)...
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
“Teen takeovers everywhere!”… except ... where are the teenagers?
Police statistics show no evidence of hundreds or thousands of teens “terrorizing streets,” “shutting down entire cities,” and causing “America’s biggest urban crisis.”
open.substack.com
July 31, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Wow, it turns out all those teens arrested in the teen takeovers, were not actually...teens. Mike Males asks whether we should stop blaming teens and start looking at what is going wrong with adults today (who were actually the ones arrested)...
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
The first official data on the effectiveness of Australia's social media ban is out. Nothing unexpected, but it's worth reading.
www.esafety.gov.au/research/soc...
www.esafety.gov.au/research/soc...
July 31, 2026 at 2:24 PM
The first official data on the effectiveness of Australia's social media ban is out. Nothing unexpected, but it's worth reading.
www.esafety.gov.au/research/soc...
www.esafety.gov.au/research/soc...
A few thoughts on why I changed my mind about age-gating as a way to protect young people online, as France races forward with their plans to ban under 15s from social media
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
Why I Changed My Mind About Age-Gating and Social Media Bans
Last week I spoke with Amelia Gentleman at The Guardian about the growing movement to ban young people under the age of 16 from social media platforms.
open.substack.com
July 21, 2026 at 7:27 PM
A few thoughts on why I changed my mind about age-gating as a way to protect young people online, as France races forward with their plans to ban under 15s from social media
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
A new article from @theguardian.com focuses on NSCA member @candiceodgers.bsky.social's research on adolescent mental health & digital technology, discusses the new U.K. social media ban, and dives into the big issues driving changes in adolescent well-being: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
The social media ban sceptic: are we getting it wrong on kids, tech and mental health?
Psychologist Candice Odgers has studied adolescent mental health for 25 years. She fears the current debate around smartphones obscures some of the biggest issues facing teenagers – from the impact of...
www.theguardian.com
July 17, 2026 at 8:17 PM
A new article from @theguardian.com focuses on NSCA member @candiceodgers.bsky.social's research on adolescent mental health & digital technology, discusses the new U.K. social media ban, and dives into the big issues driving changes in adolescent well-being: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
“Social media is ‘one of the least influential factors’ in teen depression and anxiety; girls who are already depressed go on to use social media more, not the other way around.”
‘Social media bans are likely to make things worse’: psychologist Candice Odgers on kids, tech and mental health
She has studied adolescent mental health for 25 years and fears the debate obscures some of the biggest issues facing teenagers – from the impact of Covid to the health of their adult caregivers
www.theguardian.com
July 16, 2026 at 5:11 AM
“Social media is ‘one of the least influential factors’ in teen depression and anxiety; girls who are already depressed go on to use social media more, not the other way around.”
Reposted by Candice Odgers
‘Social media bans are likely to make things worse’: psychologist Candice Odgers on kids, tech and mental health
‘Social media bans are likely to make things worse’: psychologist Candice Odgers on kids, tech and mental health
She has studied adolescent mental health for 25 years and fears the debate obscures some of the biggest issues facing teenagers – from the impact of Covid to the health of their adult caregivers
www.theguardian.com
July 16, 2026 at 5:04 AM
‘Social media bans are likely to make things worse’: psychologist Candice Odgers on kids, tech and mental health
Reposted by Candice Odgers
Markey’s AI Bills Could Force Online Age Verification Digital ID
Markey's AI Bills Could Force Online Age Verification Digital ID
The slogan is taking power back from Big Tech. The fine print asks for your ID before you are allowed to say a word.
reclaimthenet.org
July 14, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Markey’s AI Bills Could Force Online Age Verification Digital ID
Reposted by Candice Odgers
“No serious epidemiologist would reason in this way, @candiceodgers.bsky.social
said. Both Gray & Haidt tended to downplay other obvious factors, such as the severe adult-MH crisis that unfolded during the same years.‘Caregiver mental health is by far the strongest predictor of childhood MH’.”🧪🛟
said. Both Gray & Haidt tended to downplay other obvious factors, such as the severe adult-MH crisis that unfolded during the same years.‘Caregiver mental health is by far the strongest predictor of childhood MH’.”🧪🛟
July 12, 2026 at 4:42 PM
“No serious epidemiologist would reason in this way, @candiceodgers.bsky.social
said. Both Gray & Haidt tended to downplay other obvious factors, such as the severe adult-MH crisis that unfolded during the same years.‘Caregiver mental health is by far the strongest predictor of childhood MH’.”🧪🛟
said. Both Gray & Haidt tended to downplay other obvious factors, such as the severe adult-MH crisis that unfolded during the same years.‘Caregiver mental health is by far the strongest predictor of childhood MH’.”🧪🛟
Reposted by Candice Odgers
"What if It’s Not the Phones? An evolutionary psychologist is challenging the popular understanding of kids and technology." www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
July 10, 2026 at 9:04 PM
"What if It’s Not the Phones? An evolutionary psychologist is challenging the popular understanding of kids and technology." www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
I just submitted my comment using this simple tool. Thank you @drruth.bsky.social for this free tool that allows more voices to be heard in stopping these proposed changes - that would be devastating for future advances in health, science, and technology.
$1.1 trillion in federal grants is on the line, including Medicaid, Head Start, and community health centers.
Learn about a free tool that I built to help you write your public comment in <5 minutes.
🔗 drruth.substack.com/p/i-built-yo...
Deadline: July 13.
Every voice counts.
#medsky #2CFR200
Learn about a free tool that I built to help you write your public comment in <5 minutes.
🔗 drruth.substack.com/p/i-built-yo...
Deadline: July 13.
Every voice counts.
#medsky #2CFR200
I Built You a Tool That Helps You Write Your Federal Comment in 2 Minutes
*Deadline for commenting on OMB rule 2 CFR Part 200 is July 13th.*
drruth.substack.com
July 10, 2026 at 9:37 PM
I just submitted my comment using this simple tool. Thank you @drruth.bsky.social for this free tool that allows more voices to be heard in stopping these proposed changes - that would be devastating for future advances in health, science, and technology.
Reposted by Candice Odgers
👇👇👇👇👇👇
I made a free tool to help people write their comments re: OMB proposed rule change.
Please use it before July 13
bsky.app/profile/drru...
Please use it before July 13
bsky.app/profile/drru...
$1.1 trillion in federal grants is on the line, including Medicaid, Head Start, and community health centers.
Learn about a free tool that I built to help you write your public comment in <5 minutes.
🔗 drruth.substack.com/p/i-built-yo...
Deadline: July 13.
Every voice counts.
#medsky #2CFR200
Learn about a free tool that I built to help you write your public comment in <5 minutes.
🔗 drruth.substack.com/p/i-built-yo...
Deadline: July 13.
Every voice counts.
#medsky #2CFR200
July 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
👇👇👇👇👇👇
Reposted by Candice Odgers
I was back in Immigration Court this week, this time for the hearing of a sweet little three-year-old girl, I’ll call her Estrella. She’s been in federal custody, separated from her family for more than 10 months – even though her mom lives here in NYC. The cruelty is truly mind-boggling. 🧵
July 8, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I was back in Immigration Court this week, this time for the hearing of a sweet little three-year-old girl, I’ll call her Estrella. She’s been in federal custody, separated from her family for more than 10 months – even though her mom lives here in NYC. The cruelty is truly mind-boggling. 🧵
Thank you to everyone who has shared and given feedback on my talk, What we are getting wrong about teens and tech!
Join me on Substack to continue the search for solutions that go beyond bans to support young people online.
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
Join me on Substack to continue the search for solutions that go beyond bans to support young people online.
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
One Week After TED: Thank you
It has been a wild one
open.substack.com
July 3, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Thank you to everyone who has shared and given feedback on my talk, What we are getting wrong about teens and tech!
Join me on Substack to continue the search for solutions that go beyond bans to support young people online.
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
Join me on Substack to continue the search for solutions that go beyond bans to support young people online.
open.substack.com/pub/candiceo...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
The govt’s effort to remove anonymity from social media/the internet is not remotely about “protecting children”, it’s about enabling stuff like this
Two ICE agents tracked down a woman *inside a polling place* yesterday. Why?
They demanded that she take down an Instagram post in which she named Jonathan Ross as the man who shot & killed Renee Good (after the Star Tribune identified Ross). www.syracuse.com/news/2026/06...
They demanded that she take down an Instagram post in which she named Jonathan Ross as the man who shot & killed Renee Good (after the Star Tribune identified Ross). www.syracuse.com/news/2026/06...
Federal agents track down Syracuse woman, demand she remove Instagram post about ICE
She believes the warning was related to a post about the ICE agent who shot Renee Good in Minneapolis.
www.syracuse.com
June 27, 2026 at 10:11 PM
The govt’s effort to remove anonymity from social media/the internet is not remotely about “protecting children”, it’s about enabling stuff like this
Mike Males always has high quality data on hand to support his case - here he uses CDC data to illustrate why caregiver mental health to be included in any conversation we have about increasing rates of teen mental health problems.
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
Psychologist Candice Odgers’ compelling TED talk: "What we're getting wrong about teens and tech"
Odgers has been a scholarly, engaging (and to “ban teens” crusaders, enraging) advocate for youths’ online rights. Her new TED talk is forceful and deserves policy attention.
open.substack.com
June 27, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Mike Males always has high quality data on hand to support his case - here he uses CDC data to illustrate why caregiver mental health to be included in any conversation we have about increasing rates of teen mental health problems.
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
open.substack.com/pub/mikemale...
Great conversation with Manoush Zomorodi @npr.org about social media and mental health and what we can do, beyond bans and blame, to support teen mental health today.
www.npr.org/2026/06/26/n...
www.npr.org/2026/06/26/n...
A psychologist makes the case against social media bans for kids
More countries are enacting policies to restrict teens' social media and smartphone use. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that won't address the bigger problems facing teens today.
www.npr.org
June 27, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Great conversation with Manoush Zomorodi @npr.org about social media and mental health and what we can do, beyond bans and blame, to support teen mental health today.
www.npr.org/2026/06/26/n...
www.npr.org/2026/06/26/n...
Great to sit down with Dave Anderson at @childmindinstitute.bsky.social for the conversation about teens & tech and what we can expect when we try to take it away.
Thank you for the centering young people and working support child mental health in the digital age!
youtu.be/cuOp-6L-V6A?...
Thank you for the centering young people and working support child mental health in the digital age!
youtu.be/cuOp-6L-V6A?...
What the Research Really Says About Kids, Phones, and Mental Health
YouTube video by Child Mind Institute
youtu.be
June 26, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Great to sit down with Dave Anderson at @childmindinstitute.bsky.social for the conversation about teens & tech and what we can expect when we try to take it away.
Thank you for the centering young people and working support child mental health in the digital age!
youtu.be/cuOp-6L-V6A?...
Thank you for the centering young people and working support child mental health in the digital age!
youtu.be/cuOp-6L-V6A?...
Reposted by Candice Odgers
If you watch one thing today make it this. Absolutely phenomenal debunking of the idea that social media and cell phones are causing a youth mental health crisis, and who that false narrative ultimately serves
What we're getting wrong about teens and tech
For years, the warning has been: smartphones are destroying a generation. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that decades of data on teens tells a different story — violence, alcohol u...
www.ted.com
June 25, 2026 at 6:08 AM
If you watch one thing today make it this. Absolutely phenomenal debunking of the idea that social media and cell phones are causing a youth mental health crisis, and who that false narrative ultimately serves