by Allison Williams, Wyman President & CEO
Over the past three years as Wyman’s CEO, I’ve often found myself holding two truths at the same time:
I am deeply hopeful about young people, their strengths, and their futures.
And I am deeply concerned about the unique challenges they are navigating.
Both can be true.
Today’s teens have grown up experiencing the chaos and disruption of a worldwide pandemic, rapid advances in technology and AI, and a deep sense of uncertainty in our world. We know teen mental health indicators were moving in the wrong direction prior to the pandemic, and the pandemic itself often exacerbated feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
This does not mean young people are broken. They are, however, growing up in a world unlike anything previous generations have experienced.
Last month, Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle lawsuits alleging its platforms contributed to harm among young users. Whether you view that settlement as accountability, course correction, or something in between, it signals a growing recognition that technology is shaping the lives and well-being of young people in profound ways.
As we navigate conversations about AI and social media, it is easy to ask whether AI, social media, and other technology is good or bad for teens. No matter your answer, we know these things will be part of their lives going forward.
A better question is: How do we human through this?
Recent research from The Rithm Project offers an important insight. After surveying more than 2,300 young people ages 13 to 24, researchers found that the strongest protection against unhealthy dependence on AI isn’t simply using less technology. It’s having relationships where young people feel safe, valued, seen, and able to be their authentic selves.
In other words, the greatest safeguard isn’t technological. It’s relational.
The research also found something many adults may find surprising: young people use AI in very different ways. Many use it thoughtfully to learn, solve problems, prepare for difficult conversations, and even process emotions. The real risk emerges when loneliness, isolation, or a lack of trusted relationships cause AI to become a substitute for human connection rather than a tool that supports it.
For 128 years, Wyman has believed that healthy development begins with relationships. It’s why programs like our Teen Connection Project and Teen Outreach Program focus on belonging, purpose, connection, and contribution. Long before artificial intelligence and social media entered the conversation, we knew that young people thrive when they have trusted relationships and meaningful opportunities to engage with others.
That is even more important today.
As technology continues to evolve, our response must be a renewed commitment to the foundational experiences that help young people thrive in any generation: meaningful connections, a sense of purpose, and opportunities to give back.
The path forward calls us to reclaim and maintain the authentic connections we need to thrive as humans. Because while AI may shape the future, it will always be human relationships that shape young people…and all of us.
Let’s stay connected.
Learn more about Wyman and read our statement on the intersection of human connection and technology HERE.