Press Hits Database

Internal reference document - All YPA press coverage

Media Coverage (43)

DateTitleOutletDescriptionLink
October 19, 2026NBC4 Washington: DC College Students Call for More Affordable HousingNBC4 WashingtonNBC4 Washington features Young People's Alliance's student camp-out, where students from Howard, American, and George Washington Universities joined forces to call for affordable student housing and better zoning rules for D.C.'s campus development zones.View
October 14, 2026Mashable: What 'The Social Reckoning' MissesMashableMashable examines what the Meta film 'The Social Reckoning' leaves out, quoting Sam Hiner, Executive Director of Young People's Alliance, on why users stay on Meta's platforms: "Too many people are complacent because they don't know an alternative," with the fear of missing out and network effects making it hard for competitors to emerge.View
October 9, 2026WUSA9: DC Council Weighs If and How Much Technology Should Be in SchoolsWUSA9WUSA9 covers the D.C. Council's public hearing on screen time and AI in classrooms, quoting Young People's Alliance Research Analyst Samantha Richter, who has researched classroom technology across the country, on the need for balance rather than pretending AI isn't happening and "setting people up for failure."View
October 5, 2026The San Francisco Standard: Asking a Chatbot About Your Ballot? Read This FirstThe San Francisco StandardThe San Francisco Standard covers an analysis from Common Cause and the Young People's Alliance that tested six of the largest AI chatbots on California ballot measures and the races for governor and L.A. mayor, finding that while the chatbots are often correct, they also fabricate answers and misdirect voters in unpredictable ways.View
October 1, 2026SCV News: Whitesides' Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Children from ChatbotsSCV NewsSCV News covers the introduction of the bipartisan Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots Act from Reps. George Whitesides, Mike Kennedy, Doris Matsui, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, which Young People's Alliance endorsed, quoting Executive Director Sam Hiner calling it the first federal bill to advance the ideas championed by the Human-like AI Coalition and the strongest federal approach yet to keep AI a tool.View
September 30, 2026The New Yorker: The Humanism Driving the Anti-A.I. MovementThe New YorkerThe New Yorker reports from the Pro-Human Assembly in Washington, D.C., where attendees spoke less about jobs and policy than about their philosophy of life, including a twenty-two-year-old Young People's Alliance member who said she felt she'd "lost brain cells" since she started using A.I.View
September 30, 2026WUNC Due South: In Harm's Way: Technology and What It's Doing to Our Children, Our Schools and Our SocietyWUNC Due SouthWUNC's Due South hosts Young People's Alliance Advocacy Director Mick Tobin alongside UNC psychologist Mitch Prinstein, Elon University's Lee Rainie, and parent organizer Mary Beth Roche for a conversation on the Meta and TikTok litigation, school cell phone policies, the risks of artificial intelligence, and what can be done about technology's harms to young people.View
September 18, 2026NPR: How Google is drafting AI chatbot laws around the countryNPRNPR investigates a tech industry lobbying effort, led by Google, to write state AI chatbot bills with exemptions that would shield the most widely used chatbots from the rules the bills claim to set, quoting Young People's Alliance cofounder Mick Tobin on how advocates working in different states kept finding the exact same bill language, with Google turning up to lobby for it.View
September 9, 2026ABC11: North Carolina Supreme Court hears arguments in TikTok lawsuitABC11 Raleigh-DurhamABC11 Raleigh-Durham covers oral arguments over whether North Carolina's lawsuit against TikTok and ByteDance can proceed, quoting Young People's Alliance cofounder Mick Tobin, a Duke graduate and North Carolina native, on how addictive feeds erode young people's sense of time and self-esteem, and why the conversation should move away from personal responsibility.View
August 29, 2026Rolling Stone: New Facebook and Instagram Rules Are Coming for Teens. Will They Help?Rolling StoneRolling Stone breaks down the teen-safety changes Meta agreed to as part of its settlement, quoting Young People's Alliance cofounder Mick Tobin on why removing the algorithmic feed and hiding likes matters, why the two-hour limit may not, and why the settlement should be treated as a failure of Congress rather than the end of the fight.View
August 28, 2026The Apopka Chief: FLCA Symposium Updates Apopka on Data Centers, AI PolicyThe Apopka ChiefThe Apopka Chief covers a Florida Citizens Alliance symposium on data center development and AI policy, quoting Young People's Alliance National Organizing Director Alex Dray on turning grassroots concern into bipartisan AI companion chatbot laws in Nebraska, Washington, and Hawaii.View
August 21, 2026Lowell Sun: Protesters Bring Petition to Trahan's Office to Oppose Frontier Act SectionLowell SunThe Lowell Sun covers protesters, including Young People's Alliance of Massachusetts, delivering thousands of signatures to Rep. Lori Trahan's office opposing a section of her bipartisan Frontier Act that critics say would preempt state and local AI regulations; YPA students helped organize the protest.View
August 26, 2026The Boston Globe: AI Data Center Protest Puts Pressure on Rep. Trahan's Federal AI Regulation BillThe Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe covers a grassroots protest outside Rep. Lori Trahan's Lowell office opposing her federal AI regulation bill, naming Young People's Alliance, whose students helped organize the demonstration, among the advocacy groups involved.View
August 27, 2026DC News Now: DMV Parents Who Lost Children to Online Harms Say Meta Settlement Is Progress, But Not EnoughDC News NowDC News Now interviews Washington-area parents who lost children to online harms about Meta's $17 billion settlement, noting Young People's Alliance among the youth advocacy groups pushing for stronger protections across the tech industry.View
August 26, 2026Tech Policy Press: What's in Meta's Teen Social Media Settlement, and What Hinges on Its RivalsTech Policy PressMick Tobin, Co-Founder and Advocacy Director of Young People's Alliance, is quoted on how the settlement's design protections, from turning off algorithmic feeds to hiding like counts, reflect changes young people have demanded for years to combat compulsive use and social comparison.View
August 27, 2026Mashable: Meta Settlement: 5 Big Changes for Instagram, FacebookMashableMick Tobin, Co-Founder and Advocacy Director of Young People's Alliance, is quoted extensively on Meta's $17 billion settlement and its new teen design changes, welcoming the shift while warning that the terms only need to remain in effect for 10 years and depend on Meta actually implementing them effectively.View
August 26, 2026Politico: Meta's Mega-Deal Could Change the Game for Social MediaPoliticoMick Tobin, Co-Founder and Advocacy Director of Young People's Alliance, is quoted on the limits of Meta's multistate settlement, arguing that if Congress had passed KOSA years ago, safety-by-design protections would already be law instead of being won piecemeal through state litigation.View
August 19, 2026NC Newsline: As Meta Faces Trial for Hooking Kids on Social Media, NC's Attorney General Offers Parents AdviceNC NewslineMick Tobin, Co-Founder and Advocacy Director of Young People's Alliance, is quoted on the social ramifications of manipulating young people online as North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson's case against Meta goes to trial, and on YPA's push for legislation restricting addictive design features like infinite scroll and autoplay.View
August 17, 2026Inc.: New Jersey's Kids Code Rejects Age Checks. It Puts the Burden on Platforms InsteadInc.YPA member Hannah Elder is quoted on how the newly signed Kids Code shows her generation that Big Tech shouldn't have a stronghold over their lives, as New Jersey takes an approach to youth online safety that avoids age-verification fights facing other internet laws.View
August 15, 2026Axios: College Loses Its Monopoly on the American DreamAxiosYPA member Rachel Sukkar, a UNC Chapel Hill student, is quoted on the pressure of competing in today's job market, describing college as feeling like "a rat race" amid growing anxiety over AI's impact on career prospects.View
May 31, 2026The Guardian: Young adults are struggling to achieve financial independence amid affordability crisisThe GuardianYPA student Raven is quoted on the affordability crisis facing young Americans and the growing challenges to achieving financial independence in today's economy.View
May 14, 2026State Affairs: YPA Advocacy Director on Protecting Youth Social Fabric from AI CompanionsState Affairs ProMick Tobin, Co-Founder and Advocacy Director of YPA, speaks on why AI companion regulation matters for young people's ability to build real human connections and maintain healthy social development.View
May 11, 2026Axios: YPA Members Share Gen-Z Perspective on Today's Challenging Job MarketAxiosSam Hiner and YPA member Amelia Sexton, a UNC Chapel Hill sophomore, are quoted on the generational optimism gap in the American job market and what young people are doing to navigate career challenges in the age of AI.View
March 3, 2026NPR: College students and professors are making their own AI rulesNPRHannah Elder, a UNC Chapel Hill junior and YPA member, speaks on the importance of cultivating your own thoughts and maintaining authentic writing skills in the age of AI, while advocating for responsible AI integration in education.View
November 21, 2025Axios: YPA releases Human-like AI Policy Framework alongside coalitionAxiosYouth and family advocacy groups call for restrictions on AI chatbots designed to form emotional relationships with users.View
February 19, 2026YPA on Zuckerberg Testifying in Landmark Social Media CaseThe Free PressYoung People's Alliance weighs in on Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in the landmark social media case examining the impact of platforms on young users.View
October 28, 2025TIME: YPA organizes coalition statement on GUARD ActTIMEYouth advocacy groups organize coalition statement supporting bipartisan legislation to protect minors from AI chatbots.View
July 1, 2025POLITICO: YPA helps strike down AI moratoriumPOLITICOYoung People's Alliance successfully advocates against AI moratorium during Senate negotiations of 'Big Beautiful Bill'.View
January 28, 2025TIME: YPA files FTC complaint about AI Companion deceptive practicesTIMEYoung People's Alliance files formal complaint with Federal Trade Commission regarding deceptive practices by AI companion apps.View
July 30, 2024PBS NewsHour: YPA Advocacy Director, Ava Smithing, interviewed on Kids Online Safety ActPBS NewsHourAva Smithing discusses the Kids Online Safety Act and the debate over censorship and privacy protections for children online.View
April 17, 2024YPA's Advocacy Director, Ava Smithing, testifies before CongressU.S. House of RepresentativesAva Smithing provides testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on youth online safety issues.View
January 31, 2024Washington Post: YPA demonstrates in front of tech CEO's testifying before CongressWashington PostYoung People's Alliance members demonstrate outside congressional hearing where tech CEOs testified about child safety.View
November 8, 2023Bloomberg: YPA profiled for online safety workBloombergBloomberg profiles Young People's Alliance and how Gen-Z activists are taking on Big Tech.View
November 5, 2023Washington Post: YPA Executive Director, Sam Hiner, covered for tech advocacy workWashington PostSam Hiner and youth activists featured for their work pushing for social media reform legislation.View
August 2, 2023PEOPLE: YPA receives Responsible Tech Youth Power Fund GrantPEOPLEYoung People's Alliance receives grant from Harry and Meghan's Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund.View
December 9, 2025YPA Participates in AI Preemption Protest with Heat Initiative, Bereaved Parents and PartnersFox 40 / GlobeNewswireBereaved parents, advocates, and Heat Initiative stage DC protest against AI preemption amid defense bill negotiations.View
January 13, 2026YPA pushes against 'unchecked power' onlineMLex / FTCWatchAva Smithing, Advocacy Director for Young People's Alliance, discusses pushing against unchecked power online and her advocacy work protecting young people.View
April 10, 2026YPA Lobby Day at NC General Assembly on Social Media PrivacyRaleigh News & ObserverStudents from Young People's Alliance spoke with NC lawmakers about social media privacy bills and affordable housing as part of the Declaration for a New American Dream campaign.View
November 15, 2024Substack: YPA talks to 20,000 voters in run-up to 2024 electionSubstackReflection on YPA's voter outreach efforts and conversations with 20,000 voters during the 2024 election cycle.View
April 19, 2023Spectrum: YPA spearheads NC bill to preserve online autonomySpectrum NewsStudents spearhead bill to protect their peers online through North Carolina legislature.View
October 17, 2022Spectrum: YPA activates student voters in 2022Spectrum NewsYoung People's Alliance works to turn out young voters in the 2022 midterm elections.View
September 5, 2023Washington Post: Sam Hiner and Youth Organizers Push for Social Media ReformWashington PostSam Hiner is featured for his role as a youth organizer in the responsible tech space, leading young activists' efforts to reform social media and protect young users.View
July 28, 2026Politico: Kids Online Safety Advocates Ramp Up Pressure on the SenatePoliticoPolitico's Congress live blog covers youth and child safety advocates, including YPA, pressing senators to advance the Kids Online Safety Act and other child safety bills as the Commerce Committee prepared to take up the legislation.View

Press Release (20)

DateTitleOutletDescriptionLink
October 5, 2026AI Chatbots Gave Inaccurate Answers on California Races and Ballot Measures, Analysis FindsYPA Press ReleaseAn analysis by the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (CITED) and Young People's Alliance finds AI chatbots gave inaccurate answers about California's governor's race, LA mayor's race, and statewide ballot initiatives, raising trust concerns as more voters turn to AI.View
October 1, 2026Young People's Alliance Proud to Support Bipartisan Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots ActYPA Press ReleaseYPA supports the bipartisan Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots Act from Reps. Whitesides, Miller-Meeks, Matsui, and Kennedy, which requires chatbots to be non-personified for minors, with a statement from Advocacy Director and Cofounder Mick Tobin.View
September 11, 2026Young People's Alliance Statement on Governor Newsom's Signage of Social Media and AI Safety LegislationYPA Press ReleaseYPA responds to Governor Newsom signing AB 2, AB 1709, and SB 1119 into law, with a statement from Western Regional Director George Ashford on what are now some of the strongest social media and AI safety guardrails in the nation.View
September 1, 2026Young People's Alliance Celebrates Passage of AB 1709, California's Targeted Ban on Addictive Design FeaturesYPA Press ReleaseYPA celebrates the passage of AB 1709, which prohibits social media platforms from serving addictive features and feeds to users under 16, after youth advocates urged the legislature to replace the bill's original under-16 access ban with a targeted prohibition on addictive design.View
August 26, 2026Young People's Alliance Statement on Meta Settlement Over Predatory Design PracticesYPA Press ReleaseYPA responds to Meta's $17 billion multistate settlement over predatory design practices that knowingly addicted and manipulated millions of young people, with a statement from Advocacy Director Mick Tobin.View
August 11, 2026NJ Governor Sherrill Signs Kids' Online Safety PackageOffice of Governor SherrillNew Jersey Governor Sherrill's office quotes YPA member Hannah Elder, a UNC Chapel Hill student, on the newly signed Kids Code showing her generation that tech companies shouldn't control their lives.View
June 30, 2026Young People's Alliance Celebrates Passage of NJ Kids CodeYPA Press ReleaseYPA celebrates the passage of A4015/S3413, the New Jersey Kids Code Act, which balances kids' online safety with youth autonomy through design-based regulations.View
June 29, 2026Young People's Alliance Statement on Passage of KIDS ActYPA Press ReleaseYPA responds to the US House passage of the KIDS Act, applauding the inclusion of an opt-out for personalized recommendation systems while warning that the bill falls short on key protections for young people.View
June 24, 2026Young People's Alliance Praises Congress for Passing Landmark Federal Housing LegislationYPA Press ReleaseYPA commends Congress for passing the 21st Century Road to Housing Act (H.R. 6644), the first major housing reform legislation in decades, which will lower the cost of homeownership and rent through pro-supply policies.View
June 8, 2026Young People's Alliance Celebrates Unanimous Passage of Nation's Strongest AI Chatbot Kids Safety Bill, Urges Gov. Hochul to Keep It StrongYPA Press ReleaseYPA celebrates the New York Legislature's unanimous passage of S.9051 and A.10379, the strongest AI chatbot kids safety legislation in the country, and urges Gov. Hochul to sign it without weakening its protections.View
April 30, 2026YPA Gives Statement on Bipartisan GUARD Act Introduced in the HouseYPA Press ReleaseSam Hiner, Executive Director of the Young People's Alliance, was quoted in the congressional press release announcing the bipartisan introduction of the GUARD Act by Reps. Foushee (D-NC) and Moore (R-UT), which bans AI companion chatbots for minors.View
March 25, 2026Statement from the Young People's Alliance on the K.G.M. v. Meta & YouTube VerdictYPA Press ReleaseYPA responds to the jury verdict holding Meta and YouTube accountable for designing platforms that manipulate young users.View
March 19, 2026New Report Reveals Gen Z's Complicated Relationship with AI: Embrace It for Tasks, Reject It for Human ConnectionYPA Press ReleaseYPA released 'The Need for a New American Dream' based on listening sessions with ~210 students across 22 campuses, finding young Americans draw clear lines around where AI does and does not belong.View
March 26, 2026YPA On Washington's Frontier AI Bill HB 2225YPA Press ReleaseThe Young People's Alliance applauds the Washington State Legislature for passing HB 2225, a bill that addresses manipulative, human-like AI companion chatbots.View
March 12, 2026Young People's Alliance Applauds Court Decision Allowing California Age-Appropriate Design Code to Move ForwardYPA Press ReleaseYPA commends the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision allowing most provisions of California's Age-Appropriate Design Code to take effect after years of legal challenges fueled by tech industry groups.View
April 1, 2025Youth Advocacy Organizations File Brief in Garcia v. Character TechnologiesYPA Press ReleaseA group of youth-led advocacy organizations filed an amicus curiae brief opposing prematurely dismissing the case of a mother whose son died by suicide after using an AI companion application.View
April 2, 2024Youth Organization Champions 'Pro-Human' Legislation in North CarolinaYPA Press ReleaseYPA supports SB514 and SB624, two critical bills written by students to preserve young people's humanity in the age of social media and AI.View
January 28, 2025YPA Files FTC Complaint Against Replika AI for Deceptive PracticesYPA Press ReleaseYoung People's Alliance, alongside Encode and the Tech Justice Law Project, filed a formal complaint with the FTC against Replika AI for deceptive advertising and exploitative practices targeting vulnerable individuals.View
October 28, 2024Coalition Statement on the GUARD ActYPA Press ReleaseYPA and coalition partners applaud the introduction of the GUARD Act by Senators Hawley and Blumenthal to protect children from AI chatbot harms.View
November 21, 2025Coalition Unveils Model Policy Framework to Protect Children from AI CompanionsYPA Press ReleaseYoung People's Alliance, Public Citizen, Jonathan Haidt, and coalition partners release comprehensive policy framework to address emotionally manipulative AI companion apps.View

Op-Eds (13)

DateTitleOutletDescriptionAuthorLink
September 14, 2026Schools Should Help Students Navigate AI, Not Ban ItThe 74Akankshya Swain, a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Lira Roome, a senior at Midlothian High School in Virginia, both YPA members, argue that banning AI in schools leaves students to figure it out alone and risks a new digital divide, and that schools should teach students to use it well instead.Akankshya Swain & Lira RoomeView
August 22, 2026Stop testing memory, start measuring learningRichmond Times-DispatchHamsini Peri, a rising senior at John Champe High School and member of her school's Young People's Alliance chapter, argues that schools must move beyond a test-driven system that fuels AI dependence, memorization and academic stress by prioritizing assessments that develop critical thinking and real-world skills.Hamsini PeriView
August 8, 2026The Case for Intergenerational AI AdvocacyThe FulcrumArvind Salem argues that AI systems trained on biased data discriminate against both young and elderly people, creating a rare opportunity for these age groups to form a powerful political coalition demanding fair representation in AI training data.Arvind SalemView
July 28, 2026Betting on Crisis: Why Prediction Markets Are a Threat to Democratic TrustThe FulcrumRachel Ledoux warns that as prediction markets expand from economic forecasting into politics and global affairs, monetizing political outcomes and international crises risks eroding democratic trust and civic engagement.Rachel LedouxView
June 14, 2026You Can Mute Notifications But You Can't Escape the AlgorithmCommon DreamsSarah Maness, a UNC Chapel Hill student and YPA chapter coach, argues that social media companies have intentionally designed their products to be addictive to young users, and that the problem cannot be resolved until the entire architecture of the platforms is overhauled.Sarah ManessView
May 20, 2026Gen Z Begs Legislators: Make Social Media Social AgainThe FulcrumSparkle Rainey calls on legislators to hold Big Tech accountable with design-based regulations to combat algorithmic feeds, infinite scroll, and addictive platform features that are driving young people apart.Sparkle RaineyView
January 30, 2026Tech giants must protect vulnerable youth from predatorsCap TimesMansi Peters calls on tech companies to implement stronger protections against fraudulent accounts and sextortion schemes targeting minors, following the tragic death of a Wisconsin teen.Mansi PetersView
September 25, 2025How AI companions are putting young people at risk and what can be done about itSanta Cruz SentinelJoshua Brons from UC Santa Cruz explores the dangers of AI companion apps and advocates for stronger protections for young users.Joshua BronsView
July 25, 2025The hidden hunger crisis on UNC campusIndy WeekSarah Maness from UNC Chapel Hill sheds light on the often-overlooked food insecurity affecting college students.Sarah ManessView
October 9, 2025Chatbots are harming our children. What can be done?Richmond Times DispatchAtiksh Bhan examines how AI chatbots are negatively impacting young people and proposes solutions to address the issue.Atiksh BhanView
October 17, 2025California fails to protect families from AI exploitationWashington ExaminerSparkle Rainey argues that California's regulatory approach leaves families vulnerable to AI chatbot manipulation.Sparkle RaineyView
November 4, 2025How housing policy is failing NC's young peopleCarolina JournalMick Tobin and Iha Pemmaraju examine how current housing policies are leaving young North Carolinians behind and what can be done to fix it.Mick Tobin & Iha PemmarajuView
November 17, 2025AI protections for minors will help us beat ChinaInstitute for Family StudiesSam Hiner argues that protecting young Americans from harmful AI is both a moral imperative and strategic necessity.Sam HinerView

Podcasts (10)

DateTitleOutletDescriptionLink
September 1, 2025Sam on Efforts to Protect Young People from Evolving TechnologyNC NewslineSam Hiner discusses YPA's work protecting young people from harmful technology and AI.View
September 10, 2025From Algorithms to AI Chat Bots: A Youth's PerspectiveInternet Safety with Donna Rice HughesAva Smithing examines how social media algorithms expose kids and teens to harmful content and discusses AI chatbot dangers.View
October 2, 2025The Fight to Save Kids from Social Media HarmsWONKAva Smithing, Advocacy Director of the Young People's Alliance, talks about the addictiveness of social media platforms, advice for parents, and the legal efforts underway to hold tech firms more accountable.View
June 10, 2025Young Voices on AI Risk: Jobs, Community & the Fight for Our FutureFor Humanity PodcastSam Hiner, Ava Smithing, and Emma Corbett discuss youth advocacy and protecting young people online.View
December 3, 2025Kids and Phones: A Call for Social Media RegulationsWUNC Due SouthAva Smithing joins WUNC's Due South to discuss kids, phones, and social media regulation.View
February 11, 2026Machines Like UsThe Globe and MailYPA featured on The Globe and Mail's Machines Like Us podcast exploring the intersection of AI, youth advocacy, and the fight to protect young people from harmful technology.View
March 17, 2026Sam Hiner on AI & Youth AdvocacyYouTubeYPA Executive Director Sam Hiner discusses how AI companion apps are affecting young people and what policymakers can do to protect them.View
April 6, 2026Sam Hiner on Holding Big Social Media Corporations AccountableNC NewslineSam Hiner discusses recent court rulings in California and New Mexico holding corporations liable for damages to children, as well as other challenges facing young people in the modern world.View
February 2026Gen Z Power and Building What Comes NextSustainable MediaAva Smithing joins Sustainable Media to discuss Gen Z political power, youth advocacy, and building the future of responsible technology.View
Fall 2025Left to Their Own DevicesToronto StarYPA featured on the Toronto Star's podcast exploring children's relationship with technology and digital devices.View
Total Press Items: 86