Kevin Bushweller

It turns out that the answer to that question — from educators' perspective — might put the impact of tech on students' well-being somewhat at odds with how it affects their academic performance. In an exclusive survey by the EdWeek Research Center, more than half of teachers, principals, and district leaders said the use of technology in school had a negative impact on students' social-emotional skills development and overall well-being and mental health.

Is technology use in school good or bad for students? It turns out that the answer to that question from educators’ perspective might put the impact of tech on students’ well-being somewhat at odds with how it affects their academic performance.

AI-powered products are becoming increasingly powerful. Existing education tools that incorporate AI are being developed with the intention of helping kids build better social skills and support their mental health. But mental health experts have raised alarms over adolescents’ abilities to tell the difference between the simulated empathy of an AI-driven chatbot and genuine human understanding.