Third Annual Common Sense Summit on Kids and Families Brings Together Leaders, Families, Educators, Child Advocates
SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2026—Common Sense Media has concluded its third annual Common Sense Summit on Kids and Families, bringing together over 700 policymakers, tech industry leaders, medical and mental health professionals, educators, parents, kids, and other advocates who will shape how the next generation lives, learns, and thrives.
During a time of widespread political division and uncertainty about the future, the two-day Summit was a powerful display of unity among Americans devoted to investing in the next generation. Common Sense Media recently released its annual State of Kids and Families in America poll, which found that parents and kids across the political spectrum share deep concerns about mental health, economic stability, and technology.
"Nobody knows the answer to how we are going to prepare today's kids for an increasingly AI- and tech-filled world," said Marlon Morgan, a licensed school counselor and father of two who attended the Summit. "I think the way that we're going to get through—there's one thing we know in psychology, and we know it beyond anything else. We know what helps: It is meaningful, deep, purpose-giving relationships with each other, supporting each other, and making sure that we are human before we're anything else. It's my third year [at the Summit], and I love Common Sense Media. I love everything everyone's doing."
Speakers at the third annual Common Sense Summit on Kids and Families included:
- Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California
- Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Chief Impact Officer, ACE Resource Network
- Dr. Lisa Damour, President, Untangled Media Group
- Baroness Beeban Kidron, Crossbench Peer, House of Lords, UK Parliament
- Dr. Scott Kollins, Chief Medical Officer, Aura
- Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita of the House of Representatives
- Dr. Aliza Pressman, Developmental Psychologist, Raising Good Humans
- JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
- Bill Ready, CEO, Pinterest
- Raúl Torrez, Attorney General of New Mexico
- Other leading experts in the fields of education, mental health, technology, and more
"I believe in America, and I believe in the fundamental goodness of this country, even though it has been shaken deeply in the last decade," said Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer. "Ultimately, every time I'm around folks like the people in the audience, I just feel this great sense of optimism. I'm not a 'glass half full' person; I'm a 'glass nine-tenths full' person. I believe that we will triumph and that we will come out of the mess we have created for ourselves bigger and stronger than ever, but only if we put kids first."
Parents, caregivers, and educators: The Summit may be over, but the work continues, and it starts with you. Visit commonsense.org to access free tools and research, our Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum, and join a growing global community raising the next generation with intention in the AI era. Tell your elected officials that kids come first—use our one-click advocacy tools to contact your representatives and demand stronger protections for children's health, safety, and privacy.
The Summit was sponsored by title sponsor Pinterest, Digital Parenthood track co-producer Aura Parents, and partner sponsors the Bezos Family Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Learning.com.
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.