University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Brains, Bots, and Boundaries: Youth Mental Health in a Digital World Webinar Series

Close-up of a young person looking down at a smartphone in dim lighting, representing youth technology use and digital media engagement.

Brains, Bots, and Boundaries: Youth Mental Health in a Digital World is a free four-part webinar series that examines how social media, artificial intelligence, and digital environments influence the mental health and development of adolescents and young adults.

Featuring clinicians and subject matter experts, the series explores current research, clinical observations, and practical strategies to help caregivers, educators, and providers support healthy digital engagement and developmentally appropriate boundaries.

Supported by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services through the School-Based Mental Health Training Grant.

Four teenagers sit together on a couch in a living room, each focused on a smartphone, highlighting themes of digital connection and social isolation.

Youth Mental Health at the Crossroads: Technology, Connection, and Vulnerability

Explore how digital connection, technology and online environments influence youth development, vulnerability and emotional well-being.

View the webinar.

Young person using a laptop with digital AI graphics and chat icons surrounding the screen, representing artificial intelligence and online communication.

Teens and ChatGPT: Low-Key Helpful or Major Red Flag?

Examine how adolescents are using AI tools and the opportunities, concerns and clinical implications of AI engagement.

View the webinar.

Teen seated at a desk using a smartphone beside a laptop under colorful lighting, illustrating social media use and digital engagement among youth.

TikTok and Self-Diagnosis: The Influence of Social Media on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health

The Influence of Social Media on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health – Looks at social media’s influence on mental health awareness, misinformation, and self-diagnosis.

View the webinar.

Teen illuminated by the glow of a smartphone in a dark room, emphasizing prolonged screen use and late-night digital engagement.

Teens and Screens: The Unabating Scourge of Social Media.

Reviews research on social media, brain development, and strategies for healthy digital engagement.

View the webinar.

Continuing Education

This accredited continuing education activity is designed for behavioral health professionals, including nurses, social workers, clinical mental health therapists, school counselors, and psychologists.
  • Describe how digital technologies—including social media platforms and artificial intelligence tools—impact adolescent and young adult mental health, identity development, and help-seeking behaviors.
  • Evaluate the potential risks and benefits of technology use for adolescent and young adult populations, including issues related to social connection, misinformation, self-diagnosis, and vulnerability.
  • Identify evidence‑informed and developmentally appropriate strategies that promote healthy technology use in home, school, and clinical settings.
  • Apply selected strategies to address digital‑related mental health challenges across home, school, and clinical environments.
  • Integrate insights from research and clinical practice to foster balanced boundaries, promote resilience, and enhance youth mental health in an increasingly digital world.

Jointly Accredited Provider logo representing continuing education accreditation through collaborative healthcare education accrediting organizations.In support of improving patient care, University of Nebraska Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this activity for up to 4.0 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit for the actual time spent participating in the activity.

American Psychological Association logo indicating continuing education approval.Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. This activity has been approved for up to 4.0 credit hours of continuing education credit.

Association for Continuing Education logo indicating continuing education accreditation or approval.As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Nebraska Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive up to 4.0 general continuing education credits. The content level of this activity is basic.

IPCE credit logo indicating interprofessional continuing education credit.This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive up to 4.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.