JED Issues 2026 Alert on Technology, Policy, and Economic Trends

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The Jed Foundation (JED) [http://jedfoundation.org/], a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults, issued a national call for stronger protections for youth mental health amid accelerating technologies, eroding social connections, and shrinking public support networks.

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Young people deserve strong and stable support systems. JED underscores the need for safer digital systems and robust public resources.

Impact of Digital Systems on Youth Mental Health

“Young people are growing up in systems that are fragmenting, automating, and, in some cases, withdrawing human care,” says John MacPhee, JED CEO. “The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media in everyday life is reshaping emotional development, and we should act quickly to ensure youth well-being is prioritized.”

The speed and scale of AI outpace the development of safety standards [https://jedfoundation.org/open-letter-to-the-ai-and-technology-industry/] and clear accountability to protect youth. As AI-driven platforms replace personal interactions, isolation and anxiety have increased among youth.

“Evidence suggests AI is already contributing to suicidal ideation and planning [https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/us/openai-chatgpt-suicide-lawsuit-invs-vis], underscoring the need for policymakers to require safety-by-design defaults and establish explicit boundaries around what AI can and can’t do,” MacPhee adds.

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Progress will depend on treating AI as a powerful system that influences youth development and demands the same level of clinical rigor, transparency, and responsibility as any other mental…

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