Blog June 18, 2026

Instagram gets hacked, the teacher-student divide, and what Connecticut’s new law means for schools

The Social Institute

Hackers are exploiting the A.I. tools students trust. Educators are figuring it out alongside their students. Lawmakers are turning A.I. literacy into a requirement. The schools that will get ahead aren’t waiting — they’re building the skills before they’re needed and helping students understand that navigating A.I. confidently is one of the most important things they can learn right now.

Press June 18, 2026

The Social Institute on A.I. Literacy for students, parents, and educators as Wake County schools continue to consider its A.I. policy

ABC 11

Wake County school officials in North Carolina continue to work on a draft policy that would govern A.I. usage across the district. While the policy would be set up to support students, the district is also considering how to incorporate support for teachers and families, too. Laura Tierney, founder and CEO of The Social Institute, weighs in on what A.I. Literacy that supports the entire community looks like. Watch now on acb11.com >>

Webinar

From policy to practice: How to meet emerging A.I. & media literacy standards without overwhelming your educators

Presented By

The Social Institute

July 23, 2026 | 4 - 4:45 p.m. ET

Join former educators and implementation specialists from The Social Institute to learn how schools are teaching A.I. literacy without requiring students to input data into A.I. tools. You’ll leave with ready-to-use classroom activities, strategies for leading conversations about data and integrity, and a clear path for implementation.

Blog June 12, 2026

A device-free day, how social media companies target students during class, and an important reminder about student safety online

The Social Institute

A North Carolina district’s tech-free days showed that restrictions alone won’t build healthy tech habits, while internal documents revealed social media platforms intentionally targeted students during the school day. A recent exploitation case in Utah is an important reminder of why privacy skills and trusted adults matter more than ever. The through-line across all three stories: students don’t need more rules, they need real skills to navigate technology in positive ways.