Meryl Alper
@merylalper.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Communication Studies @ Northeastern. Technology, kids, disability, mental health. BOOKS: Digital Youth with Disabilities (MIT 2014) Giving Voice (MIT 2017), Kids Across the Spectrums (MIT 2023) https://bit.ly/kidsacrossthespectrums
Reposted by Meryl Alper
📣 RECRUITMENT FOR NEW STUDY! Are you a parent of a child ages 9-17 with a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, living in the U.S.? And do you also have a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, or strongly believe that you would qualify for one? (🧵 1/3)
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
📣 RECRUITMENT FOR NEW STUDY! Are you a parent of a child ages 9-17 with a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, living in the U.S.? And do you also have a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, or strongly believe that you would qualify for one? (🧵 1/3)
📣 RECRUITMENT FOR NEW STUDY! Are you a parent of a child ages 9-17 with a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, living in the U.S.? And do you also have a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, or strongly believe that you would qualify for one? (🧵 1/3)
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
📣 RECRUITMENT FOR NEW STUDY! Are you a parent of a child ages 9-17 with a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, living in the U.S.? And do you also have a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, or strongly believe that you would qualify for one? (🧵 1/3)
Reposted by Meryl Alper
+/ For all the talk about peace, these algorithms are not promoting peace or mutual understand or a position of constructive dialogue - they’re promoting THEM VS US, which is an absolute disaster for peace activists
Makes me realise how much true peace builders have the odds stacked against them
Makes me realise how much true peace builders have the odds stacked against them
October 16, 2025 at 1:56 PM
+/ For all the talk about peace, these algorithms are not promoting peace or mutual understand or a position of constructive dialogue - they’re promoting THEM VS US, which is an absolute disaster for peace activists
Makes me realise how much true peace builders have the odds stacked against them
Makes me realise how much true peace builders have the odds stacked against them
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Meryl Alper
I wonder if this person knows their mean email started a chain reaction that led to me writing a book
This is not an email exchange I ever expected to have. (I'm the second one.)
October 9, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I wonder if this person knows their mean email started a chain reaction that led to me writing a book
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Trump and RFK Jr. have scared the families of #ActuallyAutistic children so much that they are afraid of getting their children diagnosed. But that carries tons of risk and preventing autistic kids getting the services they need.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
I was diagnosed with autism before RFK Jr.’s claims ... and I’m grateful for that
The Independent’s Capitol Hill reporter Eric Garcia talks to families who fear getting their children screened for autism because of Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s fear-mongering
www.independent.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Trump and RFK Jr. have scared the families of #ActuallyAutistic children so much that they are afraid of getting their children diagnosed. But that carries tons of risk and preventing autistic kids getting the services they need.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Meryl Alper
It's wild for disability to be such a mainstream topic in the news just week. I just hate that it's because of dehumanizing of autistic people.
September 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
It's wild for disability to be such a mainstream topic in the news just week. I just hate that it's because of dehumanizing of autistic people.
Reposted by Meryl Alper
“It’s really important not to over-romanticize interest-driven learning, because now, with those interests – anything you have an interest in algorithmically – there’s a profit-driven goal in cultivating them." - @merylalper.bsky.social
✨ New CLA Blog:
✨ New CLA Blog:
CLS2025 Keynote Speaker Meryl Alper On Why We Need Connected Learning Now More Than Ever - Connected Learning Alliance
“The value of CLS is that its foundation is so strong that a community can build itself upon it…The principles of connected learning, and all the research that’s gone into it, it’s so rock solid that…
connectedlearning.news
September 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
“It’s really important not to over-romanticize interest-driven learning, because now, with those interests – anything you have an interest in algorithmically – there’s a profit-driven goal in cultivating them." - @merylalper.bsky.social
✨ New CLA Blog:
✨ New CLA Blog:
Especially when Apple has dodged responsibility for serving as “durable medical equipment” in the US (and for US insurance companies.)
Watching the promotional material for Apple's new AirPods, it's notable just how much #accessibility is being positioned as the terrain big tech wants to colonise, and in the long-run, personalise, locking users into their ecosystem.
September 11, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Especially when Apple has dodged responsibility for serving as “durable medical equipment” in the US (and for US insurance companies.)
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Rosa Roisinblit, Who Championed the Missing in Argentina, Dies at 106.
She helped create the activist group Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, which sought to find relatives who had been killed or “disappeared” by the 1976-83 military dictatorship.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/o...
She helped create the activist group Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, which sought to find relatives who had been killed or “disappeared” by the 1976-83 military dictatorship.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/o...
Rosa Roisinblit, Who Championed the Missing in Argentina, Dies at 106
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Rosa Roisinblit, Who Championed the Missing in Argentina, Dies at 106.
She helped create the activist group Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, which sought to find relatives who had been killed or “disappeared” by the 1976-83 military dictatorship.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/o...
She helped create the activist group Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, which sought to find relatives who had been killed or “disappeared” by the 1976-83 military dictatorship.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/o...
Reposted by Meryl Alper
✨ We need #ConnectedLearning now more than ever. ✨
New CLA Blog features our #ConnectedLearning2025 Keynote Speaker @merylalper.bsky.social, Professor at Northeastern University and author of Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing up Autistic in a Digital Age.
connectedlearning.news/cla090925
New CLA Blog features our #ConnectedLearning2025 Keynote Speaker @merylalper.bsky.social, Professor at Northeastern University and author of Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing up Autistic in a Digital Age.
connectedlearning.news/cla090925
CLS2025 Keynote Speaker Meryl Alper On Why We Need Connected Learning Now More Than Ever - Connected Learning Alliance
“The value of CLS is that its foundation is so strong that a community can build itself upon it…The principles of connected learning, and all the research that’s gone into it, it’s so rock solid that ...
connectedlearning.news
September 10, 2025 at 6:38 PM
✨ We need #ConnectedLearning now more than ever. ✨
New CLA Blog features our #ConnectedLearning2025 Keynote Speaker @merylalper.bsky.social, Professor at Northeastern University and author of Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing up Autistic in a Digital Age.
connectedlearning.news/cla090925
New CLA Blog features our #ConnectedLearning2025 Keynote Speaker @merylalper.bsky.social, Professor at Northeastern University and author of Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing up Autistic in a Digital Age.
connectedlearning.news/cla090925
Reposted by Meryl Alper
🎉 #ConnectedLearning2025 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 & 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱! 🎉
🎙 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
• Meryl Alper (MIT/Online) (@merylalper.bsky.social)
• Vanessa Angélica Villarreal (Stanford/Online) (@elnorterecuerda.bsky.social)
• Danaé Metaxa (UC Irvine/Online)
🎙 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
• Meryl Alper (MIT/Online) (@merylalper.bsky.social)
• Vanessa Angélica Villarreal (Stanford/Online) (@elnorterecuerda.bsky.social)
• Danaé Metaxa (UC Irvine/Online)
September 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
🎉 #ConnectedLearning2025 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 & 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱! 🎉
🎙 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
• Meryl Alper (MIT/Online) (@merylalper.bsky.social)
• Vanessa Angélica Villarreal (Stanford/Online) (@elnorterecuerda.bsky.social)
• Danaé Metaxa (UC Irvine/Online)
🎙 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
• Meryl Alper (MIT/Online) (@merylalper.bsky.social)
• Vanessa Angélica Villarreal (Stanford/Online) (@elnorterecuerda.bsky.social)
• Danaé Metaxa (UC Irvine/Online)
Reposted by Meryl Alper
A Common Sense Media study found that prominent teacher assistants that use AI generated recommendations that appeared to be rooted in racial stereotypes based on students’ names. About a third of teachers report using AI weekly, according to a recent survey.
Annie and Lakeesha struggle in school. AI teacher assistants treated them very differently.
A Common Sense Media study found that prominent teacher assistants that use AI generated recommendations that appeared to be rooted in racial stereotypes based on students’ names. About a third of teachers report using AI weekly, according to a recent survey.
bit.ly
August 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A Common Sense Media study found that prominent teacher assistants that use AI generated recommendations that appeared to be rooted in racial stereotypes based on students’ names. About a third of teachers report using AI weekly, according to a recent survey.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting existed for Viewers Like You. I am so proud of the work that I’ve done to support the youngest of those viewers, and still in disbelief over the dismantling of CPB when America’s children need it the most.
"WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 1, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations"
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...
August 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting existed for Viewers Like You. I am so proud of the work that I’ve done to support the youngest of those viewers, and still in disbelief over the dismantling of CPB when America’s children need it the most.
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Roblox is becoming more like Discord and leveraging the kind of "age recognition" technology that's likely to be all over the internet soon. The latest details on the new safety features that Roblox is pitching: www.crossplay.news/p/new-roblox...
Everything to Know About Roblox's New Safety Features (Especially If You Have a Teen!)
Roblox is becoming more like Discord and leveraging the kind of "age recognition" technology that's likely to be all over the internet soon.
www.crossplay.news
July 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Roblox is becoming more like Discord and leveraging the kind of "age recognition" technology that's likely to be all over the internet soon. The latest details on the new safety features that Roblox is pitching: www.crossplay.news/p/new-roblox...
📣 NEW ARTICLE ALERT 📣: Proud to share our open access article in New Media & Society, titled “‘Actually an ED and not just a quirky aspect of autism’: TikTok as a forum and mediator of autistic food issues and eating disorders.”
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
June 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
📣 NEW ARTICLE ALERT 📣: Proud to share our open access article in New Media & Society, titled “‘Actually an ED and not just a quirky aspect of autism’: TikTok as a forum and mediator of autistic food issues and eating disorders.”
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Researchers from Cornell, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute found children with highly addictive use of phones, video games or social media were two to three times as likely to have thoughts of suicide or to harm themselves. Read more below. #icsfeed
Real Risk to Youth Mental Health Is ‘Addictive Use,’ Not Screen Time Alone, Study Finds
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Researchers from Cornell, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute found children with highly addictive use of phones, video games or social media were two to three times as likely to have thoughts of suicide or to harm themselves. Read more below. #icsfeed
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Some parents are getting old-school phones for their kids—and discovering surprising benefits. Rheana Murray reports on the landline pod:
The Dumbest Phone Is Parenting Genius
Landlines encourage connection—without the downsides of smartphones.
bit.ly
June 18, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Some parents are getting old-school phones for their kids—and discovering surprising benefits. Rheana Murray reports on the landline pod:
Reposted by Meryl Alper
🎙️Screen Sense - new podcast with me and @shuhbillskee.bsky.social, is launching next week! Two psychologists (and dads) talking honestly about what it means to raise a family in a screen-filled world - with science, real stories and zero guilt. Launching 13th June. screensensepodcast.substack.com
June 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
🎙️Screen Sense - new podcast with me and @shuhbillskee.bsky.social, is launching next week! Two psychologists (and dads) talking honestly about what it means to raise a family in a screen-filled world - with science, real stories and zero guilt. Launching 13th June. screensensepodcast.substack.com
Reposted by Meryl Alper
Please share:
If you'll be at the International Communication Association conference in Denver next week, swing by the first annual ICA Neurodivergent Scholars Gathering on Saturday June 14, 6-7:30pm in Agate B+C Regency 3. We will have food, drink, rude but honest pens, and COMMUNICATION BADGES!
If you'll be at the International Communication Association conference in Denver next week, swing by the first annual ICA Neurodivergent Scholars Gathering on Saturday June 14, 6-7:30pm in Agate B+C Regency 3. We will have food, drink, rude but honest pens, and COMMUNICATION BADGES!
June 4, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Please share:
If you'll be at the International Communication Association conference in Denver next week, swing by the first annual ICA Neurodivergent Scholars Gathering on Saturday June 14, 6-7:30pm in Agate B+C Regency 3. We will have food, drink, rude but honest pens, and COMMUNICATION BADGES!
If you'll be at the International Communication Association conference in Denver next week, swing by the first annual ICA Neurodivergent Scholars Gathering on Saturday June 14, 6-7:30pm in Agate B+C Regency 3. We will have food, drink, rude but honest pens, and COMMUNICATION BADGES!
Reposted by Meryl Alper
ICYMI: Our two keynote speakers for the 2025 Connected Learning Summit: @merylalper.bsky.social and @metaxa.net! ✨👏🏼🎉
In-person attendees can catch the Opening Keynote on Monday, October 6 at MIT (Cambridge, MA) and the Closing keynote on Friday, October 10 at UC Irvine (Irvine, CA).
🧵[1/2]
In-person attendees can catch the Opening Keynote on Monday, October 6 at MIT (Cambridge, MA) and the Closing keynote on Friday, October 10 at UC Irvine (Irvine, CA).
🧵[1/2]
June 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
ICYMI: Our two keynote speakers for the 2025 Connected Learning Summit: @merylalper.bsky.social and @metaxa.net! ✨👏🏼🎉
In-person attendees can catch the Opening Keynote on Monday, October 6 at MIT (Cambridge, MA) and the Closing keynote on Friday, October 10 at UC Irvine (Irvine, CA).
🧵[1/2]
In-person attendees can catch the Opening Keynote on Monday, October 6 at MIT (Cambridge, MA) and the Closing keynote on Friday, October 10 at UC Irvine (Irvine, CA).
🧵[1/2]
Reposted by Meryl Alper
So POTUS can't bother to mention American Jews or antisemitism when responding to a vile act of antisemitic violence.
And he blames...Joe Biden?
What a pathetic statement of purported leadership.
And he blames...Joe Biden?
What a pathetic statement of purported leadership.
June 2, 2025 at 7:18 PM
So POTUS can't bother to mention American Jews or antisemitism when responding to a vile act of antisemitic violence.
And he blames...Joe Biden?
What a pathetic statement of purported leadership.
And he blames...Joe Biden?
What a pathetic statement of purported leadership.
Reposted by Meryl Alper
NEWS 📣: I'm excited to take part in this year's multi-sited Connected Learning Summit as Opening Keynote Speaker at MIT, alongside Danaé Metaxa @metaxa.net (University of Pennsylvania) as Closing Keynote Speaker at UC Irvine! connectedlearningsummit.org
May 28, 2025 at 8:05 PM
NEWS 📣: I'm excited to take part in this year's multi-sited Connected Learning Summit as Opening Keynote Speaker at MIT, alongside Danaé Metaxa @metaxa.net (University of Pennsylvania) as Closing Keynote Speaker at UC Irvine! connectedlearningsummit.org
NEWS 📣: I'm excited to take part in this year's multi-sited Connected Learning Summit as Opening Keynote Speaker at MIT, alongside Danaé Metaxa @metaxa.net (University of Pennsylvania) as Closing Keynote Speaker at UC Irvine! connectedlearningsummit.org
May 28, 2025 at 8:05 PM
NEWS 📣: I'm excited to take part in this year's multi-sited Connected Learning Summit as Opening Keynote Speaker at MIT, alongside Danaé Metaxa @metaxa.net (University of Pennsylvania) as Closing Keynote Speaker at UC Irvine! connectedlearningsummit.org