Kaitlyn Regehr

Dr Kaitlyn Regehr is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Programme Director of Digital Humanities in the Department of Information Studies. Her research is focused on the cultural impacts of social media, particularly on children and youth.

Her work has informed legislation on children’s safety online, most recently feeding into the Online Safety Act and the new Cyberflashing legislation, which advocates for the safeguarding of young people against image based harassment online. She has provided consultation in the House of Lords, and Members of Parliament, the Metropolitan Police, Scottish Government, Prevent on the digital echo-chamber effect and the indoctrination of young people into online extremism. She also consults for Education Scotland and Schools across England on digital citizenship education.

Recently, she lead as PI on the “Safer Scrolling Report” in partnership with Association of School and College Leaders, which highlights how the affordances of social media platforms, actively amplify and direct harmful content to young people. The report generated much media attention, featuring in over 300 including the front page of the Guardian, and fuelled high-profile parents movements (including Smartphone Free Childhood). In response, the Shadow Education Minister, has pledged to implement some of the report’s recommendations across the national curriculum.