Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr

Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr is an Associate Professor and Programme Director of Digital Humanities at the Department of Information Studies at University College London and a leading expert on the cultural impacts of social media. With research focusing on the cultural and psychological impacts of social media on children and youth, Regehr is a key voice in international media and policy circles.

In 2024, the New York Times bestseller, The Anxious Generation, by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt kicked off an international discussion and debate about the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and AI. With her book Smartphone Nation: Why We’re All Addicted to Our Screens and What You and Your Family Can Do About It, Regehr has written a refreshingly candid guide aimed at helping individuals and families gain control over their smartphone usage. The book is filled with exercises and science-backed strategies to help readers become healthy and informed digital citizens. Regehr proposes a new, food pyramid-like framework for understanding and improving our digital consumption. Some tech, like nutrient-dense food, is good for us; it is vital in our lives. But so much of what we consume via algorithms is like candy that rots our teeth: it’s disastrous for our wellbeing. Regehr’s groundbreaking research reveals how we can reclaim control and maintain a healthy digital diet for you and your family.

Regehr is a dynamic keynote speaker known for her research-led, solution-based, and empowering insights. She enjoys speaking to educators and policymakers about ways to seed healthy algorithmic literacy from the early years. Drawing from her research that has shaped UK online safety legislation, she also speaks on digital citizenship, online extremism, and image-based harassment with authority and clarity. Blending cutting edge information with practical tools, Regehr’s talks inspire audiences to think critically about technology’s role in society while offering practical pathways for positive change.

Her work has directly influenced UK legislation on online child safety, including contributions to the Online Safety Act and new cyberflashing laws aimed at protecting young people from image-based harassment. Regehr has provided expert consultation to the House of Lords, Members of Parliament, the Metropolitan Police, and the Scottish Government, addressing the digital echo-chamber effect and the radicalization of young people through online extremism. She also advises Education Scotland and schools across England on digital citizenship education.

Recently, Regehr served as Principal Investigator on the “Safer Scrolling Report” in partnership with the Association of School and College Leaders. This report highlights how social media algorithms amplify and push harmful content toward young users. It received extensive media coverage, including the front page of The Guardian, and sparked high-profile parent-led movements like Smartphone Free Childhood. In response, the Shadow Education Minister has pledged to integrate several of the report’s recommendations into the national curriculum.

Committed to building data-empowered societies, Regehr is passionate about making academic research accessible through broadcasting and new technologies. She has produced and contributed to documentaries for BBC News, BBC Women’s Hour, Channel 4, and The Economist as a topic specialist.

Regehr earned her doctorate from King’s College London. Originally from Toronto, she is now based in London.

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