Benchmark Blog

A group of kids looking at a phone together

Clicks and Codes: Social Media Awareness Legislation in the States

A comprehensive overview of state legislative social media education bills. Includes comparison, analysis, and understanding of the different state approaches.

Plea Bargaining Reforms to Protect Innocent People

Due to our country’s flawed justice system, Damian Mills was convicted and served nearly 15 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Contact Interventions are Effective at Reducing Prejudice

Meta-analysis explores intergroup contact's impact on prejudice. Uncover inclusivity's societal potential.

AI’s Role in the Fight Against Wildfires

AI’s application to the realm of wildfires is diverse, and it is quickly becoming an asset in every stage of wildfire response.

Establishing secure uranium supply chains for a future of abundant energy

If the US hopes to catch the nuclear tide, it is critical that all aspects of the supply chain are ready, starting with uranium.

Administrative Law Symposium

Expanding regulations have led to linked due process issues. Explore how this affects courts' dispute resolution role.

Why Utah farmers use so much water, and how we can get them to use less

Utah’s water crisis has been exacerbated by climate change. But much of the water shortage can be attributed to the misallocation of water.

Why our efforts to leave Earth may just help save it

Efficiencies developed in space resource utilization can directly inform and enhance resource management practices on Earth.

Passing the buck on conservation funding

Once seen as a symbol of American life, hunters and anglers have since become controversial. But state wildlife officials are for it.

Perspectives on Jonathan Haidt’s Social Media Research

Researchers do not have a clear picture of the relationship between social media and rising rates of mental illness in adolescents.

A women looking at a phone next to her child

Key Resources for Parents

Parents are crucial to guiding children's tech interactions. Numerous organizations support informed and responsible parental choices.

6 Ways to Keep Teens Safe Online

Regardless of any future policies, parents, caregivers, and local communities will remain at the frontlines of helping teens stay safe online.

5 Things Parents and Lawmakers Need To Know About Regulating and Banning Social Media

While lawmakers and child advocacy groups are admirable in their intention to protect children via social media regulations, bans and other strong regulations will merely kick the issue down the road.

5 Things Parents and Lawmakers Need To Know About Social Media

In this tech-centric era, safeguarding children is a common concern. Technology, especially social media, sparks worries about its influence.

Social Media and Minors

This legislative session has seen a proliferation of bills related to minors and social media. See our research diving into the concerns.

Cameras, Crowdsourcing, Computers, and CRISPR for Conservation

As technology continue to develop, so does the potential to help endangered species. We need to explore ways to implement them.

Are Utah’s social media bills the path forward?

Utah is making waves with a pair of bills to protect kids from social media. But there is much more in the bills than what is in the press.

Fighting Fires from Outer Space

With the support of policymakers, integrating better satellite detection and imagery for wildfire detection can be the future of firefighting.

Poll: Americans Don’t Want To Share Their Photo ID To Tweet

70% of Americans are uncomfortable sharing their child's government identification documents with social media companies to verify age.

Immigrants are huge economic contributors

In the face of a potential national recession, local policymakers have a powerful tool: welcoming immigration policies.

Immigration Game

No one is happy with the US immigration system. Test what you know about historical immigration by drawing lines for immigration trends.

Takedown Game

Are you smarter than a content moderator? Do you have what it takes to moderate social media content? Play our game to find out!

Congress should legalize supersonic flight

Let's Make America Boom Again! Why supersonic flight is banned and how Congress can step in to get the supersonic industry moving again.

Content Moderation

Content moderation is the practice of reviewing and removing inappropriate or illegal content posted by a user online.

Making Ex-Convicts More Employable

Policymakers should expand the efficient Federal Bond Program to reduce poverty and recidivism among ex-convicts while boosting the economy.

A few things to know about JCPA

The Senate is considering a bill to help journalism survive by forcing the largest tech platforms like Meta and Google into payment deals.

What can state and local leaders do for immigrants and their communities right now?

As the US works to promote post-pandemic recovery, we must include the immigrants who join our communities and contribute to our economy.

Elite private universities should spend more of their endowments on research

The US government gives universities tens of billions of dollars per year for research. There are problems with how we allocate these funds.

What is the cost of privacy legislation?

What costs are imposed by privacy legislation? This page is a compilation of all known estimates from researchers and government agencies.

Section 230 Symposium

Section 230 is at the core of the internet. It is also at the core of policy debates across all branches and levels of government.