ICSI is proud to announce that Principal Research Scientist Pamela Wisniewski has been honored with the USEC Test of Time Award for her widely cited paper, “Parental Control vs. Teen Self-Regulation: Is There a Middle Ground for Mobile Online Safety?”, originally published at CSCW 2017.

The Test of Time Award recognizes research that has demonstrated enduring impact on its field. Nearly a decade after its publication, Dr. Wisniewski’s work continues to shape how researchers, designers, and policy makers approach youth online safety.

In the paper, Dr. Wisniewski and her co-authors conducted a comprehensive analysis of 75 Android mobile applications designed to support adolescent online safety. Their findings revealed a striking imbalance: 89% of app features emphasized parental control—such as monitoring and restriction—while only 11% supported teen self-regulation, including skills like impulse control, self-monitoring, and risk management.

To address this gap, the team introduced the Teen Online Safety Strategies (TOSS) framework, which reframes online safety as a balance between parental guidance and adolescent autonomy. The framework has since become a foundational reference point for research and design efforts seeking more collaborative, developmentally appropriate approaches to digital safety.

Dr. Wisniewski will revisit these ideas in her upcoming keynote at USEC 2026, where she will reflect on the evolution of the field and advocate for a shift toward Safety by Design and socio-ecological models. These approaches emphasize shared responsibility across platforms, families, and communities, moving beyond fear-based interventions toward more holistic and sustainable solutions.

At ICSI, Dr. Wisniewski leads cutting-edge research at the intersection of human-computer interaction, privacy, and youth development. She is also the founder and director of the Socio-Technical Interaction Research (STIR) Lab and Teenovate, where she works to co-design technologies that better support young people’s online experiences.

This recognition underscores ICSI’s broader commitment to advancing research that not only pushes technical boundaries but also delivers meaningful societal impact.

Read the award-winning paper: Parental Control vs. Teen Self-Regulation: Is There a Middle Ground for Mobile Online Safety?