Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute

Amanda Lenhart is the Head of Research at Common Sense Media. She has spent her career studying how technology affects human lives, with a special focus on families and children. Most recently, her work has focused on youth, mental health and digital platforms, as well as the role of generative AI in the lives of American families. Prior to joining Common Sense, as the program director for Health and Data at Data & Society Research Institute, Amanda investigated how social media platforms' design for the digital well-being of youth. She began her career at the Pew Research Center, pioneering the Center’s work studying how teens and families use social and mobile technologies.

Amanda specializes in translating rigorous research for a broad national audience. Dedicated to public communication, she has testified before congressional subcommittees and the Federal Trade Commission. Amanda’s work has been featured in numerous national publications and broadcasts, including the New York Times, PBS Newshour and NPR’s All Things Considered. Amanda serves on the advisory board to the Technology and Adolescent Mental Wellness initiative at the University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics and on the Technical Advisory Panel to the American Academy of Pediatrics Center on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. She also advised the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on the development of a new youth-focused exhibit on mobile phones.