Social Media Platform Design, Algorithmic Systems, and Digital Harm: A Virtual Judicial Training for Judges and Law Clerks
Prepare for the social media algorithm issues already reaching courts
Courts are increasingly asked to evaluate claims involving harms happening to social media users – especially young people. This training explains social media platform design, algorithmic recommendation systems, and alleged harms they are causing to children. It provides a practical, legal framework for judicial evaluation, including core concepts in evidence and causation of harm, and how legal theories of products liability and speech protection may apply.
What the Training Covers
• How engagement-based algorithms work in social media feeds—and how platform design features shape user behavior (e.g., infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications)
• Predictable patterns of alleged harm (exposure, escalation, and engagement-related harms)
• Evidence and causation: correlation vs. causation and limits of available research and platform data
• Legal doctrines courts are applying, including First Amendment considerations and Section 230
• Judicial tools and guardrails (expert testimony, amicus briefs, independent risk audits, and more)
Who Should Attend
The training was expressly designed for federal and state court judges and law clerks, but everyone is welcome to attend.
Format
Expert presentations, brief anonymous polls, guided discussion, and live Q&A with the virtual audience; session recorded with an edited version shared excluding discussions, chat, and audience attendee names.
Agenda at a Glance
- 12:00–1:20 PM ET — Expert presentations, anonymous polls, and guided discussion
- 1:20–1:30 PM ET — Break
- 1:30–3:00 PM ET — Expert presentations, anonymous polls, guided discussion, wrap-up, and live Q&A
Support
This training is free to attend thanks to support from the American Association for Justice Robert L. Habush Endowment and the Becca Schmill Foundation.
Speaker Information
- Nancy Costello, JD – Clinical Professor of Law; Director, First Amendment Law Clinic, Michigan State University College of Law; Director, McLellan Free Speech Online Library.
- S. Bryn Austin, ScD – Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; S. Jean Emans, MD, Endowed Chair in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital; Research Scientist in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Jacob Appel, MPA – Chief Strategist, ORCAA Collaborative Expert Assistance Network
- Jill R. Kavanaugh, MLIS – Program Manager, Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders; Boston Children’s Hospital
- Kylee Nemetz, JD – Litigation Attorney
Harvard Alumni Launch Lab X Info Session
Learn about Launch Lab X, the Harvard Innovation Labs’ virtual alumni accelerator. Apply by May 12 to join the 2026–27 cohort.
Calling all Harvard alumni founders! Join Harvard’s global community of alumni entrepreneurs and innovators.
Launch Lab X is the Harvard Innovation Labs’ flagship global accelerator for alumni founders across all 13 Harvard schools, from any graduation year. Launch Lab X supports early-stage, for-profit and nonprofit ventures founded and led by Harvard alumni. Eligible ventures are typically pre-seed to seed stage and may operate in any sector and geography.
INCLUSIVE FOUNDER COMMUNITY
The Launch Lab X program is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive community of founders building ventures around the world. If you want to learn what it takes to create viable, disruptive, and adaptable ventures—and bring them to scale—apply to join our 2026–27 cohort. We can’t wait to hear about your venture!
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Applications for the 2026-27 cohort open on April 7. All applications are due by May 12, 2026, for consideration. Learn more and apply.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
The Harvard Innovation Labs welcomes attendees of all abilities to our events, both in person and online.
Requests for American Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the University will make every effort to secure services, but that services are subject to availability.
If you would like to request accommodations, please contact i-lab@harvard.edu in advance of the event.
Organizers
Graduation Q&A Session #3
Graduating soon? Have questions about regalia, tickets, ceremonies, or celebrations? Join us where we’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare for the big day!
Whether you’re unsure about ordering your cap and gown, need clarification on event logistics, or just want to ensure a smooth graduation experience, we’re here to help!
Email convocation@hsph.harvard.edu with any questions!
Visit our website at hsph.harvard.edu/graduation
Organizers
Graduation Q&A Session #2
Graduating soon? Have questions about regalia, tickets, ceremonies, or celebrations? Join us where we’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare for the big day!
Whether you’re unsure about ordering your cap and gown, need clarification on event logistics, or just want to ensure a smooth graduation experience, we’re here to help!
Email convocation@hsph.harvard.edu with any questions!
Visit our website at hsph.harvard.edu/graduation
Organizers
Graduation Q&A Session #1
Graduating soon? Have questions about regalia, tickets, ceremonies, or celebrations? Join us where we’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare for the big day!
Whether you’re unsure about ordering your cap and gown, need clarification on event logistics, or just want to ensure a smooth graduation experience, we’re here to help!
Email convocation@hsph.harvard.edu with any questions!
Visit our website at hsph.harvard.edu/graduation
Organizers
Come as you are: Community Circle
For Immigrant & International Students, Staff, Faculty, and Allies. You are invited to a relaxed and welcoming lunch gathering for immigrant and international members of our community. This gathering is an opportunity to connect, share a meal, and be celebrated – just as you are. Hosted by Partnerships for Community Mental Health and Immigrant Well-Being at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with the Chan Students’ Immigrant Health Forum.
Organizers
Commencement Ticket Pick-Up
Pick up your tickets for Harvard University Commencement on May 6-8th in Kresge G4 from 10am-4pm. Your tickets for Harvard Chan Convocation can be accessed via after completing your graduation form.
Pick up your class item on May 6-8th in Kresge G4 from 10am-4pm.
More information on Convocation
Organizers
Spring Freecycle
Don’t miss our spring Freecycle! Back by popular demand and in celebration of Earth Month, this event helps build community as well as save items that might otherwise end up in the trash. Last fall, over 300 people attended and swapped hundreds of items including: clothes, socks, shoes, and accessories; books and magazines; notebooks, paper tablets, clipboards, post-its, pens, pencils, and markers; white boards and dry erase supplies; staplers, tape, and clips; labels and envelopes; vases, mugs, dishes, and utensils; monitor stands and computer peripherals; and more!
Do some spring cleaning and bring your surplus items to the swap. (Please note, it is not necessary to bring anything to be able to shop!) Harvard ID required for building entry.
If you’re not able to make it to the Freecycle but would like to drop off donations, please bring them to the Reuse Room on a Wednesday between 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. See info on the room below for directions.
Organizers
Strength in Community: Navigating Careers with Harvard Alumni
This event is designed to bring students and alumni together in conversation about career paths, job searching, and the value of professional community—particularly in today’s evolving job market. We hope to create a space where students can hear candid reflections from alumni about how they have navigated their careers, learn practical strategies for approaching the job search, and gain perspective on how the Harvard network can serve as a source of support and opportunity.
Organizers
Specific Aims Review Session
For Center members, their collaborators, affiliates, and trainees
Are you preparing for an upcoming environmental health-related submission? Have your Specific Aims page reviewed by our senior NIEHS Center faculty! In a friendly, constructive, small-group open session, a panel of Center members will offer critique and suggestions to improve your Specific Aims or goals.
Proposals are welcomed that relate to the gamut of Environmental Health research (exposure assessment, community engagement and education, epidemiology, genetics and genomics, molecular biology, etc.). All funding opportunities are welcome – from NIH to foundations to private industry! For non-USG grants, please share as much information as possible about the funding opportunity and grant requirements. Email the link to the funding opportunity to niehsctr@hsph.harvard.edu.
Please submit your draft Aims by the Friday deadline so that we can ensure reviewers include faculty with relevant areas of expertise. Open to investigators at all levels.
If you would like your document reviewed, please send an email to niehsctr@hsph.harvard.edu by 5pm on the Friday before the session (June 5) with the following information:
- Name (first and last)
- Affiliation
- Sponsor/mentor
- Funder and type of grant/award you are applying for (with link to the funding opportunity)
- New submission or resubmission
- Anticipated submission date
- Title of your project
- Attach your Specific Aims or goals document and, if a resubmission, your introduction page (MS Word is preferred)