Aura Unites with Boston Children’s Hospital to Address the Role of Technology in the Crisis of Wellbeing Among American Children
BOSTON, February 26, 2025 – Aura, the leading AI-powered online safety solution for individuals and families, today announced a collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital to better understand and address the impact of technology on children’s mental health. In addition to making a donation to support the ongoing work of Boston Children’s and its Digital Wellness Lab, Aura CEO, Hari Ravichandran will join the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust Board and Aura will sign the Inspired Internet Pledge to help create a healthier and safer digital ecosystem for young people.
Over the past decade, adolescent rates of anxiety, depression and disordered eating have surged, with children experiencing these issues at younger ages than ever before[1].Simultaneously, technology use has skyrocketed—tweens now spend over five hours a day on screens, while teens average more than seven[2].This increased screen time often exposes youth to harmful content and fuels unhealthy comparisons, and can contribute to declining mental health.
“At Aura, we believe that technology should be a force for good in children’s lives, not a driver of anxiety, depression or harm,” said Hari Ravichandran, founder and CEO of Aura. “Our collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital is about giving parents the tools and knowledge to protect their kids online and keep their relationship to technology balanced.”
Aura’s collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital includes:
- Financial Support: Aura’s donation to Boston Children’s Hospital will support the creation of a nurturing space at Franciscan Children’s Hospital for kids and families facing behavioral health challenges. It will also support the ongoing operations, programming, and research of Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab.
- Leadership & Expertise: Aura founder and CEO Hari Ravichandran is joining the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust Board, bringing his expertise in technology and family safety to help advance pediatric care, research, and digital wellbeing initiatives.
- Commitment to a Safer Internet: Aura has signed the Inspired Internet Pledge, joining companies like Pinterest and Roblox in fostering safer, more supportive online spaces for kids.
Together, Aura and BCH will develop research-driven resources to address key online safety issues, including cyberbullying, body image concerns, self-harm and digital addiction. By equipping families with tools for a safer, more balanced online life, this relationship reinforces Aura’s mission to foster healthier relationships between kids and technology.
Kids today don’t just use technology—they grow up with it. Aura is committed to ensuring it supports their wellbeing, instead of undermining it. By working with Boston Children’s, there is promise to uncover the real impact of digital habits on mental health and turn research into actionable recommendations for families.
About Aura
Aura is one of the fastest-growing online safety solutions for individuals and families. Whether you’re protecting yourself, your kids, or your aging loved ones, Aura can meet your needs at every stage of life. Customers trust Aura’s simple interface to effortlessly safeguard the things they care about most. Through real-time monitoring and alerts, Aura helps detect and mitigate emerging online threats, such as scams, predators and cyberbullying. To discover how Aura is reshaping online safety for people everywhere, visit www.aura.com.
[1] Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study