Common Sense Media and Aura Parents Present "Back-to School Reset" Resources for Families
SAN FRANCISCO, August 26, 2026 - Today, Common Sense Media and Aura Parents released their Back-to-School Reset to help families prepare for the start of a new school year. From phone use in and out of the classroom, AI showing up in assignments, and the overall pressure kids feel to keep up online, the Back-to-School Reset is a resource guide for families to start the year off strong, with tools and guidance to help kids thrive.
Aura Parents' research shows that 86% of parents report feeling that their children are "growing up faster" than previous generations and this always-connected part of school life is shaping attention, belonging, stress, and the way kids learn. To help families keep up with the pace of change, the Reset provides free tools designed to help tackle three common points of friction: digital stress, screen-free time, and parent-kid alignment.
"The start of a new school year is an exciting time for both parents and students. In our always on world, it also means grappling with an array of challenges related to technology, learning and balance," said Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer. "Common Sense Media and Aura Parents designed the Reset to give families a fighting chance in an age where our kids are constantly facing digital distractions that take away from critical learning opportunities, socio-emotional development and moments for genuine human connection."
Resource offerings include the Digital Stress Test, a quiz that offers parents visibility into how online life may be affecting their kids. The Screen-Free Activities Quiz suggests offline ideas based on what kids already enjoy online and the Family Device Agreement helps families agree on rules before they find themselves negotiating them in real time.
"Technology is now woven into nearly every part of the school day, from how kids learn and complete assignments to how they connect, and parents are being asked to navigate changes that are happening incredibly fast," said Hari Ravichandran, founder and CEO of Aura. "As families head into a new school year, the goal isn't to eliminate technology from kids' lives. It's to help them use it in healthier, more intentional ways. Together with Common Sense Media, we're giving parents practical tools and insights to start the school year with confidence."
On Tuesday, September 15 beginning at 12pm PT / 3pm ET , Common Sense Media and Aura Parents will co-host a live webinar "Bus, Bell, and Beyond: Back to School with AI and Tech." The session will walk through a full day to unpack where phones and AI help, distract, connect, or add pressure. Parents and caregivers will leave this session informed about what kids and teens are actually doing on their devices, and feeling more confident setting tech rules as a family and explaining the rationale behind them.
Parents and caregivers interested in attending can sign up here.
Common Sense Media and Aura Parents' ongoing collaboration unites the nonprofit's decades of leadership on youth well-being in the digital age with the company's data-driven insights and expertise in keeping families safe online. Earlier this year, Aura Parents co-produced the Digital Parenthood program track at the third annual Common Sense Summit on Kids and Families.
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.
About Aura
Aura (ASX: AXQ) is a global leader in online safety and wellbeing. Built on the belief that people deserve a trusted, always-on layer of protection, Aura's AI-powered platform delivers protection for individuals, families, and enterprises — from proactive protection against identity theft, financial fraud, and online threats to tools that help schools and parents protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content, and threats to their wellbeing.
Aura's platform spans the environments that matter most — home, school, and work — empowering people of all ages with end-to-end protection for every aspect of online life. Learn more at aura.com.