Emily Weinstein, Ed.D.

Emily Weinstein, Ed.D.

Social scientist and researcher at Project Zero at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education

Emily Weinstein, Ed.D. is a social scientist who has spent over a decade researching the ways today’s technologies are shaping and reshaping adolescents’ lives. Her work chases answers to questions like: What is like for teens to grow up with social media? How does radical connectivity matter for social, emotional, and civic development? Dr. Weinstein is currently a principal investigator and research director at Project Zero at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she and Carrie James, Ph.D. (FAN ’15) lead a suite of projects about digital dilemmas and digital well-being. Dr. Weinstein and Dr. James co-authored the 2022 book Behind Their Screens: What Teens are Facing (and What Adults are Missing).

​Dr. Weinstein is an expert on adolescent psychology and a thoughtful methodologist. She has a deep commitment to reframing conversations about teens and technology in ways that put young people’s voices alongside existing evidence. She is also a longtime collaborator of Common Sense Media, translating research insights for their award-winning Digital Citizenship curriculum. Insights from her research and perspectives have appeared in places like Tech Crunch, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and Time Magazine.

Dr. Weinstein holds a doctorate in Human Development and Education and a master’s degree in Prevention Science and Practice, both from Harvard.