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Rebecca Ruiz

Rebecca Ruiz

Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers the intersection of wellness and mental health and digital culture and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Prior to Mashable, Rebecca was a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital, special reports project director at The American Prospect, and staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a Master's in Journalism from U.C. Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, watching movie trailers, traveling to places where she can't get cell service, and hiking with her border collie.

By Rebecca Ruiz

Could an AI chatbot talk you out of believing a conspiracy theory?
Technology vs. cat-eating myths.
By Rebecca Ruiz
'New York Times' Michael Barbaro is ready to put you to sleep
The podcast host is a new voice on the meditation app Calm.
By Rebecca Ruiz
AI apps can automate your home life, and it's more cool than scary
These services help families level up when it comes to scheduling and planning.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Fitbit Ace LTE is the kids' watch with grown-up problems
The new smartwatch offers peace of mind, but also puts kids under a microscope.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Parents need to talk to their kids about this online danger right now
Why parents should discuss sextortion as soon as their child starts going online.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Google's 'school time' setting for kids coming to Android devices
The setting lets parents control when their child's device has limited functionality.
By Rebecca Ruiz
A neuroscientist explains what was wrong with the Google Gemini Olympics ad
Why asking a chatbot to write a letter to your hero can undermine your personal goals.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Google announces new tactics to curb explicit deepfakes
Changes to Google Search aim to limit results for nonconsensual imagery.
By Rebecca Ruiz
'The Bear' can't wait any longer for Carmy to evolve
Season 4 can only succeed if Carmy finds a way to process the trauma that haunts him.
By Rebecca Ruiz
FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use
NGL: ask me anything app tricked young users and made false claims, says FTC.
By Rebecca Ruiz
The consequences of making a nonconsensual deepfake
Making a nonconsensual deepfake could lead to legal and financial repercussions.
By Rebecca Ruiz
AI chatbots are being used for companionship. What to know before you try it
The most important things to consider when designing an AI chatbot.
By Rebecca Ruiz
U.S. Surgeon General: Social media needs a warning label
"The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency."
By Rebecca Ruiz
Explicit deepfakes are traumatic. How to deal with the pain.
The fake imagery upends victims' lives, but healing is possible.
By Rebecca Ruiz
IRS makes Direct File a permanent option
The free IRS program for taxpayers will return in 2025, with expanded eligibility.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Google launches kids Fitbit with gaming features
Google is betting that both kids and parents will love the new Fitbit Ace LTE.
By Rebecca Ruiz
White House calls on tech companies to help stop deepfakes
The White House laid out strategies for stopping image-based sexual abuse.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Scarlett Johansson was 'shocked' by OpenAI 'Sky' voice
The 'Her' actress says OpenAI asked her to voice 'Sky' — and she said no.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Loneliness isn't only a teen or adult problem. Little kids feel it, too.
Why screens may play a role in loneliness among young girls.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to stop students from making deepfakes of each other
Educators don't know how to handle fake nude or explicit imagery made by students.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to report crypto transactions on your taxes
It could be a costly mistake if you don't report digital assets like crypto.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Stop scrolling so much. Try these rituals instead.
Want meaningful practices that help lower your screen time? Try creating some 'emodiversity.'
By Rebecca Ruiz
Why online child exploitation is so hard to fight
Predators can weaponize social media platforms against vulnerable youth.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Teens who talk about their mental health on this app may be taking a big risk
Vulnerable teens may be targeted by predators.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Talking to someone online for emotional support may be riskier than you realize
These platforms promise to connect users to a compassionate listener, but the reality is far more complex.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to talk to a human at the IRS
What to know if you need to reach someone about your taxes.
By Rebecca Ruiz
TikTok and Instagram 'diet' tips to avoid
Be wary of influencers and creators who give this advice.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What parents need to tell their kids about explicit deepfakes
Don't delay this critical conversation.
By Rebecca Ruiz
6 things teens say they really need for their mental health
You may be surprised by what teens want.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What to do if someone makes a deepfake of you
These steps can help limit the fallout of becoming a victim of deepfake abuse.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Your kid saw something totally inappropriate online. Here's what to do next.
Try to stay open and nonjudgmental about what your child encountered.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Tracking your stress may be more stressful than you imagined
What you should know before you start tracking your stress.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Too much TV screen time for kids: 5 things to know about the risks
Research suggests that too much TV can lead to difficulty processing sensory information.
By Rebecca Ruiz
7 tips for using your phone less
Are you a parent who wants to put down your phone more often? Try these tips.
By Rebecca Ruiz
TikTok 'fear food' challenges: Can they help with eating disorder recovery?
Is it safe to create or watch a "fear food" challenge? It depends.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Major report declines to recommend banning social media for youth
Amid rising concern about youth mental health, experts say more research is needed.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Despite mounting mental health concerns, teens remain heavy social media users
Some teens describe "almost constant" social media use.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Do you know who's posting pictures of your kid online?
With the rapid advancement of AI, parents should think twice about giving away the rights to their children's images.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to help your son navigate the manosphere
Three strategies for helping your son develop critical thinking skills.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What to know about an 'ADHD watch'
Here's what to know before splurging on a smartwatch to help with ADHD.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Is the internet bad for mental health? What the latest study really means.
A new study on the subject is more complicated than it seems.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What it really means to 'give yourself grace'
Grace is your antidote to the blues, but here's how to turn the mantra into action.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Lawsuit against major social media companies moves forward
The suit alleges that Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other social media companies harm young users.
By Rebecca Ruiz
4 tips for a successful digital 'detox'
These strategies will help you get the most out of unplugging.
By Rebecca Ruiz
YouTube limits harmful repetitive content for teens
Teens shouldn't get repetitive recommendations for certain types of content.
By Rebecca Ruiz
ParentGPT will answer your parenting questions now
The AI chatbot will talk to you about things like breastfeeding, discipline, and divorce.
By Rebecca Ruiz
A 'predator' can easily target teen streamers on Twitch, say researchers
The researchers could find streamers believed to be minors on Twitch within 12 seconds.
By Rebecca Ruiz
'Everything Now' depicts eating disorder recovery like you've never seen it
The Netflix teen comedy-drama is both raw and responsible.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to use Apple's newest mental health features
Log your mood and emotions, plus take an anxiety or depression assessment.
By Rebecca Ruiz
New S.O.S. initiative online rating system targets teen safety
Experts are working to create a rating system for social media, search engines, and gaming platforms.
By Rebecca Ruiz
988 Lifeline now available in American Sign Language
The hotline becomes more accessible to people in crisis who are deaf and hard of hearing.
By Rebecca Ruiz
New survey shows emotional toll of AI anxiety, employee monitoring
The technologies are associated with stress, irritability, and burnout for some workers.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Dictionary.com embraces 'they,' adds hundreds of new words
GPT, jawn, jolabokaflod, and more are defined in latest update, alongside pronoun policy change.
By Rebecca Ruiz
U.S. government sues SpaceX for discrimination
The Department of Justice alleges Elon Musk's space exploration company wrongly rejected refugees and asylees.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to fact-check the Republican primary debate in real time
Here are the sites to follow if you want to watch candidates get fact-checked in real time.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Your mental health internet search may lead to malware
Looking for virtual therapy, meditation music, or ADHD treatment? You might find malware instead.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Lawsuit: YouTube and Reddit helped radicalize Buffalo mass shooter
Buffalo mass shooting survivors and bereaved loved ones take on social media platforms.
By Rebecca Ruiz
YouTube will remove videos with harmful cancer claims
Content that pushes harmful or ineffective treatments will be removed.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Report slams generative AI tools for helping users create harmful eating disorder content
Popular AI tools and chatbots can give users dangerous tips and suggestions.
By Rebecca Ruiz
5 tips to help manage your back-to-school mental health
Going back to school can bring on the blues. Take control of your mental health with these tips.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Why extreme heat brings worse mental health — and what you can do about it.
We know that heat waves can worsen mental health. We urgently need innovative solutions.
By Rebecca Ruiz
The surprising mindfulness of 'The Bear'
Every second counts. Just not in the way you might expect.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Starting to hate cars — even if you drive one? There's an online community for you.
These groups teach members how to fight for safer streets.
By Rebecca Ruiz
7 skills to help reframe negative thoughts when social media makes you feel lousy
Yes, the algorithms need to change. In the meantime, these techniques can help stop a downward spiral.
By Rebecca Ruiz
The 8 most impactful mental health moments of 2023, so far
Ed Sheeran opens up about depression, 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' dominates the Oscars, and more.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Feeling an existential crisis brewing? Here are 3 ways to cope.
How to beat the anxiety that can make you feel helpless.
By Rebecca Ruiz
'Profound risk of harm': Surgeon General issues warning about youth social media use
Advisory calls for urgent action to protect mental health of tweens and teens.
By Rebecca Ruiz
When it becomes risky for teens to diagnose their mental health online
It can be tempting to self-diagnose, but this is what teens should do instead.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to get your kid into mindfulness
Mindfulness is more than meditation — and there are many ways to get kids to enjoy the benefits.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What to do when social media insists you should be a 'gentle' parent
How to navigate overwhelming parenting style advice online and choose a helpful approach for your family.
By Rebecca Ruiz
YouTube updates guidelines for eating disorder-related content
The video platform announces prohibited content and age restrictions.
By Rebecca Ruiz
New Amazon Music feature matches hit songs with feelings
The Sound It Out campaign is designed to help teens open up about their feelings.
By Rebecca Ruiz
3 surprising ways to cope with climate change
How to take control when eco-anxiety strikes.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Long COVID and suicide: How patients are helping each other in their darkest hour
Online communities and conversations are providing long COVID survivors with support — and hope.
By Rebecca Ruiz
One of these 7 meditation apps could be right for you
Each of these meditation apps offers users something different.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to choose a meditation app that's right for you
Do you want meditation tracks? How about yoga and sleep stories? Picking a mindfulness app is hard, but it doesn't have to be.
By Rebecca Ruiz
21 reasons to keep living when you feel suicidal
People who've been there before share their reasons for staying alive.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Mantras are taking over TikTok. Here's what they are (and aren't)
A mantra isn't a request for money from the universe. Let experts like Deepak Chopra explain.
By Rebecca Ruiz
'Everything Everywhere All At Once' has the best take on mental health you never expected
Beyond absurd chaos, the Oscar-favorite film delivers emotional depth that has resonated with its audience.
By Rebecca Ruiz
'You're always on': Warnings from the front lines of the teen mental health crisis
The doctors who treat teens explain how social media and screen time affects their patients.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Dictionary.com defines the times with 1,500 new words, revisions
Woke, trauma dumping, queerbaiting, petfluencer, and other extremely online words appeared in new or revised entries.
By Rebecca Ruiz
33 ways Black people can reclaim their breath
Zee Clarke, author of 'Black People Breathe,' is on a mission to reduce stress and anxiety related to racism.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Rihanna's climate philanthropy comes into focus with Super Bowl spotlight
The singer and businesswoman is also a major philanthropist for climate justice.
By Rebecca Ruiz
When social-emotional learning leaves out students with disabilities
SEL is supposed to help all kids thrive, but students with disabilities are often excluded.
By Rebecca Ruiz
3 things to know before talking to ChatGPT about your mental health
ChatGPT has advice to offer, but should you take it?
By Rebecca Ruiz
Think twice about getting 'natural' birth control advice from influencers, study says
Influencers may share a relatable story but leave out important details that could lead to unplanned pregnancy.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Your attention span isn't dead — yet. These tips can help restore your ability to focus.
An expert who's studied the art and science of focusing shares her go-to strategies.
By Rebecca Ruiz
AirTag odyssey: One woman's lost luggage journey goes viral
What happens when your suitcase goes to an apartment complex, and McDonald's, without you? One United passenger's strange tale.
By Rebecca Ruiz
3 things I learned after meditating for 100 weeks straight
What happens when you make meditation a real habit.
By Rebecca Ruiz
New Minecraft server helps grieving kids feel less alone
ExperienceCraft created a compassionate space for kids to have fun together.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What to know about new research on screen time and kids' mental health
While some screen use may be problematic, practical tips can help you manage the risks.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Troubleshooting the mystery of post-COVID insomnia with a sleep tracker
Could an Oura ring help put an end to my COVID sleep struggles?
By Rebecca Ruiz
When virtual reality meets psychedelic therapy
Can virtual reality help people process what happened on their trip?
By Rebecca Ruiz
6 free gratitude meditations to help you get grounded
Take a break from the chaos with these guided meditation tracks.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Former MoviePass executives indicted for fraud, "attempted scam"
The MoviePass drama is never over.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to know if breathwork is right for you
Breathwork tutorials are popular on social media, but experts say beginners should be cautious.
By Rebecca Ruiz
What you never see in 'Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me'
The intimate documentary shows Gomez in crisis, and yes, her revival, but not much of what happens in between.
By Rebecca Ruiz
5 social-emotional skills for parents
SEL skills aren't just for kids. Parents need them, too.
By Rebecca Ruiz
Petition: Instagram must address bullying of kids through gossip accounts
"All of this goes against Meta's own standards."
By Rebecca Ruiz