Common Sense is a company.
Key people at Common Sense.
Common Sense was founded by James Steyer (Founder and CEO).
Common Sense Media is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 2003, dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families in the digital age.[1][2] Its mission is to provide trustworthy information, education, and an independent voice through original research, advocacy, age-based ratings/reviews of entertainment and tech, parenting advice, and a free Digital Citizenship Curriculum for schools.[1][2] The organization advocates for legislation on privacy, connectivity, and tech accountability, serving millions of parents, educators, students, and communities while influencing policymakers and industry leaders to build a healthier digital world.[1]
With 129 US employees, Common Sense operates in the advocacy sector, earning recognition as a Top Workplace for its excellence-driven programs that empower families and schools.[1] It maintains a vision of families taking charge of digital choices and students thriving as digital citizens, backed by a strong board including figures like founder/CEO James P. Steyer and notable leaders such as Julian Castro and John H.N. Fisher of Draper Fisher Jurvetson.[3]
Common Sense Media was founded in 2003 by James P. Steyer, a civil rights attorney, educator, and author focused on children's media influence, amid growing concerns over digital content's impact on youth.[1][2][3] Steyer, who serves as CEO, established the nonprofit to address the lack of reliable guidance for families navigating entertainment, technology, and online media, drawing from his background in child development advocacy.[3]
Early traction came from building the largest independent library of age-based ratings and reviews, quickly becoming a trusted resource for parents and schools.[1] Pivotal moments include expanding into advocacy—partnering with policymakers and tech leaders—and launching the award-winning Digital Citizenship Curriculum, which has scaled to widespread school adoption, solidifying its role as the nation's leading voice on kids' digital well-being.[1][4]
Common Sense stands out in the nonprofit advocacy space through these key strengths:
Common Sense rides the wave of digital well-being and youth online safety, a surging trend amid rising concerns over screen time, AI-generated content, privacy breaches, and social media's mental health effects on children.[1][4] Its timing is ideal in an era of regulatory momentum—like potential US and global laws on child data protection—where it influences tech giants and lawmakers to prioritize ethical design over unchecked growth.[1]
Market forces favoring it include parental demand for transparency (millions trust its reviews daily) and schools' need for edtech vetting amid remote learning shifts.[1] By shaping policy, ratings, and curricula, Common Sense influences the ecosystem: it pressures platforms for accountability, equips the next generation with digital literacy, and bridges families, educators, and industry toward a "digital world where kids thrive."[1][4]
Common Sense is poised to expand its influence as AI, metaverses, and immersive tech amplify digital risks for kids, potentially scaling advocacy into global standards and deeper edtech integrations.[1][4] Trends like stricter regulations (e.g., expanding Kids Online Safety Act equivalents) and parental activism will fuel growth, with its curriculum becoming essential in AI literacy efforts.
Its role may evolve from reviewer to key architect of "healthy internet" norms, partnering more with Big Tech for self-regulation while maintaining independence—ultimately empowering families to confidently navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape, true to its founding purpose of making technology work better for all kids.[1]
Key people at Common Sense.
Common Sense was founded by James Steyer (Founder and CEO).
