Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, 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
IRS Direct File program now open to more taxpayers
The new program is accepting online returns from taxpayers in 12 states.
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
Watch out for these common tax scams
Scammers want your data and your money, and they know how to get it.
By Rebecca Ruiz
How to track your tax refund online
This simple IRS tool will give you up-to-date information.
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
