Education Innovator Urges Schools to Adapt to AI and Social Media

Kristi Maggio, founder of Maggio Multicultural Academy, says the first generation raised by algorithms is coming of age but schools are still teaching like it's 1995.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:23pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a smartphone icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, representing the ubiquity of technology in modern life and the need for education to evolve alongside it.As the first generation raised by algorithms comes of age, schools must adapt to prepare students for a future shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.Los Angeles Today

Kristi Maggio, an education innovator, author, and founder of Maggio Multicultural Academy, a virtual-hybrid K-12 school, says the first generation raised by algorithms is coming of age but most schools are still teaching the way they did before smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence reshaped the world. Maggio will bring this message to the LA Times Festival of Books in April, encouraging a new approach that teaches students how to transform technology from distraction into opportunity.

Why it matters

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the future of work, Maggio believes education must evolve to prepare students not just for exams, but for life in the Age of AI. The goal is to help young people discover their purpose, develop essential skills, and use technology as a tool to create a better future.

The details

Maggio, founder of Maggio Multicultural Academy, a Cognia-accredited virtual-hybrid K–12 school serving students globally, says the biggest challenge facing students today is not technology itself, but learning how to use it intentionally. Rather than rejecting social media or digital platforms, Maggio encourages a new approach that teaches students how to transform technology from distraction into opportunity. Through her books and the Young Changemakers series, Maggio shows young people how to move beyond getting lost in endless scrolling and instead use social media as a powerful tool for learning, growth, and opportunity.

  • Maggio will bring this message to the LA Times Festival of Books this April.

The players

Kristi Maggio

An education innovator, author, and founder of Maggio Multicultural Academy, a Cognia-accredited virtual-hybrid K-12 school serving students globally.

Maggio Multicultural Academy

A Cognia-accredited virtual-hybrid K-12 school serving students globally, founded by Kristi Maggio.

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What they’re saying

“The first generation raised by algorithms is coming of age. Yet most schools are still teaching the way they did before smartphones, before social media, and before artificial intelligence reshaped the world.”

— Kristi Maggio, Founder, Maggio Multicultural Academy

“We've given teenagers the most powerful technology in human history—AI in their pocket and global communication through social media—but almost no guidance on how to use it to build a future.”

— Kristi Maggio, Founder, Maggio Multicultural Academy

“The goal isn't to get teens off social media. The goal is to help them use it to learn, connect with mentors, share ideas, and create opportunities.”

— Kristi Maggio, Founder, Maggio Multicultural Academy

What’s next

Visitors to Maggio's booth (731) at the LA Times Festival of Books will experience interactive displays and conversations exploring the future of education, emerging careers, and the skills students need to thrive in the Age of AI.

The takeaway

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the future of work, education must evolve to prepare students not just for exams, but for life. The future will belong to students who know how to think, create, lead, and solve real problems using technology as a tool to build a better future.