We Are Shape the Sky
Our mission is simple: We help parents and professionals guide children toward safe and responsible use of smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence. We believe that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” when it comes to educating youth about responsible technology use. If we don’t start the conversation now, our children may face challenges or make mistakes in an online and AI-driven world that is rapidly evolving.
The Founder of Shape the Sky
Ryan Klingensmith, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), is the founder of Shape the Sky. Ryan began his career in 1994 working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital for teens diagnosed with mental health disorders. Over the years, he has served youth in residential treatment facilities, teen shelters, and group homes. In 2010, he began providing outpatient mental health therapy and working in Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Programs (SAPs), where he regularly supported middle and high school students.
While working with youth, Ryan witnessed firsthand the growing impact of smartphones and social media—misuse, misunderstandings, and the emerging digital risks that adults often felt unprepared to address. Shape the Sky was created to fill that gap by providing comprehensive, ongoing education for parents, school personnel, law enforcement, and mental health professionals.
In addition to his work with Shape the Sky, Ryan currently serves as the Director of Counseling at a university, where he supports college students navigating mental health challenges, technology use, and the increasingly complex digital landscape.
As technology has continued to evolve—especially with the rise of artificial intelligence—the need to educate invested adults has never been greater. With Ryan’s background in mental health, higher education leadership, and deep knowledge of youth culture online, he developed a series of training programs that help adults understand how social media, smartphones, and artificial intelligence shape adolescent and young adult development. Once adults gain this awareness, they can use their wisdom, experience, and leadership to keep kids and young adults safe in a digital world that is changing faster than ever.
Connecting Knowledge and Wisdom
Our goal is to connect knowledge and wisdom to create safe and responsible children online and on digital devices.
We provide parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals with an insider’s understanding of the internet, social media, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies, so they know how to start meaningful conversations with youth. Our goal is for children and adults to connect, share, and learn together—bridging young people’s familiarity with technology and AI with the adult wisdom needed to use these tools safely and responsibly.
“Kids have the knowledge to use technology, but sometimes lack the wisdom to use it responsibly. Adults have the wisdom to be responsible users, but sometimes lack the knowledge to use technology. My goal is to connect knowledge with wisdom.”
Founder, Ryan Klingensmith
Our Values
Shift The Paradigm
There’s a disconnect between how adults think children use social media and how they actually use it. This is where Shape the Sky comes into play. We are a hub of information that offers an inside look at the world of social media, so you can teach children how to be responsible and stay safe online.
Invest In Our Youth
Creating responsible children on smartphones requires a community that is invested in its youth. Shape the Sky offers free online resources to provide parents, educators, counselors, law enforcement, and others with the tools to navigate the digital world in which our children are immersed.
Engage the Youth
In addition to having a community invested in creating responsible children on smartphones, it also takes children inspiring others to get involved. That’s why we share youth curated resources that align with our mission to inspire others to join the conversation.
Interested in a Shape the Sky training? If so, check out the answers to some of our frequently asked questions.
Shape the Sky offers high-quality educational training sessions related to social media use, mental health, and related trends. We design the training sessions to meet the organization/event specific needs and objectives.
Join the Conversation
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