Author: Kaitlyn Wells

Hi, my name is Kaitlyn Wells (she/her) and I write about Pets and Style for Wirecutter, the product review brand of the New York Times. I’m also co-chair of the Black@NYT employee resource group, and my platform focuses on inclusion and the development of underrepresented voices at the Times. In 2020, I received top awards from the Cat Writers’ Association and the Dog Writers Association of America. I’m a two-time Publisher’s Award winner for my ambitious efforts driving inclusion, innovation and impact across the company. I’m also member of the Poynter Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media, which selects pioneers in digital media who have demonstrated an aptitude for leadership. A service journalist at my core, I have a decade of experience showing readers how to be more informed and safer consumers. No matter if it’s teaching them the right way to gift a pet, warning them of the dangers of infant bath seats, or exposing the dirty little secrets of the all-inclusive vacation industry, I’ll share with them how to stretch their dollar further while making educated decisions for their families. I’ve written for ABCnews.com, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch.com, MSNMoney.com, Nautilus, the New York Times, Techlicious.com, TIME.com, TheSimpleDollar.com, TheUptowner.org, Urban Home, the Wall Street Journal Sunday, and Washington Post’s On Parenting, among others. My commentary on diverse literature has appeared in Book Page, Diverse Kids Books, and the New York Times Sunday Book Review. I also contributed to Forty Acres of Fun, an anthology about the history of student life at The University of Texas at Austin. I have an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a B.J. (B.A.) from The University of Texas at Austin. I live in New York City with my wonderful husband and two rambunctious pets. In my down time, I volunteer with the ASPCA and DiverseSources.org, a database of industry experts.
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Top 5 tech gifts for teenagers

Ninety-five percent of teenagers are online, says the Pew Research Center—so it's no wonder that the digital world is dominated by selfies, emojis, and txt-speak. Nor is it shocking that electronics are at the top of teen wish lists this year. But should you be concerned with how connected they are with every new device you purchase? To help you decide which electronics are appropriate for your household, Consumer Reports used research from the the Consumer Electronics Association to let you know the top tech gifts teens are asking for this year.