Contributor: Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

On the Radar: AI Emotional Support, Anti-Aging Peptides and Instagram’s New Parental Alert Feature

Teens are turning to AI for emotional support. Why are anti-aging peptides trending on social media? Instagram plans to alert parents for suicidal risks in teens.

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Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Oscar-nominated ‘Little Amélie’ is beautifully animated and shares messages about loss and growing up. But it’s best navigated with mom and dad in the room.

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Paradise

The storyline here (and content) has far greater stakes than your typical whodunnit. And certainly, nobody who watches this series will think it’s paradise.

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When Parental Controls Fail: Teaching Your Kids Digital Literacy

Parental controls can help curb screen time when kids are little, but new research says digital literacy is far more successful over their lifetimes.

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The Night Agent

As far as spy thrillers go, The Night Agent is par for the course. But as far as family viewing goes, it might be better to blacklist this one.

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On the Radar: Hot Water, Zuckerberg Testimony and Gold Medalist Alysa Liu

Are there benefits to TikTok’s hot water trend? What did Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg say in the ongoing social media addiction trial? What should parents know about Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu?

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best Christian movies

Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Christian Movies (2026)

Sometimes, you just want to watch a movie that lines up perfectly with your family’s beliefs. Our nominees for Best Christian Movies do just that.

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Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Adults (2026)

The Oscars are filled with R-rated fare. Plugged In’s Best Movies for Adults offer some more wholesome options for grown-ups.

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Dark Winds

AMC+ brings to life a murder-mystery series set in New Mexico, steeped in Navajo ways and filled with dark magic.

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best movies for teens

Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Teens (2026)

Best Movies for Teens showcase films you can explore with your teens and tweens without compromising your values.

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best movies for kids

Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Kids (2026)

Picking out movies the whole family can enjoy is hard. Best Movies for Kids offers some options that might make you smile.

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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Skipping ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ even if it means leaving the franchise behind, just might be the best choice for all involved.

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On the Radar: Discord vs. Stoat, ‘Firearm Influencers’ and ‘Cooked’

Angry Discord users switch to Stoat. How often are children exposed to “firearm influencers?” The meaning of slang word “cooked.”

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Wuthering Heights

Sensual sex scenes, foul language, domestic abuse and a graphic miscarriage scene doom this adaptation of Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights.’

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The Artful Dodger

Oliver Twist’s Artful Dodger isn’t 13 anymore: He’s an adult. And being an adult comes with more grown-up problems.

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