On the Radar: Teens’ Texting Habits, the TikTok Ban and ‘Brain Rot’
Knowing how your teen communicates via text may help you connect with them better. The TikTok ban was upheld by a federal appeals court. And ‘brain rot’ is Oxford’s Word of the Year.
On the Radar: Influencers Don’t Fact Check, Posting About Self-Harm Is Harmful and the Pink Tote Lid Trend
Two-thirds of social media influencers don’t fact check before posting. Teens with self-harm behaviors are more heavily influenced by social media posts about the topic. What is the “pink tote lid” trend?
On the Radar: Teen ‘Threat Alert,’ the Castor Oil Trend and Bluesky
Isolation raises “threat alert” in teens. The new castor oil trend perpetuates toxic diet culture. What do parents need to know about the social media app Bluesky?
What Teens (and Kids) Want for Christmas
Kids and teens are getting Christmas gift ideas from TikTok and YouTube. But that comes with a number of problems for parents.
On the Radar: Moldy Lunchly, Crashing Out and Tren
Check your Lunchly for mold before eating. Why Gen Z is “crashing out.” And what parents need to know about the steroid Tren.
Movie Monday: ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Keeps Twirling
It wasn’t a particularly exciting weekend at the box office. Venom: The Last Dance managed to keep its No. 1 spot. But the alien parasite took home an estimated $16.2 million in its third weekend theaters. But with no strong new challengers in theaters, even that relatively low number was good enough for the win. […]
On the Radar: Snapchat Grooming Dangers, Harmful Leg Lift Challenge and the Legacy of ‘Brat’
Snapchat is the most popular social media app for child grooming. Trying the Dancing with the Stars leg lift could cause injury. Collins Dictionary names “brat” its Word of the Year.
AI Is Terrible at Translating: Why Christians Should Care
AI large language models give poor translations for lesser-known foreign languages. But Christians might be able to utilize them for evangelism.
On the Radar: Pro-Ana Retrending, Teen Tobacco Use Drops and the ‘October Theory’
Why is pro-ana content trending? Did you know that teens’ tobacco use is at a 25-year low? What is the “October theory”?
Parental Controls: X
X (formerly Twitter) doesn’t have parental controls. But here are some tips to help your kids stay safe if they’re using the app.
