Tweens Are Using Dating Apps
What? Despite age restrictions, a new study published in BMC Research Notes found that about one in 250 underage children (including 11- and 12-year-olds) have used dating apps intended for adults.
So What? Previous studies linked “early adolescent online dating” with other risks, including increased likelihood of “insults, privacy violations, threats of violence and unwanted sexual advances from predators.”
Now What? Although dating apps technically require users to be 18, that restriction is easily bypassed by entering a fake birthdate. So parents are truly the first line of defense in this situation. Parental controls on the devices your children have access to can be helpful in blocking dating apps. But more importantly, initiate an ongoing conversation with your teens and tweens about “online safety, healthy relationships and appropriate romantic milestones for their age.”
Twenty-Five Percent of Teenagers Consume Caffeine Daily
What? According to a national poll, “a quarter of parents report that caffeine is basically part of their teen’s daily life.”
So What? Because caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system, too much of it in a developing adolescent can contribute to health problems such as irregular heart rhythms and bone loss. It can also impact teenagers’ mood, sleep and school performance.
Now What? Luckily, the most frequent place teens consume caffeine is at home, so parents are well-placed to monitor their children’s intake of it. Experts recommend limiting caffeine to 100 milligrams a day for teenagers (it’s discouraged altogether for younger children). So check product labels before purchasing food or beverages—a single energy drink can contain up to 500 mg of caffeine, not to mention added sugars and other chemicals. And encourage your teens to try noncaffeinated options when buying snacks for themselves.
Cassette Tapes Trending Again … Or Still
What? Possibly thanks to shows such as 13 Reasons Why and Stranger Things, we’ve been witnessing the unlikely revival of the cassette tape the last few years among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
So What? Newer artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar have jumped on this trend, releasing albums via cassette. (Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department sold more than 21,000 tapes in the first week of sales.)
Now What? Parents may be scratching their heads about why their kids are buying cassettes, especially if you remember how easy it is to unravel or break them. But it’s not uncommon for kids to want a physical memento of their favorite recording artist or band. This could be a good way to bond with your kids if you happen to have an old Walkman or boom box lying around. You can show them the trick of rewinding a tape using a pen. And hey, at least most cassettes are still cheaper than vinyl.
3 Responses
Ever notice how common it is for fictional characters to discuss the absurdity of building a society around the consumption of bean juice? I’ve often wondered if it’s an intentional and malicious societal system, where too many employers and social structures expect us to ‘balance’ so many pressures and obligations we can’t rightly and sufficiently get enough rest for (especially for people with lengthy shifts or commutes), unless we supplement our natural sleep cycle with artificial – and potentially dangerous – energy intake. This needs to change, even as I’m sure the coffee and energy-drink companies love it.
Good article.
I didn’t need a pen to rewind an audio cassette. I would just use my fingernail if it was long enough, and rotate as many times as necessary.
That being said, I am glad physical media still has value to younger generations. I’m not completely against streaming services, though. There are free streaming services like Tubi, Roku, Plex, and PlutoTV that I like to use from time to time. If you want to see what something is like out of curiosity, I can understand why you would use a streaming service. But if you find you like a song or like a movie-really like it-then you should get a physical copy of it if a physical copy is available.