As TikTok Ban Looms, Unfriendly Players Make Bids to Buy
What? Well, it seems TikTok will live to fight another day in the United States. Yesterday, the Chinese-owned social media giant was granted an additional 75 days to sell to a U.S.-based company. But whether it gets banned or not, parents should still be wary.
So What? If TikTok is allowed to continue operating in the US without selling, there are privacy concerns to consider. If the app is banned, those concerns won’t disappear, since many users will (and already have) flock to other foreign-owned apps, such as Rednote. And if TikTok is sold, the app could become even more problematic (it’s already known for its addictive qualities and often age-inappropriate content) depending upon who buys it. Tim Stokely, for instance, founder of adult content social media site OnlyFans, is one of many who has placed a bid for TikTok, according to Reuters.
Now What? Whatever the result, parents should remain vigilant. Lamenting the woes of TikTok (or any app) probably won’t convince your teens to stop using the app. Rather, talk to your teen about your concerns—being careful not to accuse them or “freak out.” And let them know that if they see something upsetting, they can come show you and discuss the problem without judgment or criticism.
Chappell Roan Angers Parents for Comments on Parenting
What? Grammy-winning pop star Chappell Roan said on the Call Her Daddy podcast this week that she believes people her age and younger who decide to become parents are “in hell.”
So What? Although Roan herself is not a parent, her comments sparked a social media debate. Focus on the Family’s own Daily Citizen had something to say on the topic: “People like Roan and others who say parenthood doesn’t bring significant happiness are wrong.” Chappell Roan was already on many people’s radar. But this controversy may well bring more attention to her among younger fans.
Now What? Adam Holz writes for Focus on the Family: “[Chappell Roan’s] songs often deal with same-sex relationships, and she’s been outspoken about leaving her Christian upbringing behind her.” It’s important to keep her overall worldview regarding sexuality and relationships in mind as we help our kids navigate the kinds of comments she’s made this week.
Roblox Improves Parental Control Options
What? Roblox, a Minecraft-esque video game aimed at children, has long been criticized for hosting inappropriate content and for the lack of safety features for its young audience. In response, the company has been adding new ways to keep children more safe, the latest of which were updated this week.
So What? In 2024, Roblox added more than 40 safety features, including ID-verified parent accounts and remote monitoring tools for gameplay concerns such as screentime limits, friend lists and restrictions for in-game experiences and games based on maturity level. The latest update also allows parents to block or even report friends on their child’s profile. And parents can also find detailed weekly insights into their child’s Roblox activities, giving them the option to block individual experiences or games if desired.
Now What? If you have a young Roblox fan, take advantage of these new parental controls to help protect your child. And be sure to talk to your kids about how they interact with games and other players. Teaching your children when they’re younger how and why they might block someone may help them develop better discernment for when they’re older, where they’ll likely be exposed to more online games and potentially problematic players.
One Response
Looking at the quotes and the article in context:
““All of my friends who have kids are in hell,” the 27-year-old said. “I actually don’t know anyone who’s, like, happy and has children at this age. I literally have not met anyone who’s happy, anyone who has light in their eyes, anyone who has slept.”
As the oldest of four kids herself, Roan added that her mom had her at 23, asking, “Why did my parents do that?””
It sounds to me like she’s making a generalization about her specific group of friends and the people she’s met—not like she’s necessarily saying that young parents [outside of the ones she has met] are never happy. For what it’s worth, the young parents I know who are happy tend to have extensive support networks, plus I’ve in more than one instance wondered how they can afford such large families (I anecdotally know too many people who would like children but cannot even afford one, and my own parents also would not have afforded to have another child). It also makes me speculate about what kind of parenting systems and resources her friends have available to them — the “husband and wife do everything and have little to no help” model is not culturally universal, between parents/relatives helping out and some families being able to afford external childcare.
Chappell, regarding your “why did my parents [have you at a young age],” your parents lived in a time decades ago when costs were much lower than what they are now and wages haven’t risen nearly as quickly (someone with whom I was talking a year or two ago pointed out that the domestic model of a family of two parents and several children being comfortable on one parent’s middle-class income in a multi-story house is essentially no longer financially viable in the United States), and to the Daily Citizen’s statement that Roan “has adopted a public voice very much at odds with her upbringing,” she’s probably also living in circumstances that are very much at odds with her upbringing, especially with regard to the cost of housing. How much would her childhood house cost if her parents were having to afford it today? According to Zillow, the average cost of a house in her native Missouri has increased by more than $100,000 just since 2017. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau places the median price of a Missouri house in 2000 (shortly after Chappell was born) at $89,900. That’s less than some cars cost nowadays.