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: TikTok Ban, Google AI Lies and Weirdcore

What will a TikTok ban mean for our teens? Why did Google’s AI get confused about Plugged In? When did “weirdcore” become so popular?

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On Call

What’s shown here may be reminiscent of what real police officers have seen on the job. I’m not sure the show’s message is strong enough to justify depicting it.

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gen z

Social Media Has Changed How Gen Z Communicates

We need to be patient with our Gen Z (and upcoming Gen Alpha) family members and give them a chance to get their words out …

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On the Radar: Teen Drug and Alcohol Use Down, KOSA Update and Gen Alpha Retirement Planning

Substance use declines among teens; Kids Online Safety Act still in flux; channeling adolescent anxiety about money in healthy directions.

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Missing You

If you skip Netflix’s Missing You, you won’t be missing much.

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on the radar

On the Radar: ‘Glickles,’ Anti-Aging Obsessed Teens and Illegal Social Media Stunts

Why are pickles suddenly sparkly? Why are tween girls using anti-aging products? How an influencer got arrested for a prank.

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On the Radar: Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year, Protein Powder Obsessions and Social Media Holiday Scams

The dictionaries have all released their Words of the Year. Should teenagers even be using protein powders? What scams should families look out for this holiday season?

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muppet christmas carol

The Muppet Christmas Carol

In 1992, Charles Dickens must have been rolling in his grave … with laughter. That’s when Walt Disney Studios and Jim Henson Productions released “The Muppet Christmas Carol.”

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Secret Level

Prime Video’s ‘Secret Level’ gives a Black Mirror-esque spin to some popular video games with some “rated M for Mature” content.

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Virgin River

This show has become a sensation on Netflix—and it’s cleaner than some. But before you walk into this small town, know that not everything is fit for families.

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On the Radar: Top Social Media Apps Among Teens, Evangelical Social Media Use and the Superman Challenge

YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are the top social media apps among teens. Christian parents aren’t setting a good example for social media use. And kids should steer clear of the trending “Superman challenge.”

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Our Little Secret

Netflix’s holiday romcom ‘Our Little Secret’ isn’t the most egregious holiday schlock, but it certainly isn’t a Christmas masterpiece either.

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Creature Commandos

With lots of animated sex and violence, DC’s Creature Commandos isn’t something to gather round the television to watch.

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Key Takeaways from FX’s Docuseries ‘Social Studies’

‘Social Studies,’ a docuseries by Lauren Greenfield streaming on Hulu, explores the lives of teens who have never lived in a world without social media.

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Mary

Netflix’s take on the life of Mary draws from extrabiblical sources. But even apart from that, this often darkly violent depiction gives parents some reason to pause.

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