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.

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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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.

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Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld

Netflix’s Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld isn’t your typical fantasy-horror blend, with a mix of Chinese mythology, Daoism and a whole lotta violence.

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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?

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Hitpig!

There’s nothing super egregious about Hitpig. But it’s largely predicated on toilet humor and slapstick violence that little kids will easily latch onto.

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Outlander

STARZ fantasy drama ‘Outlander,’ now in its seventh season, is as outrageous as it is outlandish—in just about any way you can imagine.

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on the radar

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?

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We Live in Time

We Live in Time is a really, really sad movie. And content issues throughout the film make it even more difficult to watch.

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spellbound

Spellbound

Spellbound turned out to be a bit of a letdown.

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dune: prophecy

Dune: Prophecy

Language, violence and sexual content will make ‘Dune: Prophecy’ much less accessible to families than the films it’s based on.

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Silo

Apple TV+’s Silo pairs a sci-fi murder-mystery with profanity and violence in a world where nothing is as it seems.

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what teens want for Christmas

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.

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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.

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Arcane

As you might’ve guessed from the title, Arcane features plenty of magic. The results are anything but magical, though.

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Saturday Night

Nearly everything went wrong the first time Saturday Night Live aired. And families will likely feel the same about this film.

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