IN THE NEWS
News Worth Knowing 🔥
🤖 ChatGPT’s "Teen Mode" Flagged as an "Unacceptable Risk" | A new Common Sense Media report (Oct. 27) found OpenAI’s teen version of ChatGPT fell short of its safety promises: in testing, linked parent accounts got no alerts even after an hour of conversation about self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and the bot often failed to point teens toward crisis help. Source: WESA
🪙 Prediction Markets Are Pulling In Young People | Online exchanges where users trade real money on the outcome of sports, elections, and pop culture are booming with teens and young adults—and they open at 18. What it means for your family, below. ⬇️ Source: CNBC
📺 It’s Not Just How Long—It’s What, and With Whom | A new University of Georgia review of 30 studies found a screen’s effect depends on the content, a child’s age, and whether a parent watches along. "Co-viewing"—watching together and talking about it afterward—helped kids process what they saw, and prosocial shows actually supported empathy and literacy. Source: MedicalXpress
THE INTERVIEW
Can you still believe your eyes? 🎭
“Can an image be fake and still cause real harm?”
On this episode of The Tech Translator, Parent ProTech sat down with Evan Harris, President of Pathos, to talk about deepfake bullying, "nudify" apps, and what families and schools can do when technology is used to harm a student.
A few things worth knowing:
Fake images, real consequences. AI-generated images and deepfakes are increasingly used to target and bully young people—and the fallout at school and beyond is very real.
Small details can fuel a scam. Something as ordinary as your voicemail greeting can give bad actors the raw material for a convincing deepfake.
Respond with care, not panic. How parents and educators react in the first moments matters—calm, supportive responses help a targeted student most.
Trusted adults are the safety net. Open conversations mean kids know they can come to you when something online goes wrong.
WHAT IT MEANS
Prediction Markets: A New Digital Risk 🪙
What they are: Online exchanges where people buy and sell contracts based on the outcome of future events—who wins the game, an election, an awards show, and more. These platforms are intended for adults 18 and older.
Why kids get pulled in: Real money, prices that move in real time, constant notifications, FOMO, and an endless stream of events create an environment designed to keep people engaged. Kids don’t have to seek these platforms out to encounter them. They may see them in social media feeds, sports conversations, news coverage, or even on a parent’s phone.
The concern: These platforms combine real-money financial risk, instant feedback, and constant engagement with still-developing teen brains, potentially increasing the risk of impulsive decisions, financial losses, and unhealthy digital habits.
Our take: Kids should not be on prediction markets. Period. Parent ProTech’s free guide helps families understand the risks, recognize warning signs, secure financial accounts and devices, and start important conversations at home.
WHAT’S NEW
Parent ProTech Just Got a Fresh Look ✨
We’ve redesigned the Parent ProTech experience to make it faster and easier to find exactly what you need—plus a couple of new features we think you’ll love:
Enhanced recommendations — more personalized guidance based on your family’s devices and concerns.
Easier question & content requests — ask our team a question or request a new guide in just a tap.
Log in and take the new experience for a spin.
MORE THAN SCREEN TIME
October is National Bullying Prevention Month 💙
Since 2006, October has been National Bullying Prevention Month. But bullying no longer stops at the school doors—it follows kids home through group chats, comments, and DMs. This month, consider a simple check-in: ask your child how things feel in their online spaces, and remind them that one trusted adult is still the strongest protection there is. If your child is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 (call or text 988).
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Worried about your child’s tech use? Just hit reply… Our team is here to help.
