Holiday Tech: What Families Always Wish They’d Done First... 😳

IN THE NEWS
News Worth Knowing 🔥

🇦🇺 Australia Bans Social Media for Kids | Australia has rolled out a world-first ban blocking kids under 16 from social platforms, forcing companies to verify ages and deactivate accounts. Supporters say it protects kids. Critics warn teens may move to less regulated spaces. For research-backed guidance on media use, we recommend the Digital Wellness Lab’s Family Digital Wellness Guide.

🧸 Beware AI Toys | Child safety groups are urging parents to avoid AI-powered toys this holiday season, citing risks like inappropriate interactions and limited parental controls. Following the backlash, toymaker Mattel is pumping the brakes. Share this with a friend.

🐭 AI Mickey Mouse | Disney signed a deal with OpenAI allowing its characters to appear in Sora-generated videos. Parents can expect kids to see more familiar characters in AI-generated “slop“ (Merriam-Webster’s word of the year). Start with our conversation starters for helpful family conversations.

🕳️ Instagram Comment “Loophole” | Despite Meta’s added teen restrictions on Instagram, adults may still reach teens by replying to comments on public posts and then sending private messages, raising concerns around grooming and sextortion. Start with our Instagram parental controls guide here.

🚨 Sexualized AI “Kids” Content on TikTok | A Spanish online safety nonprofit found AI-generated videos depicting sexualized, child-like characters gaining millions of likes on TikTok, with some accounts advertising child sexual abuse material. Despite platform bans of this content, enforcement appears inconsistent, underscoring why supervision, reporting tools, and conversations about AI content matter more than ever. Parents, use our guide to set up TikTok’s Family Pairing.

IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Your Holiday Tech Setup Survival Guide 🎁

New devices come with joy, excitement… and the very real possibility of “Wait, how did they already download that?” 🙃

Before that new Switch, iPhone, or tablet is powered on, here’s how to set your family up for fewer tech battles and more peace over break:

1 - Set family expectations before the wrapping paper hits the floor.

Talk through:

• Where devices are allowed (not bedrooms, bathrooms, or the dinner table)

• What to do if something online feels weird, scary, or uncomfortable—our conversation starters can help you begin the tough conversations

• What the consequences are if rules are ignored or bypassed (future-you will thank present-you)

2 - Put it in writing (yes, really).

Verbal rules have a short shelf life. Our Parent ProTech Smartphone Contract helps families work with their kids to clarify expectations and avoid the classic “but you never said that” moment.

3 - Add parental controls before access.

This is the tech equivalent of putting on a seatbelt before the ride starts. Before accounts are created, please:

• Turn on parental controls (our Parent ProTech library is a great place to start for step-by-step guides and walkthroughs)

• Set content and communication limits

• Disable in-app purchases and open downloads

• Use our home network guide to ensure you have a safe and secure home network

4 - Start with less access than you think they need.

You can always say “yes” later as your child proves to use the device and new privilege responsibly. Taking access away is a lot harder.

Delay social media, limit addictive apps early on, and opt to require parent permission for downloads.

5 - Get in the tech world with your kids.

Don’t hand it over and disappear.

Sit with them. Play a round of Fortnite. Scroll through device features together. Presence matters more than expertise. This is your key to:

• Getting to know your child’s interests

• Understanding how the device or platform actually works

• Spotting red flags early

• Creating space for open conversations

Online and offline, connection is one of the strongest protective factors.

You’ve got this. 👏

And for those of us still wrapping up our holiday shopping, you’re not alone.

The ProTech Holiday Gift Guide pulls together expert-vetted tech and non-tech gift ideas with zero paid placements. Watch Melvin and Joshua break down the guide here.

SAFER COMMUNITIES
Pinellas County Steps Up for Kids’ Digital Safety 🔒

Florida’s Pinellas County just became a national leader in online safety by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County giving every parent, grandparent, and caregiver free access to Parent ProTech.

Backed by the Juvenile Welfare Board, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and Pinellas County Schools, this first-of-its-kind partnership recognizes what families already know: protecting kids online takes education, not just rules. It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when communities invest in families, and a model other counties should be watching closely.

If you’d like to see Parent ProTech available in your county, reply to this email with your county name, and we’ll be in touch with steps we can take together.

PARENT PROTECH IN THE CLASSROOM
CharacterEd: Building Character Online & Off 🤝

As the semester wraps up, many schools are noticing the same thing: students need more support with self-control, relationships, and decision-making, especially as digital pressures follow them everywhere.

CharacterEd by Parent ProTech was built around those exact moments and has been recognized by the Georgia Department of Education as a statewide model for character education, helping students practice core skills both online and offline in ways that fit naturally into the school day.

You can access the full curriculum add-on by navigating to the CharacterEd tab at the top right of the Parent ProTech library.

THE PARENT PROTECH PLATFORM
All Your Favorites in One Place 👀 

To make lesson planning and supporting families easier, we’ve added a bookmark feature to the Parent ProTech platform. You can now save lessons, guides, and tools you want to come back to, right when you need them.

NEED TECH HELP?
We’ve Got You Covered 🩵

Got a tech question? Whether it’s a new app, game, or device your child is using (or hoping to unwrap soon), you can book one-on-one support call with a Parent ProTech expert. Share what you’re navigating when you schedule, and we’ll be ready to help.