Screen Time = The New Tobacco 🔞

IN THE NEWS
Today’s Top Tech 📲

🚬 Is Screen Time the New Tobacco? | Researchers in Ohio are studying how screen time affects children’s brain development, particularly in areas like language and decision-making. Experts stress limiting screen use for young kids (no screen time before age three) and modeling healthy habits. We sat down with Dr. Crystal Collier to talk about how parents can be proactive.

🚒 Watch Duty App: Tech Saving Lives | Nonprofit app Watch Duty is helping LA residents track wildfires with real-time maps and updates, often outpacing official alerts. Run by volunteers and retired firefighters, it hit two million downloads this week, proving how technology can be a critical lifeline in emergencies.

🫵 Meta Hands Moderation to Users | Meta is nixing fact-checkers and putting users in charge of spotting and correcting misinformation. While this promotes free expression, it may also lead to slower and less effective responses to false or toxic content. Kids on Meta platforms? Teach them how to think critically and verify what they see online. Start here.

⚰️ TikTok’s Last Hope | In what could be the “most consequential [ruling] of the digital age,” the Supreme Court Friday weighed TikTok’s free speech claims versus US national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership. A ruling is expected this week, as the January 19 sale or ban deadline is looming. Use our conversation starters to talk with your family about the app.

❤️ We Need Community | In his “Parting Prescription,” US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy describes a community crisis made worse by our “digital silos.” His recommendations include prioritizing face-to-face connection, creating tech-free zones, and looking for ways to serve others. We could all use a digital detox.

TRENDING
Lost in Translation: Gen Alpha Slang 🤷‍♀️

👩‍⚕️ The feeling when knee surgery is tomorrow… | The simple meme with a blue Grinch has flooded the internet. Teens can’t stop using it, and experts say it means nothing - it’s a joke that's gained popularity for its nonsensical humor.

🍑 GYAT | From TODAY to Slangman, this term has sparked a lot of chatter. We hear students using it as a shocked expression or as a way to compliment the lower half of someone’s figure. Yeah, you read that right.

FOR THE CLASSROOM
Equipping Your Learners with Tech Skills 🚀

From Galactic Guardians to Digital Detectives, our reimagined elementary curriculum is ready for use in your school, home, or classroom.

With sheltered instruction techniques and varied expansion activities, these lessons are designed by educators to support diverse learners.

This work is only possible because of the dedication of our lead curriculum designer and curriculum team. Join us in giving a warm ProTech Playbook welcome to Krystina! 🙏

She has spent over a decade in education, leading in the classroom, writing curriculum, coaching teachers, building partnerships, and implementing instructional technology. She’s created engaging curriculum for students of all ages, and we’re so honored to have her on our team.

Whether you like cozy gaming, thriller movies, or just want to welcome Krystina to the team, show Krystina some love!

CYBERBULLYING
🎯 Digital Defense: Tackling Cyberbullying Together

Ever heard of troops sent to war without armor? It happened in 2010—and it’s a powerful reminder: don’t face a battlefield unprepared.

The internet can be a battlefield of its own, and cyberbullying is one of the toughest fights. Nearly 1 in 2 teens in the U.S. have experienced it. But how do you tell the difference between harmless “digital drama” and real harm? And more importantly, how can you take action to protect yourself and others?

💡 In this series, Joshua unpacks:

• The psychological and physical toll of cyberbullying,

• How to distinguish drama vs. bullying,

• Simple steps to report, block, and become an upstander, and

• A powerful example of why our words online matter.

You wouldn’t go into war without armor. Don’t let your students log on without the tools to protect themselves and others. 🎥 Watch now and armor up!

P*RNOGRAPHY
Kids Are Seeing It—Here’s How You Can Help 😳

Did you know the average age of first exposure to pornography is 12—or even younger, according to experts?

In our latest video, Joshua teams up with Crime Stoppers of Houston to cover:

• Tips for talking with your kids about pornography,

• Setting device limits and using parental controls, and

• Resources to guide your family through this tough topic.

These conversations aren’t easy, but they’re essential. You can be the trusted guide your child needs to navigate the online world.

Would you rather they learn about the internet’s dark corners from friends—or from you? You can take the lead and equip them for what lies ahead.