Phones Banned in Schools? The Surprising Truth 📵

IN THE NEWS
Today’s Top Tech 📲

📺 YouTube’s AI Will Guess Your Age | YouTube will use AI to flag minors and apply safety settings. Adults wrongly flagged must prove their age with an ID, credit card, or selfie. It’s a step toward safer content for kids but also a reminder to talk with your family about privacy trade-offs when platforms ask for sensitive info. Use this video to talk with your students about how AI algorithms work.

🤖 Texas Investigates AI Chatbots | The state accuses Meta and Character.AI of misleading kids by posing as mental health tools while collecting data for ads. Parents, remind your kids: AI is not a therapist, and personal info shared online is never truly private.

🎬 You’re Watching AI Videos Whether You Realize It Or Not | Google’s Flow tool has already helped creators make 100 million AI videos in just 90 days. It shows how fast AI video is growing. Remind your kids that what they see online isn’t always real. Introduce the importance of critical thinking online with our video.

⚖️ Louisiana Sues Roblox | The state claims Roblox is failing to protect kids, calling it the “perfect place for predators.” Roblox says safety is a top priority, but critics say it’s not enough. If your child is on Roblox, our guide and conversation starters are a great place to begin.

🫣 “Skibidi” Is In The Dictionary | The viral slang for “brain rot” that originates from a questionable YouTube series is now officially part of the Cambridge Dictionary. If you’re confused, our guide to Gen Alpha slang can help.

TRENDING
The Truth About School Phone Bans 📵

Smartphones are everywhere. 

Pew Research estimates 95% of U.S. teens have access to one, and teachers say they’re the top classroom distraction. In this video, we unpack what happens when schools take the bold step of banning phones.

You’ll hear why some leaders call it “transformational,” how students are reacting, and what families can do to build healthier phone habits at home.

THE TECH TRANSLATOR PODCAST
When Sadness Goes Viral: Teens, Depression & Social Media 😔

Dr. Meredith Gansner has worked as a child psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and in this eye-opening episode of The Tech Translator, she explains how social media is reshaping the way teens experience and express depression.

You’ll hear why irritability can be a hidden red flag, why secret tracking apps backfire, and how parents can respond when a child shares big emotions.

Catch the full interview now → YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

PROTECH CURRICULUM
We’d Love Your Feedback 🚀

To our educators across the nation, thank you for everything you do. We love hearing from you!

Beneath every K-12 ProTech lesson (like this one), we have a dedicated area for you to send us your feedback and questions. Additionally, this is also where you can log completion of a lesson.

Your responses not only help us, but this is also how your school or district will know you have successfully completed a ProTech lesson.