IN THE NEWS
Today’s Top Tech 📲

📱 Protect Your iPhone | If you or your family have an iPhone, you’ll want to update it to the most recent iOS update as soon as possible. The update requires a scan of your fingerprint or Face ID to protect your sensitive information. Previous versions allowed access with only a passcode, something easily observed and used by bad actors (The Verge). Another recent iPhone update is sparking some backlash for its impact on teens through the new Journal app.

🏛️ AI Interference | Many in New Hampshire received a phone call from what sounds like President Biden, urging them not to vote in yesterday’s primary. While illegal, this is only one way widespread AI technologies can be used irresponsibly (Washington Post).

📵 Leave the Phone at Home? | The debate in districts across the United States rages on over whether phones should be allowed in the classroom (USA Today). With many learning environments reliant on tech, what do you think?

SOCIAL MEDIA
It’s Trending Online… 📈

It’s a Zynsation | This smoking alternative is being promoted to teens online. While the pouches are smoke-free, they do include the addictive nicotine (NY Times). You can learn more here.

So Mean | The 2024 Mean Girls remake is in theaters, and it has taken social media by storm, with many complaining about all the e.l.f. makeup that is marketed through and alongside the musical (NY Post).

CURRICULUM
Digital Citizenship Mastered 🔒

Looking for simple tools that can make a major impact in your learning environment? Look no further.

From engaging videos, dynamic activities, and comprehensive lesson plans, we have tools built by educators that you can use in your classroom, whether you have an extra 5 minutes or 45 to help your students safely navigate the online world.

These lessons cover cyberbullying, using AI the right way, privacy, and staying safe with friends and strangers online, to name a few. They’re designed in line with ISTE standards to be best suited to fit your classroom.

Scroll to the bottom of the library to get started today.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Too Little, Too Late, Snapchat 😳

An AI messaging with minors about drugs and sex?

It’s not out of a horror movie, this is real, and it has happened on Snapchat. After months of negative feedback and countless discomforting screenshots, Snap has given parents the authority to disable the AI chatbot, My AI, from conversing with their child.

Worst of all, this is only one of the many concerns our team has about your child using Snapchat. We recommend you use extreme caution in allowing your children or teens to make an account.

Click here for our full video walkthrough of Snapchat.

TECH IN THE CLASSROOM
AI for teachers? 👩‍🏫

Hey teachers - are you running out of time in your day? Tired of juggling lesson plans, assessments, and student engagement?

We want to help you fight burnout and boost your productivity. MagicSchool.ai was built by educators, for educators, and you can use it to:

• Generate original lesson plans, create engaging activities, and write assessments

• Cater to every student's needs with personalized learning tools and strategies

• Give feedback to students to help them learn and improve

Best of all, when it comes to privacy, MagicSchool.ai is fully compliant with FERPA and COPPA. If you’re looking for strategies to build an AI-proof classroom, don’t miss this video from our team.

This is not sponsored, but this is a powerful tool that we’re hearing about often from our partner schools and educators.