A Safer Internet Starts with You 🫵

IN THE NEWS
Today’s Top Tech 📲

👎 Teens Don’t Trust Big Tech | A Common Sense Media study found that 64% of US teens don’t trust tech companies to prioritize their well-being. Can you blame them? Big Tech builds products to keep us hooked, collect our data, and boost profits—all while claiming to make life easier. Teach your kids to think twice before sharing anything online—if a product is free, their data is likely the price.

🎛️ AI’s Rapid Rise | AI is evolving fast, and DeepSeek’s rise shows that powerful models can be built with fewer resources. As AI becomes more accessible, talk to your students about how these tools shape their digital experiences. Nearly half of US teens say they’ve been misled by fake content. Can you spot the difference?

🗺️ Google Maps + Politics | Google Maps has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for U.S. users, sparking debate as Mexico pushes back. This is a great opportunity to discuss with kids how digital maps are shaped by governments, history, and evolving technology.

🏈 Super Bowl + Big Tech | Super Bowl ads from Big Tech framed AI as a friendly, emotional companion, but many also highlighted its flaws, showing how AI often replaces thought. Ask your students how AI’s answers compare to their own research, creativity, and problem-solving skills. See our conversation starters here.

TRENDING
Lost in Translation: Gen Alpha Slang 🤷‍♀️

🚽 Skibidi Toilet | Originating from a popular YouTube series, this term has become a versatile expression, used to convey excitement or as a nonsensical interjection. Joshua breaks it down here.

🦸‍♂️ Gigachad | This refers to an idealized, hyper-masculine male figure, often shown in memes. In 2024, the Gigachad cryptocurrency coin thrived.

IT’S SAFER INTERNET DAY
A Safer Internet Starts with You 🫵

The online world was not built with our kids in mind. Nearly a third of children report having negative experiences while on the internet. As you read this, it’s estimated that 50,000 predators are actively seeking out minors online. The numbers are harrowing, and the risks are real.

As our team works in hundreds of districts and schools across 17 states, we talk with many grieving parents, concerned leaders, and active students. We hear the stories of sextortion and shocking headlines, but we also hear stories of overcoming and teens charting a different path.

Real change takes all of us.

For Families: This Safer Internet Day, take action with five practical challenges to help protect your kids online.

For Educators: Check out our resource featuring this week’s top K-12 classroom lessons, essential parent and family content, and materials to support Safer Internet Day.

We’re making the online world a safer place, one home, classroom, and conversation at a time. 🔒

RESOURCES FOR YOU
Now on Parent ProTech 🆕

Our team is adding new resources every week in both English and Spanish to help you navigate parenting in the digital world.

Just Updated:

• Brawl Stars – A popular multiplayer game with chat features—fun for kids, but parents should be aware of in-game interactions.

• Zigazoo – A kid-friendly social app that encourages creativity, but parental supervision is still important.

• Troomi – A smartphone that grows with your child, offering safe communication with parent-managed controls.

• Bark – A phone with build-in parental controls that helps monitor texts, apps, and social media for potential risks.

• Gabb – A kid-safe phone with no internet or social media, designed to keep children connected without the risks.

• X – Formerly Twitter, this platform allows open communication—parents should review privacy settings and discuss safe use.

• Telegram – A messaging app with privacy-focused features—great for security but can be risky for kids without oversight.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Come Join Us 🚗

We’re passionate about partnering with parents and educators to break down the impact of technology and equip students to thrive in today’s digital world.

Over the next few weeks, our team will be speaking in Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Irvine, CA; and Fort Myers, FL. If you’re looking to give your community practical tools to navigate the online world safely, we’d love to connect!

Special thank you to First Baptist Church of Easley for hosting us last month!