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IN THE NEWS
Today’s Top Tech 📲

🔞 ChatGPT Adds Adult Mode | OpenAI will allow “erotica” for verified adults, a major shift from its past limits. Experts warn it could blur lines between tech and intimacy, raising safety and addiction concerns, especially if minors find ways around age checks. This comes after two parents allege ChatGPT is to blame for their son’s suicide. Parents, please use our guides and conversation starters to talk with your kids about ChatGPT before they use the tool.

📱 Instagram Goes PG-13 | Teen accounts will now follow PG-13 content ratings by default, limiting what under-18 users see. Parents can choose stricter settings and report content that crosses the line, but don’t assume the algorithm knows what’s safe for your kids. Even “filtered” feeds can expose teens to mature content. To protect your kids on Instagram, start here.

🤖 California Regulates AI Chatbots | California became the first state to pass a law requiring AI companion chatbots to include age checks, crisis safeguards, and transparency about artificial interactions. Starting in 2026, companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Character AI will be legally accountable for protecting minors and vulnerable users. Start with our AI chatbot guide to protect your students.

😂 The “6-7” Meme Takes Over Schools | Kids everywhere are shouting “6-7!” for no reason, and that’s the point. The viral nonsense phrase has become a Gen Alpha inside joke, and we know the fastest way to kill it is for adults to start saying it too. If you need a good laugh, watch middle schooler Bo explain the phenomenon to his “Pop Pop” here.

UPDATED ON PARENT PROTECH
Millions of US Kids + Teens Play These Games… 😳

From after-school hangouts to late-night gaming sessions, Roblox and Fortnite have become digital playgrounds for millions of kids and teens. But how safe are they really? In our two newest Parent ProTech series, we break down everything parents need to know.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 👇

• What makes each game so popular (and addictive)

• How both games connect kids with friends (and strangers)

• The privacy settings and in-game purchases parents should watch

• How to lock down accounts, report unsafe behavior, and talk with your child about healthy gaming habits

Whether your child is growing a garden in Roblox or battling it out in Fortnite, our guides will help you feel confident and in control. Let us know if you have any questions!

Watch on Parent ProTech | Roblox | Fortnite

PARENT PROTECH IN THE CLASSROOM
Cybersecurity Month Spotlight 🔒

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to help students think twice before they tap or connect online. Below, we’ve spotlighted a few of our many K-12 resources to help you equip your students.

• Elementary

  • Staying Safe in Cyberspace (Lesson) - Students learn how to protect their personal information, recognize online scams, and create strong passwords.

  • Wait, Was That Safe? (Video) - Krystina and Glitch teach how to avoid online scams and when to talk to a trusted adult when something feels off.

• Middle

  • Share with Care (Lesson) - Students explore privacy and digital footprints through real-life scenarios, learning how to protect personal info and share responsibly online.

  • Netiquette (Video) - Joshua breaks down online kindness, accountability, and how every post shapes your reputation.

• High

  • Cultivating Kindness and Empathy Online (Lesson) - Students learn how to build a positive online culture by practicing empathy and kindness online.

  • Kindness Online: It Matters (Video) - Joshua challenges students to think before they post and remember there’s a real person on the other side of the screen.

Regardless of your students’ age, we have a resource in our library to help you teach these essential concepts.

THE TECH TRANSLATOR PODCAST
5 Experts Changing How Parents Think About Tech, Screens, and Safety 🎙

These episodes of The Tech Translator Podcast dive into the issues shaping our kids’ digital lives right now:

• Dr. Crystal Collier | Psychotherapist, Professor, Researcher, Author - Dr. Collier explains how the teenage brain is wired and what families can do to reconnect with brain-based parenting.

• Rania Mankarious | CEO, Crime Stoppers of Houston - Rania highlights why reporting is the first line of defense, why “app whack-a-mole” will never work, and what parents should do before danger strikes.

• Lori Alhadeff | Activist, Broward County School Board Member, Founder of Make Our Schools Safe - Lori shares how she turned the Parkland tragedy into Alyssa’s Law and brought panic-button tech to schools nationwide.

• Tessa Stuckey | Mom, Therapist, Advocate (@TheMomTherapist) - Tessa offers a real-world talk on dopamine, meltdowns, rebuilding connection, and why “all online access equals risk.”

• Mark Henderson | Missouri’s “AI Guy” - Mark shares why bans failed, what “responsible use” really means, and how to ready kids for an AI-first workplace.

You can stay ahead of the curve. 👏

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

TOGETHER WITH COSMO
Learn More About Our Partner, Cosmo ⌚︎

Cosmo is on a mission to bring families closer together with solutions that inspire the best of childhood (and parenthood). We recently reviewed their JrTrack 5 Kids Smartwatch - check out our full review here to learn more and see what our team thought!