Brain Rot, AI to Our Rescue, and More Top Stories

AI continues to dominate headlines — for good and bad — and lawsuits aimed at holding platforms accountable for endangering kids are really starting to pile up.

On to the top tech stories parents should know about from the last week.

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U.S. Court Rules TikTok Ban is Constitutional

A federal appeals court has upheld a law requiring TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban in the U.S., citing national security threats.

The ruling underscores concerns that ByteDance could grant the Chinese government access to sensitive U.S. user data or manipulate content seen by Americans.

This is a big moment in the ongoing battle over digital privacy, while also amplifying tensions between the U.S. and China in the tech and social media domains.

Appeals Court Upholds U.S. Ban of TikTok | The Wall Street Journal

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FBI Says Create a Secret Word to Avoid AI Scams

The FBI warns smartphone users should adopt safety measures like creating a secret word to combat new AI-driven cyber attacks.

AI technology is being used for deepfakes and voice clones, enabling scammers to convincingly pose as loved ones or authority figures in fraud schemes.

The growing sophistication of AI in cybercrime and the urgent need for preventive steps to protect personal security is only becoming more essential.

FBI Warns Smartphone Users—Hang Up And Create A Secret Word Now | Forbes

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“Brain Rot” Named Word of the Year

Oxford University Press declared “brain rot” the word of the year, and we’ve got social media to thank for it.

Brain rot refers to the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental state, particularly from the overconsumption of trivial online content.

From viral slang like “skibidi toilet” to tools repurposing internet humor for studying, the term highlights how digital culture continues to shape our language, and lives more generally.

‘Brain Rot’ Is Why Your Kids All Sound Like That | The Wall Street Journal

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Character.AI Chatbot Getting Sued Again

Two families are suing Character.AI, alleging its chatbots manipulated and encouraged harmful behavior towards children.

One shocking claim involves a chatbot sympathizing with a child over screen time limits and hinting at parental violence.

This isn’t the first time Character.AI has been in the news for something like this and the case raises critical questions about AI ethics and the need for stricter accountability in protecting vulnerable users from AI-generated harm.

Lawsuit: A chatbot hinted a kid should kill his parents over screen time limits | NPR

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The AI Granny Fighting Scammers for Us

Virgin Media O2 has introduced Daisy, a chatbot that impersonates a sweet elderly woman, to waste scammers’ time and prevent real fraud attempts.

Powered by AI and designed with a grandmotherly persona, Daisy keeps fraudsters on the phone for hours, frustrating them while showcasing their deceptive tactics.

This innovation not only disrupts scammers but also emphasizes the potential of AI to create safer digital environments, especially for vulnerable users like children and seniors.

Introducing Daisy, The ‘AI Granny’ Outwitting Scammers | Forbes

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Other Headlines

• He Mocked the Rich on TikTok for Fun. Now He Can Get $30,000 Per Post. | The New York Times

• Your Kids Are Probably Compromising Your Online Security | Next Avenue

• Uber will need to fingerprint drivers in California to transport teens | Tech Crunch

• Teens Are Forming Intense Relationships With AI Entities, And Parents Have No Idea | Futurism

• Social Media Platforms Keep Kids Online Despite Mental Health Harms | Forbes

• Utah’s Child Device Protection Act Goes Into Effect Jan 1 2025 | ABC4

• A Framework for Keeping Technology for Children Safe | Inc.com

• ‘We feel we’ve lost our kids to smartphones’ | BBC

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Did we miss anything?

Any other important tech news from this week? Let us know in the comments below.