Disturbing Reels, Hacked Passwords, and Take It Down

This week’s mainstream headlines have been dominated by trade wars, DOGE, and the Oscars. However, it’s important to remember that the digital world continues to present new challenges each day. Catch up on the tech news that can directly impact our children.

Digital Childhood Starts at Age 2

The latest Common Sense Census reveals a post-pandemic shift in young children’s media habits. By age 2, 40% have tablets and 1 in 4 have a cellphone by age 8.

The study also found that gaming time has soared 65% since 2020, and short-form videos dominate screentime. 

Parents, who say they are struggling to supervise content, worry about the impact technology will have on childhood development. 

The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight | Common Sense Media

Police Say Delete Telegram Now

Albuquerque police are sounding the alarm on Telegram, calling it a hotspot for illegal gun and drug deals.

They’re telling parents to wipe it from their kids’ phones immediately.

While Telegram insists it cooperates with law enforcement, cops aren’t buying it — one local force in New Mexico reports being able to trace over 90% of illegal gun and drug transactions to the app.

Police Warn Parents – Delete Messaging App From Your Kid’s iPhone, Android | Forbes

The Alarming Rise of Deepfake Abuse

A new survey reveals that 1 in 8 young people know someone targeted by AI-generated deepfake porn, and 1 in 17 have been victims themselves. 

Despite growing awareness, many teens — especially boys — downplay the harm. 

Schools and lawmakers are scrambling to respond as the threat of AI-fueled abuse spreads.

More Teens Than You Think Have Been ‘Deepfake’ Targets | Education Week

The Bill to Crack Down on AI-Generated Exploitation

The TAKE IT DOWN Act is gaining momentum, with bipartisan support and backing from Melania Trump. 

The bill would force tech platforms to remove deepfakes and non-consensual images within 48 hours. 

Lawmakers are pushing for quick passage, making online safety — especially for young people — a top priority in Washington.

What to know about deepfakes bill backed by Melania Trump | Axios

Instagram Users Flooded with Violent Reels

Instagram users were shocked to see violent, graphic videos in their Reels feed due to a Meta glitch. 

The error comes amid Meta’s push to rival TikTok and recent controversial moderation changes that could mean more questionable content slipping through.

The company apologized but didn’t explain the cause. 

Meta apologies, fixes glitch that caused violent video recommendations on Reels | CNN

A Password Hack’s Wake-Up Call

A recent password manager hack shows why two-factor authentication is a must. When a hacker got into the victim’s computer, they exposed his passwords. 

Pro tip: skip the “remember me” option on sensitive sites, watch out for session cookies, and think about adding extra antivirus protection to avoid risky downloads.

How to Keep Hackers From Destroying Your Digital Life | The Wall Street Journal

Lawsuit Alleges Roblox and Discord Expose Kids to Online Predators

A new lawsuit accuses Roblox and Discord of enabling child predators to exploit minors. 

A 13-year-old boy was allegedly groomed and coerced into sharing explicit content by an adult posing as a teenager. 

The lawsuit claims the platforms’ safety measures were inadequate, leading to emotional distress and trauma for the victim.

Roblox is ‘hunting ground for child sex predators,’ new lawsuit claims | MSN

The Ongoing Skinfluencer Trend

The continued rise of “skinfluencers” is encouraging young girls to use harsh anti-aging products, leading to skin damage like irritation and premature aging. 

Experts warn these products harm delicate skin and promote unhealthy beauty standards. 

Little Girls Are Harming Their Skin With Anti-Aging Products | Forbes

Article summaries created with help from AI

Other Headlines

• Which States Ban or Restrict Cellphones in Schools? | Education Week

• Apple unveils ‘age assurance’ technology amid child safety push | The Hill

• Apple – and app developers – have a responsibility to shield adult content from kids | Mashable

• Andy Dunn’s new app Pie uses AI to help you make friends | Tech Crunch

• Meta plans to release standalone Meta AI app in effort to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT | CNBC

• YouTube will soon restrict creators from mentioning certain gambling sites | The Verge

• YouTube warns creators an AI-generated video of its CEO is being used for phishing scams | The Verge

• Minnesota considers blocking ‘nudify’ apps that use AI to make explicit images without consent | AP News

• Amazon’s new AI-powered Alexa promises to be your ‘best friend in a digital world’ for a monthly fee | AP News

• 5 facts about Americans and YouTube | Pew Research Center

Did we miss anything?

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

Author Jackie Baucom

Jackie is a Gabb staff writer. She is the mother of four children and is passionate about keeping kids safe, happy, loved, and thriving. She has a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Utah.