Influencer Inspired Video Game, Social Media’s First Babies are Adults, and Starlink Meets a Remote Tribe

This week’s roundup has crucial updates for parents, from the ongoing debate over social media’s impact on kids, to the alarming rise in fake AI nude images targeting teens. Stay informed about these pressing issues shaping the digital landscape for our kids.

Growing Up Online

Cam Barrett recalls her first period being announced on Facebook by her mother, marking the beginning of an era where her private moments were shared online without her consent.

This oversharing led to severe bullying and anxiety, leading Barrett to drop out of school.

Now 25, Barrett is part of a movement advocating for laws to protect children from parents who monetize their lives on social media.

The first social media babies are adults now. Some are pushing for laws to protect kids from their parents’ oversharing | CNN

The AI Nude Crisis

Fake nude photos generated by AI apps have caused distress nationwide, affecting many students’ mental health.

Despite knowing the images are fake, victims say bullies are targeting them as a result.

With little adult oversight, students struggle to cope, and schools are urged to update policies and educate students.

AI Fake Nudes Are Now a Frightening Reality for Teens | The Wall Street Journal

The Video Game Where Fame Comes at a Deadly Price

“Content Warning,” a new popular horror game, thrusts players into a world where they must record monsters and post them to the game’s video sharing platform — with the goal of receiving online fame.

Inspired by influencer culture, the game satirizes the extremes of online stardom.

With over a million copies sold, it reflects the allure and dangers of seeking viral attention in today’s digital landscape.

Role-Play With Your Friends as Influencers Dying to Go Viral | The New York Times

Internet Addiction Linked to Brain Function Impairments

A study reveals that internet addiction in teens disrupts brain signals that affect attention and working memory.

Conducted from 2013 to 2022, the findings suggest that internet addiction disrupts brain regions linked to executive functions like attention and decision-making, possibly hindering development and well-being.

How internet addiction may affect your teen’s brain, according to a new study | CNN

Screen Time vs. Sleep

An international panel of sleep experts reviewed 574 studies and concluded that screen use impairs sleep health in children and teens, particularly content viewed before bedtime.

Their findings, published in Sleep Health, highlight the need for strategies to mitigate these effects.

Recommendations include limiting screen time, creating relaxing bedtime routines, and educating families on healthy technology habits. 

Screen time impairs sleep health for children, adolescents | KSL

The Internet Arrives at an Isolated Village

In a remote Amazon village, the Marubo people have embraced high-speed internet from Elon Musk’s Starlink. 

While the internet has provided benefits like emergency communication and education, it has also introduced challenges for the tribe such as addictive behaviors, culture shifts, and exposure to harmful content — including social media, gossip, and pornography.

The Marubo are now facing the dilemma of balancing tradition with modernization.

The Internet’s Final Frontier: Remote Amazon Tribes | The New York Times

Other Headlines

• Chip and Joanna Gaines have one big rule when it comes to their 5 kids and social media | Today

• OpenAI Says Russia and China Used Its A.I. in Covert Campaigns | The New York Times

• When should kids have smartphones? New survey reveals parental opinions | YouGov

• What to Know About the Open Versus Closed Software Debate | The New York Times

Did we miss anything?

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.

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