Is Talkie AI Safe? What Parents Should Know
Talkie AI offers kids the thrill of chatting with their favorite celebrities or fictional characters — but serious risks exist.
March 3, 2025
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With March Madness in full swing, many parents may find themselves distracted and leaving tech news behind. No need to worry — here are the top stories you can quickly catch up on to stay informed and ensure your kids are safe online. Stay up to date without missing a beat.
Thinking Is Getting Harder
Cognitive skills are declining, with studies showing worsening focus, problem-solving, and reasoning — trends predating COVID-19.
Researchers link the drop to reduced reading, shifting media habits, and increased screen time.
Benchmarking tests reveal struggling teens and adults, raising concerns about long-term intelligence trends and our changing relationship with information processing.
Human Intelligence Sharply Declining | Futurism
Snapchat’s Half-Swipe Feature Fuels Teen Anxiety
Snapchat’s “half-swipe” feature, meant to reduce pressure by allowing users to preview messages without marking them as read, has unintentionally caused emotional stress among teens, particularly girls.
The ability to see if someone is active without responding immediately leads to self-doubt, with teens overanalyzing the lack of replies.
Experts suggest that adolescent girls are more affected by these interactions due to social conditioning, creating a toxic dynamic in teen dating.
The Snapchat Move That Leaves Teen Girls Heartbroken | The Wall Street Journal
Digital Parenting Starts With Communication
Parenting in the digital age can leave parents feeling like failures when trying to restrict what their kids see online, with workarounds and inappropriate content slipping through.
Digital parenting expert Elizabeth Milovidov advises parents to focus on open communication and realistic expectations when managing online safety.
Instead of relying solely on parental controls, she emphasizes teaching kids responsible behavior, setting boundaries early, and balancing screen time with offline activities for healthier digital habits.
Kids can bypass anything if they’re clever enough!’ How tech experts keep their children safe online | The Guardian
FOMO and Phishing
A study found young adults are particularly vulnerable to phishing scams on Instagram, driven by impulsive decisions and FOMO (fear of missing out).
Phishing typically occurs in three stages — friend requests, direct messages with deceptive links, and credential theft.
Experts suggest slowing down, verifying links, and raising awareness to prevent these scams.
Why Are Young Adults Vulnerable to Phishing Scams? Blame It on FOMO | The Wall Street Journal
College Student Fights Back Against Viral Hoax
Mary Kate Cornett, 18, is speaking out after false rumors about her personal life spread online, leading to doxxing and safety threats.
The hoax, fueled by the Burnerverse — an anonymous social media gossip network — and even mentioned on ESPN, shows how misinformation can spiral out of control, damaging real lives.
Cornett has filed reports with authorities.
Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett breaks silence on ‘sick and demented’ claims about her and boyfriend’s father | New York Post
Kik App Tied to Sex Crimes Allegations
Former judge Kevin Christensen and ex-fire chief Ned Hansen, both of Utah, allegedly used the chat app Kik to access child sex abuse materials.
Investigators warn that predators exploit such apps, urging parents to monitor kids’ devices.
Despite these apps’ anonymity, authorities stress their ability to track offenders using advanced investigative tools.
Investigators warn of online dangers after arrest of former judge, former fire chief | KSL
YouTube Joins Youth Digital Wellbeing Initiative
YouTube announced that it has joined global content creators in the Youth Digital Wellbeing Initiative to promote high-quality, age-appropriate content for young users.
The initiative focuses on media literacy, digital citizenship, and youth wellbeing while limiting harmful content.
YouTube says it will collaborate with experts like the American Psychological Association, and partner with leaders such as Khan Academy and The Wiggles to ensure a safer, enriching online experience for kids.
YouTube and industry leaders announce Youth Digital Wellbeing Initiative | YouTube
Article summaries created with help from AI
Other Headlines
- How to Spend Less Time on Social Media (or Leave It Altogether) | The New York Times
- Oracle Emerges as Most Likely Partner for US TikTok Deal | Social Media Today
- Find My Device’ for Android Now Lets You Track People | Life Hacker
- Long Island students design ‘buddy bot’ that offers surprising twist in battle to make social media safer for kids | New York Post
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.
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