TikTok continues to push boundaries with outrageous trends like the ‘Kool-Aid Man Challenge.’ Meanwhile, research shows social media use is intensifying emotional struggles for vulnerable teens, while ethically dubious AI studies are testing the limits of privacy and consent. Here’s a look at this week’s headlines.
TikTok’s ‘Kool-Aid Man Challenge’ is Smashing Fences
Inspired by nostalgic Kool-Aid commercials, teens on Staten Island are recreating the “Kool-Aid Man Challenge” by crashing through neighbors’ fences, causing property damage.
This trend, which began on TikTok in 2020, has resurfaced, leading to costly repairs and raising concerns about the influence of viral challenges on youth behavior.
TikTok’s ‘Kool-Aid Man Challenge’ Is Breaking More Than The Internet | Delish
Mental Health Conditions Shape Teens’ Social Media Use
A University of Cambridge study reveals that adolescents with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, spend approximately 50 more minutes daily on social media than their peers.
They also report higher levels of social comparison, mood fluctuations, and lower self-control online.
These patterns suggest that social media may amplify emotional challenges in affected teens.
Teens With Mental Health Conditions Use Social Media Differently | Neuroscience News
The Hidden Dangers of AI Companions
A recent report by Common Sense Media warns that AI companion apps like Replika, Character.AI, and Nomi pose significant risks to minors.
These chatbots can engage in sexually explicit conversations, encourage harmful behaviors, and foster emotional dependency.
Experts urge parents to restrict access for users under 18 and advocate for stricter age verification and further research into the psychological impacts on adolescents.
Social AI Companions | Common Sense Media
Google’s Gemini Is Coming for the Kids
Google is introducing its Gemini AI to children under 13 through supervised accounts managed via Google Family Link.
While the AI can assist with tasks like homework and storytelling, concerns arise about its potential to produce errors or expose children to inappropriate content.
Google advises parents to discuss the nature of AI with their children and to monitor usage closely. Access can be controlled or disabled by parents, and notifications are sent when a child uses Gemini for the first time.
Google’s Opening Up Gemini AI for Kids Under 13. Start Clutching Your Pearls | Vice
AI Bots Pose as Reddit Users in Controversial Study
University of Zurich researchers secretly deployed AI-generated personas on Reddit’s r/changemyview to test persuasive techniques.
Over 1,000 comments, some with fabricated personal stories, were posted without user consent.
The deception sparked outrage, leading to accusations of unethical conduct and prompting an investigation into the study’s methods.
‘The Worst Internet-Research Ethics Violation I Have Ever Seen’ | The Atlantic
When Facebook Rumors Turn Dangerous
In Oakdale, California, a false Facebook post claimed antifa activists were arriving by bus to protest.
In response, dozens of armed locals mobilized, blocked roads, and confronted a Latino family in a van, mistaking them for the protesters.
The family was innocent. No protest ever happened — just panic fueled by online rumors.
It Was Just a Rumor on Facebook. Then a Militia Showed Up. | The New York Times
Other Headlines
- Gen Z’s 148% dumbphone boom isn’t nostalgia – it’s a grass-roots boycott of the attention economy | Killer Startups
- TikTok Under Fire for Allegedly Promoting Bonnie Blue’s Disturbing “1000 Men in One Day” Challenge | Yahoo News
- A.I. Is Getting More Powerful, but Its Hallucinations Are Getting Worse | The New York Times
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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