Is Roblox Safe for Kids? A Parent’s Guide to the World’s Most Popular Kids’ Game
Roblox is one of the most popular games with kids. What should parents know?
February 2, 2025
Fake Images, Real Threats: What Parents Should…
Cannabis Marketing, RIP Duo, and a Pizza Party
Hot Takes: Kids Say It, but What Does it Mean?
Fom AI chatbots replacing school counselors to kids easily bypassing social media bans, this week’s top stories bring attention to the evolving challenges and opportunities in parenting and tech. Learn about the latest trends shaping the kids’ industry, how “vibe coding” is changing programming, and why a former family vlogger is warning parents about online exposure. Here’s what you need to know.
The AI-Human Hybrid Chatbot Replacing School Counselors
With school counselor shortages nationwide, districts are turning to Sonny, an AI-human chatbot, to support students’ mental health.
Sonny blends AI with human oversight, engaging teens in familiar language while monitoring crises.
Currently being used in nine districts, Sonny helps students by offering judgment-free support and flagging serious concerns in real time.
When There’s No School Counselor, There’s a Bot | The Wall Street Journal
Underage Social Media Ban Exposes Flaws
An Australian report reveals that most children under 13 easily bypass social media age restrictions, most of which rely on self-declared birthdates.
With a nationwide ban for under-16s set to take effect later this year, platforms face pressure to enhance enforcement.
Despite some proactive detection efforts, underage accounts remain widespread, raising concerns over online safety.
Australian children able to bypass age limit set by social media platforms, report shows | Reuters
2024 Data Report on Kids & Screens
Qustodio’s latest The Digital Dilemma report, now in its sixth year, sheds light on children’s digital habits and parental concerns.
With U.S. homes averaging 21 devices, 83% of parents worry about excessive screen time. While most use parental controls, tech-free times, and conversations to manage digital wellbeing, 66% admit they struggle with their own device use.
The report further includes data on app preferences, safety risks, social media usage.
The Digital Dilemma: Childhood at a Crossroads | Qustodio
Musk Fires Back with Grok 3 After OpenAI Snub
Days after OpenAI rejected Elon Musk’s takeover bid, his AI startup xAI unveiled Grok 3, claiming it outperforms GPT-4o and rivals.
Showcased on X, Grok 3 boasts 10x computing power over its predecessor and aims to “understand the universe.”
It’s available to Premium+ X subscribers for $22/month.
Musk launches Grok 3 AI chatbot. Here’s what to know. | CBS News
Vibe Coding Takes Over Silicon Valley
“Vibe coding,” a term coined by OpenAI cofounder Andrej Karpathy, refers to a new AI-assisted programming approach where users guide AI with prompts rather than writing traditional code.
With AI advancing rapidly, the coding industry faces a major shift as it makes coding more accessible to beginners.
However, experts warn of risks like security vulnerabilities, technical debt, and AI-generated errors that are difficult to manage.
Silicon Valley’s next act: bring ‘vibe coding’ to the world | Business Insider
Family Vlogging Dangers
Kevin Franke, estranged husband of former YouTuber Ruby Franke, is warning parents about the risks of exposing family life on social media.
He and his son, Chad, shared how their family changed as their online presence grew, leading to emotional strain and eventual abuse.
Franke urges all to be cautious of what is shared online, especially content featuring children.
Ruby Franke’s estranged husband speaks out about dangers of social media | ABC News
Trends Shaping the Kids Industry
A new report from The Insights Family highlights six key trends shaping the kids industry in 2025.
Kids today are prioritizing their well-being, seeking unique brand collaborations, favoring gaming with digital experiences, embracing immersive ads, using AI for content creation, and turning to YouTube for learning.
REPORT: Six trends shaping the kids industry in 2025 | Kidscreen
Other Headlines
- States Consider App-Store Age-Verification Laws | The Wall Street Journal
- Yope is sparking Gen Z (and VC) interest with an Instagram-like app for private groups | Tech Crunch
- U.S. Senate Advances KOSMA Bill Targeting Social Media Use by Minors | The National Law Review
- Adobe launches a Photoshop iPhone app | Tech Crunch
- Instagram Explains How its Algorithm Weighs Time Spent Watching Longer Clips | Social Media Today
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.
Success!
Your comment has been submitted for review! We will notify you when it has been approved and posted!
Thank you!