BrightCanary

Kids are always watching — and learning. That’s why it’s paramount that parents practice what we preach when it comes to technology. Parental technoference — the sudden withdrawal of attention due to device distraction — can have a negative impact on both the quality and quantity of time they spend with their children. Nicole Baker, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Franklin Pierce University, stresses that parental interactions are vital to fostering a child’s growth and development. She cautions that “parental technoference can contribute to an increase in externalizing behaviors (e.g., hyperactivity and aggression), as well as internalizing issues (e.g., anxiety and depression) among children.” In an increasingly connected world, there are valid reasons to be on our phones around our children — and, in some cases, it may even?support?our role as parents. The key is to be mindful of how we interact with technology around our children, identify areas for improvement, and take active steps to modify our behavior. Read on for tips on how to model appropriate digital behavior for your children. #workingparent #digitalparenting #parenting

This week in Parent Pixels: At last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee, advocates and policymakers called for better online child safety legislation — including the need for easy-to-use parental controls, standardized across platforms. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety

Half of teens use their smartphones for at least 66 minutes during school hours, and 25% logged in for more than two hours. Does your child’s school district ban smartphones in school? If not, do you have screen time limits during school hours? ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety

This week in Parent Pixels: Is your teen doing their homework, or is ChatGPT? Twenty-six percent of teens say they’ve used ChatGPT for schoolwork, double the number from 2023. If more high schoolers are using AI as their study buddy, it’s more important than ever for parents to talk to their kids about the pros and cons of AI — and how to use it responsibly. Our tips: Keep an eye on how often your child is using AI services. Set limits if necessary, including when and how often they can use them — especially as it relates to schoolwork. Remind your child that AI services are not always 100% accurate, and encourage them to think critically about the information they receive. Explain appropriate uses for AI, like outlining an argument or identifying typos, and inappropriate uses, like writing their paper for them or solving math problems. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety

Meta recently announced the end of its third-party fact-checking program. The new system, similar to X’s Community Notes feature, isn’t great news for kids on social media. The new policy means your child is more likely to see potentially incendiary content — here are our recommendations for parents. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety?

Students are using cell phones and social media to arrange, provoke, film, and share violent campus brawls, according to a review by the New York Times. And social media use is ubiquitous among teens today: roughly 60% of teens say they use TikTok and Instagram, and about 55% use Snapchat. How are schools and social media companies responding to concerns? ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety?

Instagram and Snapchat are launching new location sharing features — with safety considerations in place. Plus, a new report finds that YouTube pushes disordered eating content to teen users, and we share the latest on the looming TikTok ban. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety

A bipartisan group of state attorneys general are pushing Congress to pass KOSA before end of year. Plus, Instagram’s new feature can help reset your teen’s Instagram feed — here’s how to do it. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety?

National security concerns shutter TikTok’s offices in Canada. Meanwhile, the NYT’s profile of a controversial child influencer highlights the dangers of social media algorithms and predators. Parents, here’s what you need to know to protect your kids online — read more in our latest newsletter. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety?

This week in Parent Pixels: Apple’s new iMessage feature lets minors report explicit content, escalating it to law enforcement. Plus, Google adds Sensitive Content Warnings to Google Messages for Android. ?? Parent Pixels is a biweekly digital parenting newsletter filled with news, practical advice, and resources to support you and your kids in the digital age. #parenting #digitalparenting #onlinesafety