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Regulate online platforms, not children

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Regulate online platforms, not children

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Parents’ Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on Roblox

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Get advice about Parental Controls from Common Sense Media editors.

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AI chatbots could be making you stupider

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AI chatbots could be making you stupider

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AI chatbots could be making you stupider

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As large language models take over more and more cognitive tasks, researchers are warning this mental outsourcing comes with a cost.

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AI chatbots could be making you stupider

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AI chatbots could be making you stupider

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AI chatbots could be making you stupider

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As large language models take over more and more cognitive tasks, researchers are warning this mental outsourcing comes with a cost.

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Komodo Wellbeing Student Wellbeing in a Digital World Guide

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Komodo Wellbeing Student Wellbeing in a Digital World Guide

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Komodo Wellbeing Student Wellbeing in a Digital World Guide

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Brian Taylor - COMMS PATHWAYS - All Items

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Digital Citizenship in the Age of AI at Bangkok Patana School

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Digital Citizenship in the Age of AI at Bangkok Patana School

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Literacy (Knowing): understanding how adults (at school and at home) guide, model, and protect children's digital lives while building independence.

Fluency (Doing): working in partnership with parents, teachers, and other mentors; Following guidance and progressively taking responsibility for one's own safe and ethical digital behaviour.

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Literacy (Knowing): understanding norms and expectations for respectful online interaction, communication, and collaboration (with people and AI).

Fluency (Doing): navigating online interactions appropriately: communicating kindly, collaborating effectively, and engaging with both people and AI in an ethical, culturally aware manner.

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NetFamilyNews.org - Tech Intelligence for Parents

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NetFamilyNews.org - Tech Intelligence for Parents

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I hardly need to weigh in because I already did - in depth, last summer, at the peak of the last Momo wave. But I will only to highlight the best thinking I've seen this go round and add 4 points - lessons from this - to consider when the next wave hits (because this will certainly not be the last, and why reinvent the wheel every time?). First the points: Who's the (potential) victim, anyway? ... [Read more...] about Momo. Again.

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NetFamilyNews.org - Tech Intelligence for Parents

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I hardly need to weigh in because I already did - in depth, last summer, at the peak of the last Momo wave. But I will only to highlight the best thinking I've seen this go round and add 4 points - lessons from this - to consider when the next wave hits (because this will certainly not be the last, and why reinvent the wheel every time?).

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Literacy (Knowing): knowing what digital tools, platforms, and content exist and their purposes.

Fluency (Doing): choosing which tools to use and when; sourcing appropriate information; balancing online and offline activities.

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Literacy (Knowing): understanding how technology use affects physical health, mental health, and lifestyle balance.

Fluency (Doing): regulating one's own technology used to maintain health and balance.

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Is human connection the new job security?

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Is human connection the new job security?

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Is human connection the new job security?

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Katty Kay speaks to Jane Wurwand about her theory about what jobs are best protected from AI replacement.

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We're here to help

We support all adults (those over the age of 18) in the UK who are victims of intimate image abuse and who have had their intimate images and videos shared without their consent, or when someone is threatening to do this.

We provide non-judgemental and confidential advice via the phone or by email.

If you have had intimate content shared online, we can help with the reporting and removal of content. Whilst we cannot guarantee removal of all images, we do hold a very good takedown record.

We offer help and advice on the social media platform's community guidelines and policies and how to report and remove content to which they should respond promptly. If not, we can help.

We can give you advice on the UK law and provide information on reporting crimes to the police and the evidence you may need to gather.

We have a referral relationship with the QMUL Legal Advice Centre who provide free legal advice for victims of intimate image abuse.

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Designed and Developed by Will Earp, South West Grid for Learning Trust Ltd

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The Revenge Porn Helpline is the UK's only service dedicated to supporting all adults who have been victim of intimate image abuse. Contact us today.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse

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Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse

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Designed and Developed by South West Grid for Learning (https://swgfl.org.uk/)

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Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse | StopNCII.org

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StopNCII.org is operated by the Revenge Porn Helpline which is part of SWGfL, a charity that believes that all should benefit from technology, free from harm.

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Roblox blocks children from chatting to adult strangers

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Roblox blocks children from chatting to adult strangers

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Children will no longer be able to chat to adult strangers on Roblox as part of an expansion of its safety measures.

Users in the UK and US will now be required to complete facial age checks before they can use the chat features on one of the world's most popular gaming platforms.

Roblox has faced criticism for allowing youngsters to access inappropriate content and communicate with adults.

In March, the company's chief executive Dave Baszucki told the BBC that parents who were worried about the service "should not let their children be on Roblox".

However, some parents and campaigners warned children could still encounter inappropriate content or talk to adults on the platform despite existing safety measures.

Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, said young people were exposed to "unacceptable risks" on Roblox, "leaving many vulnerable to harm and online abuse."

The charity welcomed the platform's efforts but called on Roblox to "ensure they deliver change for children in practice and prevent adult perpetrators from targeting and manipulating young users."

The platform averaged more than 80 million daily players in 2024, about 40% of them under the age of 13.

The facial checks uses the device's camera to estimate a user's age

The UK's Online Safety Act has strict laws for all tech firms specifically aimed at protecting children from online harms.

The communications regulator, Ofcom, is responsible for enforcing the act.

Anna Lucas, online safety supervision director at Ofcom, said she was pleased about the new age checking measures.

"Platforms must now take steps to keep kids safe, and we're ensuring they meet their responsibilities. There's more to do, but change is happening."

In the US, Roblox is facing lawsuits in Texas, Kentucky and Louisiana over child safety concerns.

Roblox now says it will become the first large gaming platform to make facial age verification a requirement for accessing the chat features.

Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer for Roblox, told a press briefing the age estimation technology is "pretty accurate."

He claimed the system can make close estimates of "within one to two years" bracket for users aged between five and 25.

Currently it can be used voluntarily by anyone in the world.

Mandatory checks will begin in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands in early December before being extended worldwide in January.

Users who complete the process will be placed into age groups: under nine, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20 and 21+.

Players can only chat with others in similar age ranges, unless they add someone as a "trusted connection", which is a feature for people they know.

Under-13s will still be blocked from private messages and certain chats unless a parent gives permission.

The new approach follows concerns about adults contacting younger players.

In a BBC test earlier this year, it was possible for a 27-year-old user and a 15-year-old user on unlinked devices to exchange messages.

At the time, Roblox said attempts to circumvent its rules often involved users trying to take conversations to different platforms.

Privacy and verification

Age checks will use facial estimation technology through the device's camera inside the Roblox app, to estimate a user's age.

Images are processed by an external provider and deleted immediately after the check has been completed, according to the company.

Roblox says parents will still be able to manage their child's account, including updating a child's age once verification is complete.

The platform already prohibits image and video sharing in chats and heavily restricts links to external sites.

The company argues the new system will offer more "age-appropriate" experiences across the platform, and says it expects other firms to adopt similar methods.

The changes come as campaign groups ParentsTogether Action and UltraViolet stage a first-of-its-kind virtual protest inside Roblox.

The group will deliver a digital petition, which has been signed by more than 12,000 people, demanding the platform adopt stronger child-safety measures.

It calls for sweeping changes, declaring, "Roblox must stop being a playground for predators."

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Roblox blocks children from chatting to adult strangers

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One of the world's most popular gaming platforms has faced criticism for its child safety record.

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Help to remove sexually explicit photos online

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Help to remove sexually explicit photos online

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This service is one step you can take to help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18.

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Roblox  & Snapchat - What Parents Need To Know

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Roblox  & Snapchat - What Parents Need To Know

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For Working Parents Newsletter

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My chilling week on Roblox: sexually assaulted and shat on as a child avatar roaming the online world

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In seven days my young alter ego is cyberbullied and attacked while exploring clubs, casinos and horror games, all with parental controls in place. Is the platform safe for children – or an ‘X-rated paedophile hellscape’?

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Where is the content posted?

Before you submit a report to us it is essential that you have reported the material to the social media service directly using their online tools (at least 48 hours ago). You can find information on how to do this by clicking on the tabs below.

It is also important to remember that we can only submit reports on the following 8 harms:

Threats

Impersonation

Bullying & Harassment

Self-harm or Suicide

Online Abuse

Violent Content

Unwanted Sexual Advances

Pornographic Content

1. Hi there

2. I'm a chatbot here to support you in finding information and reporting content at a time that works for you

3. If you want me to help you with your issue, just click below

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Designed and Developed by South West Grid for Learning (https://swgfl.org.uk/)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Before you submit a report to us it is essential that you have reported the material to the social media service directly using their online tools (at least 48 hours ago). You can find information on how to do this by clicking on the tabs below.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We've tested and reviewed the best parental control apps to help you keep your family safe.

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'Disturbing': Australian government demands review of Roblox's PG rating after reports of child grooming

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'Disturbing': Australian government demands review of Roblox's PG rating after reports of child grooming

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Reports of child grooming and vile content on popular game service Roblox has "alarmed" the communications minister, Anika Wells, who has demanded the platform explain how it is addressing sexual and self-harm material, and that its PG rating be examined by the Australian Classification Board.

The eSafety Commissioner has also written to the game platform, saying it plans to test the promises it made about keeping children safe online, including disabling chat features and making underage accounts private.

"We remain highly concerned by ongoing reports regarding the exploitation of children on the Roblox service, and exposure to harmful material," the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said.

Roblox has come under scrutiny after reports that children can be exposed to inappropriate content on the platform, which allows users to create their own mini-games inside the system.

Guardian Australia published a report last November documenting a week of virtual sexual harassment and violence. While playing as an eight-year-old girl, the reporter was given a sexualised avatar, cyberbullied, aggressively killed, sexually assaulted and shat on - all with parental control settings in place.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
While platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Kick were included in Australia's under-16s social media ban, gaming sites like Roblox were not.

Wells and her department were investigating other levers to regulate services like Roblox.

The minister has written to Roblox requesting an urgent meeting, saying she was "alarmed by reports of children being exposed to graphic and gratuitous user-generated content on the platform, including sexually explicit and suicidal material".

"Even more disturbing are ongoing reports and concerns about children being approached and groomed by predators, who actively seek to exploit their curiosity and innocence," she said in the letter.

Guardian Australia understands Roblox has not yet responded to the letter.

In her letter, Wells pointed to media reports alleging children can access spaces on the game meant for adults which include explicit sexual content, and charges laid against a Queensland man accused of grooming hundreds of children on platforms like Roblox, Fortnite and Snapchat.

Wells has also asked the eSafety Commissioner about any short-term measures that could be taken, and separately has written to the Classification Board to ask if Roblox's PG rating remains appropriate.

In the letter to Roblox, Wells noted the company had worked with the eSafety Commissioner on additional safety measures for children, but that issues appeared to continue.

"This is untenable, and these issues are of deep concern to many Australians parents and carers," she wrote, saying she was keen to hear what Roblox was doing to prevent adults contacting children, and to protect children from inappropriate experiences.

The eSafety office said it had also written to Roblox last week, saying it planned to test how the platform was complying with commitments like making under-16s private by default, new tools to prevent adult users from contacting children, and restricting chat features. After that testing, eSafety foreshadowed it "may take further action under the Online Safety Act".

"I welcome the Minister for Communications' correspondence and the Australian Government's support on this important issue, as we use all of the tools available to us to keep Australian kids safe online," Inman Grant said.

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'Disturbing': Australian government demands review of Roblox's PG rating after reports of child grooming

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Communications minister Anika Wells points to media reports alleging children can access spaces meant for adults which include explicit sexual content

# data[].attributes.body
Literacy (Knowing): knowing safety and security rules, risks, and best practices (passwords, privacy, data protection, data security)

Fluency (Doing): applying safety measures independently in new situations.

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Allow yourself to focus while using YouTube™ for work, recreation or education.

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Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families

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Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families

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Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families

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Common Sense Media is the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families. Parents trust our expert reviews and objective advice.

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The official YouTube channel of the Screenagers movie series Learn more about the movies and view our resources at www.screenagersmovie.com

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Make Microsoft Edge your own with extensions that help you personalize the browser and be more productive.

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Turn Off the Lights - Microsoft Edge Addons

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Make Microsoft Edge your own with extensions that help you personalize the browser and be more productive.

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Microsoft Family Safety

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Get started with Screen Time on your Mac

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Get started with Screen Time on your Mac

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Get started with Screen Time on your Mac

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Screen Time on Mac gives you information about how you spend time in apps and on websites and provides tools to manage parental controls.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make Microsoft Edge your own with extensions that help you personalize the browser and be more productive.

# data[].attributes.headline
Take Control of Your YouTube Shorts Algorithm

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Take Control of Your YouTube Shorts Algorithm

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My chilling week on Roblox: sexually assaulted and shat on as a child avatar roaming the online world

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In seven days my young alter ego is cyberbullied and attacked while exploring clubs, casinos and horror games, all with parental controls in place. Is the platform safe for children – or an ‘X-rated paedophile hellscape’?

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Top 100 Free audio books that you can download in mp3, iPod and iTunes format for your portable audio player. Audio previews, convenient categories and excellent search functionality make LoyalBooks.com your best source for free audio books. Download a free audio book for yourself today!

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New Alerts to Let Parents Know if Their Teen May Need Support in Instagram

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New Alerts to Let Parents Know if Their Teen May Need Support in Instagram

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New Alerts to Let Parents Know if Their Teen May Need Support

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We’ll begin notifying parents if their teen repeatedly tries to search for terms related to self-harm, so they have the information they need to support them.

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Snapchat Parental Controls: New Screen Time & Friends Insights for Parents

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Snapchat Parental Controls: New Screen Time & Friends Insights for Parents

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Snapchat Parental Controls: New Screen Time & Friends Insights for Parents

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Snapchat has added new parental insights showing teen screen time and friend connections. Here’s what parents need to know and how to use them safely.

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The Hidden Snapchat Setting Every Parent Needs to Check Today

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The Hidden Snapchat Setting Every Parent Needs to Check Today

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The Hidden Snapchat Setting Every Parent Needs to Check Today

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Snapchat may be using your child’s public content to train its AI. Discover the setting most parents miss and the quick fix to protect your child’s privacy.

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Gaming Marketplace Scams Report 2025 - TrustPlay

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We surveyed 1,847 gamers to understand how third-party marketplace scams actually happen. The results reveal a multi-billion-dollar epidemic hiding in plain

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Separate Cybersecurity Myths From Reality

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Separate Cybersecurity Myths From Reality

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Is this advice for everyone?🔗

Mostly, yes-but it's important to think about your personal threat model-what information you have that others might want, who might try to get it, and how they might try. For most people, the basics go a long way. However, high-risk individuals-such as journalists covering national security, human rights defenders, activists, election workers, senior government officials, corporate executives, or those facing intimate partner abuse-require additional, specialized guidance. The Resources page lists some sites with those audiences in mind.

If I just ignore the hacklore and do the basics, am I safe?🔗

Doing the basics as outlined in the open letter will protect you from most of the attacks that actually happen in the wild. Those steps stop the overwhelming majority of compromises seen every day. But they're the first steps, not the finish line. The links in the Resources section point to credible guides and tools that help you build on this foundation. Our goal is to clear away the bad advice so you can spend your time and energy on the measures that genuinely make a difference.

Why do these myths stick around?🔗

Hacklore sticks around because people often learn their habits from trusted practitioners, friends, or authority figures who first encountered these risks decades ago. Many of those threats were real at the time, but the technology and threat landscapes have changed dramatically. Encryption is now the default, mobile operating systems isolate apps, and browsers block many attacks that once mattered. Yet much of the old advice keeps getting repeated without being recalculated for the modern era. At the same time, the people who know better rarely speak out, so outdated guidance continues to circulate unchallenged. This site exists to help reset that conversation and keep the focus on what actually reduces risk for most people today.

Isn't public WiFi dangerous?🔗

Not really-not the way it used to be. Almost all websites and apps now use encrypted connections, so even on an open network your data travels securely. The bigger risks come from phishing, stolen passwords, or using outdated software. So be cautious about captive-portal pages and avoid providing information you wouldn't ordinarily share. And to anticipate some questions, every technology has room for improvement, and the industry continues to push forward in areas like DNS security and additional safeguards that protect the website name you're visiting, including the use of Encrypted Client Hello in TLS handshakes. Those improvements will be most welcome, but that's not how the most common attacks succeed.

I thought QR codes were unsafe. Can't they infect my phone?🔗

Scanning a QR code is no different from clicking a link. A QR code cannot install malware by itself. The main risk is being tricked into entering your information on a fake website or being prompted to install an untrustworthy app. In some targeted cases, attackers may try to trick people into granting permissions or changing settings inside apps, but that is a form of social engineering, not something unique to QR codes. The important thing is to be cautious about the sites you visit and the actions you take after scanning. QR codes are simply a way to open a URL, not an intrinsic danger on their own.

What about those news stories where someone puts a fake QR code over a real one, like in a parking lot?🔗

You should always be cautious with any new website you visit and any information you provide, no matter how you arrived there. If a QR code leads to a page involving financial transactions, take a moment to look for signs of tampering. Whether you reached the site through a QR code, a search result, or a link someone sent you, the same principle applies: examine the page carefully, confirm it's legitimate, and be careful before entering personal or financial details. QR codes don't introduce unique risks; they simply point you to a URL. The real protection comes from paying attention to where you've ended up, not from avoiding QR codes.

Should I stop using public USB charging stations?🔗

You don't have to. There are no confirmed cases of "juice jacking" affecting regular users. Phones today block data transfer by default when charging, and they'll prompt you before allowing data access.

I heard I should change my passwords every 90 days. True?🔗

That's old advice. Frequent password changes often lead to weaker passwords or reuse. A long, unique, randomly generated password stored in a password manager is far safer-and adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) protects you even if a password leaks.

I thought passwords had to be "complex", with letters, numbers, and special characters. Why isn't that your recommendation?🔗

Modern research shows that the most important factor in a strong password is length, not complexity. Even NIST updated its guidance to reflect this, noting that long passwords and passphrases are harder for attackers to crack in offline attacks. A long, unique password that is randomly generated and stored in a password manager gives you far more protection against common attacks than short strings filled with symbols. Unfortunately, many services still require complexity rules that you cannot change, so you will still need to follow those when they appear. But whenever you have the choice, choose length and uniqueness, and let a password manager handle the rest.

Don't VPNs protect my privacy online?🔗

Not as much as ads claim. VPNs can hide your IP address from the local network, but they'll still see any unencrypted traffic that your apps or operating system transmit. For most people, the encryption built into your apps already provides strong protection. VPNs make sense only for specific use cases, like bypassing local censorship or connecting securely to a work network. Users of Apple products should consider using iCloud Private Relay service which is built into iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and which costs less than many commercial VPN services.

Do I need to do anything above the basics to protect my privacy?🔗

Privacy in the modern era is complex, and it involves many factors that fall outside the scope of this site. While the security basics help, privacy risks often come from data brokers, online tracking, app permissions, and the policies of the services you use. For practical, trustworthy guidance, we created a Resources page, especially the privacy advice from Consumer Reports Security Planner and the EFF's Surveillance Self-Defense guides. These offer clear next steps tailored to your needs and risk level.

I just saw a news story about a new security flaw that affects one of the items in the Hacklore list. Doesn't that invalidate this advice?🔗

No. All software has bugs-some of them security or privacy related-and it's inevitable that flaws will occasionally be found in systems that handle things like WiFi, QR codes, or USB connections. When that happens, the right question isn't "Should we tell millions of people to change their behavior?" but rather "Which manufacturer and product were affected, and what are they doing to fix it?"

Security defects are a normal part of the software lifecycle. The responsible reaction is to expect software makers to patch their products quickly and transparently-not to shift the burden onto users. We need to move the responsibility for staying cyber safe upstream, to the companies best positioned to make security improvements at scale. We need to demand software that is secure by design.

What's the harm in taking a little extra precaution?🔗

When it comes to advice aimed at everyday people, a lot. Time and attention are limited. Time spent working to prevent non-existent or rare attacks is time they aren't using to take the steps that actually reduce their chances of being compromised. When we promote precautions that don't meaningfully lower risk, we not only waste people's time-we crowd out the actions that truly matter, like update hygiene, MFA, strong passphrases, and using a password manager.

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Is this advice for everyone?🔗 Mostly, yes-but it's important to think about your personal threat model-what information you have that others might want, who might try to get it, and how they might try. For most people, the basics go a long way.

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Cyber security advice for you & your family

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Cyber security advice for you & your family

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Cyber security advice for you & your family

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Protect yourself with trusted cyber security guidance from the NCSC. Learn how to secure your devices, safeguard personal data, and stay secure online.

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#Helpdesk #Laptops for Learning #New Parents #Device

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Responsive Admin & Dashboard Template based on Bootstrap 5

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An interactive, visual comparison of the most popular laptops on the market. Updated daily. Let's you filter laptops by specs, brand and price.

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AI-powered plushie pulled from shelves after giving advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives

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AI-powered plushie pulled from shelves after giving advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives

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AI-powered plushie pulled from shelves after giving advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives

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After giving the teddy bear a sexually explicit topic, the toy was able to discuss such subjects ‘at length’ and ‘introduce new, explicit concepts,’ researchers said

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Parenting for a Digital Future: growing up in a digital world

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Parenting for a Digital Future: growing up in a digital world

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0-3 Infants 4-8 Kids 9-12 Tweens 13+ Teens Advice & resources Africa Apps Asia At home Australasia Book reviews Bullying & harassment COVID19 Digital literacy Disability Edutainment Europe Fake news Gaming Gender Internet Learning Managing media use Mental health Migration Mobile phones Non-formal learning Peer education Playing Policy Privacy & safety Regulation Research Rights Risks & opportunities Schools Screen time Sex & sexuality Sharenting Social & cultural norms Social networks Tablets The Americas The Class Values & practices

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Impact of SFVs (YouTube shorts, TikTok reels etc)

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Impact of SFVs (YouTube shorts, TikTok reels etc)

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Research: APA PsycNet FullTextHTML page

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Phone bans in schools don’t help grades or health, study suggests

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Phone bans in schools don’t help grades or health, study suggests

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Phone bans in schools don’t help grades or health, study suggests

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It is the first study to look at school phone rules, alongside measures of pupil health and education.

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Screenagers Blog | Alexa, Are You Safe for Kids?

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A reader recently sent me a great question: “Should I be worried about my kid using Alexa or Google Home?” It’s a great question, and one I’ve been thinking about more myself lately, especially as these devices become more conversational and, honestly, more human-sounding every day. In today’s blog, I dig into the concerns and share practical solutions, including simple replacements for when these devices are used at bedtime.

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UK MPs reject call for under-16s social media ban, backing more flexible powers

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UK MPs reject call for under-16s social media ban, backing more flexible powers

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MPs reject call for under-16s social media ban, backing more flexible powers

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The House of Lords had backed a move to ban under-16s in the UK from social media platforms in January.

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Parents of teenager who took his own life sue OpenAI

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Parents of teenager who took his own life sue OpenAI

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Parents of teenager who took his own life sue OpenAI

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The Raine family alleges ChatGPT “actively helped” their 16-year-old son take his own life.

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Did Australia’s under-16s social media ban work?

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Did Australia’s under-16s social media ban work?

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Did Australia’s under-16s social media ban work?

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Three months since it came into effect, teenagers tell the BBC how the world-first law has impacted their lives so far.

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AI Custom Instructions for Educators & Parents

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AI Custom Instructions for Educators & Parents

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Digital Pals: Kids, Chatbots, and Belonging

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Digital Pals: Kids, Chatbots, and Belonging

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Social Media Showdown: Should Teens Log Off for Good?

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Social Media Showdown: Should Teens Log Off for Good?

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Social Media Showdown: Should Teens Log Off for Good?

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School phone bans alone do not improve grades or wellbeing, says UK study

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School phone bans alone do not improve grades or wellbeing, says UK study

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Banning smartphones at school does not by itself improve academic grades and children's wellbeing, a study suggests.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham did find that spending longer on phones and social media in general was linked to lower grades, poor sleep, disruptive behaviour and a lack of exercise.

But these outcomes did not differ between schools that banned phones and those that did not.

The study, published in the Lancet's Regional Health Europe journal, also found that attempts to restrict phone use at school did not lower the overall time children spent on their devices throughout the day.

Instead, it said, any bans needed to be part of a wider strategy to lower phone use among students.

The peer-review study compared 1,227 students and 30 secondary schools.

It concluded: "There is no evidence to support that restrictive school phone policies, in their current forms, have a beneficial effect on adolescents' mental health and wellbeing or related outcomes."

But the research found increased screen time affected the mental health, classroom behaviour, physical activity and sleep cycles of students overall.

It said: "This study therefore provides further evidence of the adverse consequences from increased smartphone and social media use, and that lowering phone and social media use is important."

It added: "Our data suggest that interventions to reduce phone/social media time to positively influence adolescent mental wellbeing are plausible, but that both in-school and outside of school use should be considered in tandem."

Dr Victoria Goodyear, the study's lead author, told the BBC that school phone bans were not an effective way to tackle the negative impacts of overusing phones.

She said: "What we're suggesting is that those bans in isolation are not enough to tackle the negative impact. We need to do more than just ban phones in schools."

The study called for a more "holistic" approach to lowering phone use among students.

It said: "This approach does not necessarily preclude restrictive school mobile phone policies. But these policies would be linked with a wider holistic approach to adolescent mobile phone and social media use."

Joe Ryrie, the director of the campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood, described the results of the study as "somewhat surprising".

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He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's now becoming widely accepted among the educational establishment that kids having access to smartphones during the school day is detrimental for their ability to focus, for safeguarding, for behaviour, and for students' mental health."

He added: "The report concludes that this issue is much bigger than removing smartphones from schools. This is a critical societal issue that requires urgent attention from parents, from schools and from government."

Ryrie urged parents to delay giving smartphones to their children. But he added: "Far tougher regulation is going to be needed to make social media platforms safer and non-addictive for kids, because the really stark statistic in this report is that the average daily time students spend on their smartphone was four to six hours. That's a terrifying amount of time for children to spend scrolling and swiping."

Last week the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, rejected calls to bring in a new law to ban phones in classrooms, as she called the Conservative party's proposal a "headline-grabbing gimmick". But she also said phones had no place in the classroom and that it was right for schools to take firm action against their use.

A government spokesperson said teachers had clear guidelines for managing phone use in schools. They said: "Our focus is on keeping young people safe, while also benefitting from the latest technology. By thesummer, robust new protections for children will be in force through the Online Safety Act to protect them from harmful content and ensure they have an age-appropriate experience online.

"More robust evidence is needed to reach clear conclusions on the impact of smartphones on children, which is why we have launched our own research, led by the University of Cambridge, into the impact of social media on children's overall wellbeing."

The headline and text of this article were amended on 5 February 2025 to make clear that the study found phone bans alone did not improve grades or wellbeing.

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School phone bans alone do not improve grades or wellbeing, says UK study

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Researchers say bans need to be part of wider strategy to tackle negative impact of mobile use on children

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Children and increasingly using chatbots for learning and entertainment. Here’s what parents need to know.

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'A predator in your home': Mothers say chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves

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'A predator in your home': Mothers say chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves

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Mothers say AI chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves

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In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.

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We looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools - this is what we found - Parenting for a Digital Future

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We looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools - this is what we found - Parenting for a Digital Future

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Mobile phones are currently banned in all Australian state schools and many Catholic and independent schools around the country. This is part of a global trend over more than a decade to restrict phone use in schools. Australian governments say banning mobile phones will reduce distractions in class, allow students to focus on learning, improve student wellbeing and reduce cyberbullying. But previous research has shown there is little evidence on whether the bans actually achieve these aims.

Many places that restricted phones in schools before Australia did have now reversed their decisions. For example, several school districts in Canada implemented outright bans then revoked them as they were too hard to maintain. They now allow teachers to make decisions that suit their own classrooms. A ban was similarly revoked in New York City, partly because bans made it harder for parents to stay in contact with their children. What does recent research say about phone bans in schools?
Our study
We conducted a "scoping review" of all published and unpublished global evidence for and against banning mobile phones in schools. Our review, which is pending publication, aims to shed light on whether mobile phones in schools impact academic achievement (including paying attention and distraction), students' mental health and wellbeing, and the incidence of cyberbullying. A scoping review is done when researchers know there aren't many studies on a particular topic. This means researchers cast a very inclusive net, to gather as much evidence as possible.

Our team screened 1,317 articles and reports as well as dissertations from masters and PhD students. We identified 22 studies that examined schools before and after phone bans. There was a mix of study types. Some looked at multiple schools and jurisdictions, some looked at a small number of schools, some collected quantitative data, others sought qualitative views.

In a sign of just how little research there is on this topic, 12 of the studies we identified were done by masters and doctoral students. This means they are not peer-reviewed but done by research students under supervision by an academic in the field. But in a sign of how fresh this evidence is, almost half the studies we identified were published or completed since 2020.

The studies looked at schools in Bermuda, China, the Czech Republic, Ghana, Malawi, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. None of them looked at schools in Australia.
Academic achievement
Our research found four studies that identified a slight improvement in academic achievement when phones were banned in schools. However, two of these studies found this improvement only applied to disadvantaged or low-achieving students.

Some studies compared schools where there were partial bans against schools with complete bans. This is a problem because it confuses the issue.

But three studies found no differences in academic achievement, whether there were mobile phone bans or not. Two of these studies used very large samples. This masters thesis looked at 30% of all schools in Norway. Another study used a nationwide cohort in Sweden. This means we can be reasonably confident in these results.
Mental health and wellbeing
Two studies in our review, including this doctoral thesis, reported mobile phone bans had positive effects on students' mental health. However, both studies used teachers' and parents' perceptions of students' wellbeing (the students were not asked themselves).

Two other studies showed no differences in psychological wellbeing following mobile phone bans. However, three studies reported more harm to students' mental health and wellbeing when they were subjected to phone bans.

The students reported they felt more anxious without being able to use their phone. This was especially evident in one doctoral thesis carried out when students were returning to school after the pandemic, having been very reliant on their devices during lockdown.

So the evidence for banning mobile phones for the mental health and wellbeing of student is inconclusive and based only on anecdotes or perceptions, rather than the recorded incidence of mental illness.
Bullying and cyberbullying
Four studies reported a small reduction in bullying in schools following phone bans, especially among older students. However, the studies did not specify whether or not they were talking about cyberbullying.

Teachers in two other studies, including this doctoral thesis, reported they believed having mobile phones in schools increased cyberbullying.

But two other studies showed the number of incidents of online victimisation and harassment was greater in schools with mobile phone bans compared with those without bans. The study didn't collect data on whether the online harassment was happening inside or outside school hours.

The authors suggested this might be because students saw the phone bans as punitive, which made the school climate less egalitarian and less positive. Other research has linked a positive school climate with fewer incidents of bullying.

There is no research evidence that students do or don't use other devices to bully each other if there are phone bans. But it is of course possible for students to use laptops, tablets, smartwatches or library computers to conduct cyberbullying.

Even if phone bans were effective, they would not address the bulk of school bullying. A 2019 Australian study found 99% of students who were cyberbullied were also bullied face-to-face.
What does this tell us?
Overall, our study suggests the evidence for banning mobile phones in schools is weak and inconclusive.

As Australian education academic Neil Selwyn argued in 2021, the impetus for mobile phone bans says more about MPs responding to community concerns rather than research evidence.

Politicians should leave this decision to individual schools, which have direct experience of the pros or cons of a ban in their particular community. For example, a community in remote Queensland could have different needs and priorities from a school in central Brisbane.

Mobile phones are an integral part of our lives. We need to be teaching children about appropriate use of phones, rather than simply banning them. This will help students learn how to use their phones safely and responsibly at school, at home and beyond.
Notes This text was originally published on the Conversation blog and has been re-posted with permission. This post represents the views of the authors and not the position of the Parenting for a Digital Future blog, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Featured image: photo by Alex Green on Pexels
About the author

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We looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools - this is what we found - Parenting for a Digital Future

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Mobile phones are currently banned in all Australian state schools and many Catholic and independent schools around the country. This is part of a global trend over more than a decade to restrict phone use in schools.

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Let’s make Screen-Free Sleep the norm for kids. Learn about the youth sleep crisis and how our campaign is helping families overcome it.

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EMO PET Specs Video Download Doc Buy EMO: The Coolest AI Desktop Pet with Personality and Ideas. Built with multiple sensors and cutting-edge techs, Emo is a cool desktop AI robot pet with character that can self-explore the world and react to you with 1000+ faces and movements.

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Student Handbooks - Bangkok Patana School

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We empower parents to say yes to waiting for the smartphone.

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We empower parents to say yes to waiting for the smartphone.

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The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. Banding together helps decrease the pressure to have a phone at an early age. Ten years old is the average age children get their first smartphone. You can change this!

More than 50,000 parents have said yes to waiting on the smartphone for their families. This is making a tremendous difference in communities across the country!

Smartphones are distracting and potentially dangerous for children yet are widespread in elementary and middle school because of unrealistic social pressure and expectations to have one.

These devices are quickly changing childhood for children. Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family is happening a lot less to make room for hours of snap chatting, instagramming, and catching up on YouTube.

Parents feel powerless in this uphill battle and need community support to help delay the ever-evolving presence of the smartphone in the classroom, social arena and family dinner table. Link arms with other parents to wait until at least eighth grade for a smartphone!

The Wait Until 8th pledge encourages parents to delay the smartphone. If you need to get in touch before 8th grade, we have some great basic phones and watches featured here. If you would like your child to have a basic phone or watch to call and text only, you still can sign the pledge! Theses basic options avoid many of the distractions and dangers of the smartphone.

Childhood is too short to waste on a smartphone. Take the pledge today!

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The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade.

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The First Time AI Blew My Mind — Jeremy Utley

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Standing in my hallway surrounded by broken glass, I asked AI for 10 terrible ways to respond. What came back changed how I think about parenting—and about AI.

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Technology for Learning FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

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Technology for Learning FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

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Technology for Learning FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) - Bangkok Patana School

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We have 2 x 1Gbps connections: 1Gbps Domestic 1Gbps International Our main connection is with TRUE, backup is AIS. All registered devices must have a full and working version of a recognised antivirus software taken from the list below: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Norton Antivirus Plus Kaspersky Anti-Virus Trend Micro Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus ESET NOD32 Antivirus McAfee Antivirus Plus Sophos Windows Defender No trial versions are permitted.

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Turn Restricted Mode on or off on YouTube

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Research on 100,000 people confirms that heavy short-form video use is just voluntary cognitive decline

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Research on 100,000 people confirms that heavy short-form video use is just voluntary cognitive decline

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Upgrade the Question: How was school today?

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Upgrade the Question: How was school today?

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Source

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Firefly for Parents. School code = PATANA

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Firefly for Parents. School code = PATANA

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Firefly for Parents - Apps on Google Play

‎Firefly for Parents App - App Store

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‘I love you too!’ My family’s creepy, unsettling week with an AI toy

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‘I love you too!’ My family’s creepy, unsettling week with an AI toy

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‘I love you too!’ My family’s creepy, unsettling week with an AI toy

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The cuddly chatbot Grem is designed to ‘learn’ your child’s personality, while every conversation they have is recorded, then transcribed by a third party. It wasn’t long before I wanted this experiment to be over…

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TiKTok pushes harmful content into users' feeds

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TiKTok pushes harmful content into users' feeds

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Patana Approaches to AI Handbook 25-26 2nd Edn

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Patana Approaches to AI Handbook 25-26 2nd Edn

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Patana Approaches to AI Handbook 25-26 1st Edn

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Patana Approaches to AI Handbook 25-26 1st Edn

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Technology for Learning: Artificial Intelligence

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Technology for Learning: Artificial Intelligence

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Technology for Learning: Artificial Intelligence - Bangkok Patana School

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22/04/26 PTG Tech Talk Digital Citizenship & AI

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22/04/26 PTG Tech Talk Digital Citizenship & AI

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PTG Tech Talk Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Digital Citizenship & AI.pptx

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PTG Tech Talk Wednesday 25th March 2026.pptx

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11/02/26 Comms Pathways in MS Lists Review, Parent T4L Survey Review, Cybersecurity Student Presentation

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11/02/26 Comms Pathways in MS Lists Review, Parent T4L Survey Review, Cybersecurity Student Presentation

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04/12/25 Technology for Learning Survey & AI Chatbots Custom Instructions

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04/12/25 Technology for Learning Survey & AI Chatbots Custom Instructions

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24/09/25 Online Safety & Cybersecurity Systems at Bangkok Patana School

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24/09/25 Online Safety & Cybersecurity Systems at Bangkok Patana School

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