Hello! Every few weeks, we share the latest digital news that impacts your family, update you on what the Protect Young Eyes team is up to, and end with a quick note from Chris.
We hope our research helps you feel informed and confident, and that our work with schools, churches, and non-profits is motivating.
The latest news:
- Roblox continues to exploit. Digital behavior experts, Revealing Reality, created test accounts and found "deeply disturbing" games, players, and situations. Please don't underestimate Roblox's risks! (PYE Roblox Review)
- TAKE IT DOWN Act passes Congress! On April 29, the Act headed to the President's desk. It criminalizes sharing non-consensual intimate images (NCII) and requires swift removal by platforms.
- "Blackmail boys" using TikTok to sextort. "Hiding in plain sight" (Guardian), the BM Boys recruit exploiters and continue to terrorize young men with their sextortion tactics. Here are tips to prevent and respond.
- X's Grok AI will undress women. By replying to an image with "remove her clothes," Grok will comply in X. Disgusting.
- Meta's AI chatbots aren't safe. Chatbots on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp facilitated inappropriate (and illegal) interactions with WSJ's child test accounts. It's time for AI regulation.
- Google will activate AI for all kid accounts. On April 30, Google informed parents using Family Link that Gemini AI (similar to ChatGPT) will unfortunately be defaulted "on." Our FB and IG posts share 5 specific actions for parents.
- Congress introduced the App Store Accountability Act. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. John James (R-MI) have sponsored a federal version of the bill recently passed in UT that is moving in 8+ other states, thanks to the Digital Childhood Alliance! (We're members)
- Phone-free schools are happening everywhere! New York and Quebec (CAN) will require bell-to-bell phone-free policies for the 2025-2026 school year!
- Paloma Faith and Oliver Jeffers have endorsed delaying smartphones for their kids! The UK-based Smartphone Free Childhood Movement is creating massive change. Bravo!
- New Zealand wants to mirror Australia's social media law. The proposed bill will include similar age-gating requirements for children under age 16!
- Tristan Harris delivered an amazing TED Talk on AI. I beg all parents to watch this. It will take an army of parents, legislators, and CEOs to right the ship and choose "the narrow path."
What PYE is up to:
We celebrate moms! Over 90% of our followers are moms from around the world. Many countries celebrate Mother's Day in May, and in the US, Switzerland, Mexico, and a few others, it was this past weekend. To all the Chief Technology Officer moms who are often the only thing standing between your amazing child and awful technology, you have my respect and prayers. We honor you!
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Marching on Meta
On April 24, I joined over 100 advocates and survivor parents to ensure that Meta employees going to work in NYC heard our voices. This powerful event, led by The Heat Initiative, Design it for Us, and Parents Together, made it clear we've had enough.
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Heading back to la Ciudad de México!
Multiple amazing grassroots "delay" movements are growing across Mexico. In collaboration with Screenagers MX, I'm returning on May 20-21 to continue spreading awareness among parents and educators. I'd love to meet you!
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Upcoming speaking:
(PYE Master Calendar)
- May 15, Sora Schools (GA) - webinar
- May 20, Screenagers Mexico City (Register here!) - parents
- May 21-22, St. Mary Cathedral (MI) - students, parents
- June 3, Jamestown Baptist (MI) - parents
- Besides a few PD sessions, we're taking a summer break! But email Michele to bring us to your community in the fall.
A note from Chris:
I posted this on LinkedIn:
Over the past 10 days, we’ve seen clear signs that AI is insanely out of control.
From President Trump declaring AI be used in all grades K-12 without a protection framework in place, to Zuck’s dystopian take on human needs, to Meta’s chatbots talking sex with kids, to Google rolling out Gemini to all child accounts, to Character.ai claiming its AI has First Amendment rights.
“Move fast and break things” has never been more true. We (including our children) are the “things.
In a separate post, I shared this illustration to describe Google's recent decision to default their Gemini AI to "on" for kids:
“Here, we made a kind of sharp knife. We’re giving it to all kids ages 0-12 by default. Kids can use it to cut their Play-Dough and their ham sandwich. But some kids cut themselves or hurt another kid. Badly. Parents, we hope you find the knife, and when you do, be sure to talk to your kids about how to use it properly. Good luck.”
Because saying things in "analog" sometimes helps me see the absurdity of it all.
But I’m not without hope. Brave voices like Tristan are sounding the alarm. Visionary CEOs like Tim Estes and his revolutionary product, AngelQ for iOS, put kids’ needs at the center. I’m an advisor for Angel because I believe in what it represents.
But it feels like we have about 12 months to figure out the “narrow path” Tristan so wisely articulates. We must.
Parenting with you,
Chris & PYE
#delayistheway
