🔵 A school tried AI and got a failing grade.


The PYE Download: August 28, 2024

Hello! Every three weeks or so, 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:

  • Snapchat now works on iPads (natively) - Parents will want to ensure - more than ever - that no apps can be downloaded to iPads without permission (Settings -> Screen Time -> Content & Privacy Restrictions -> iTunes & App Store Purchases).
  • One teacher's resolve caused behavior incidents to decrease 80%. The least publicized aspect of Jonathan Haidt's Anxious Generation is the impact of PLAY on the overall health, resilience, and future wellness of our children. Read one teacher's amazing story!
  • A UK 14-year-old cut her screentime in half. "My life changed." Violet won't go back. She's having too much fun collecting vinyl records, hanging with her grandparents, and reading books!
  • Mixing social media, ministry, and youth pastors. Our posts about the role of social media in student ministry generated plenty of conversation (Facebook, Instagram). What are your thoughts?
  • LA Public Schools ran to AI and it failed. The school system tried an AI-assisted learning platform but failed to ask essential questions, like: (1) Does it work? And (2) Is it better than other alternatives? Student privacy and learning were compromised.
  • AI sexbots being used by Australian children. A watchdog group found that unsupervised children are spending hours a day chatting with sexualized bots. Shows a problem with scalable harm and uninvolved parents.
  • There was a massive data breach in the USA. Not sure if it's a coincidence, but the spam calls and texts have increased. Make sure your kids know to "tell, block, and delete" anyone they don't know!
  • After being called out, Meta removed ~63,000 Instagram accounts used in sextortion schemes, along with thousands of Facebook groups that were providing tips on how to scam people online (mostly from Nigeria). We know Meta can identify and censor content. Why not proactively apply that same precision to child protection features?
  • Yes, I would pay to quit TikTok. A fascinating study of 1,000 college students. 64% of TikTok users and 48% of Instagram would PAY to get rid of them, if others also weren't using them. From an economic perspective, this means social media as an industry, has a negative value to humanity.

What PYE is up to:

State legislative sessions are warming up! And we're already working in three states to press forward with the Child Device Protection Bill we passed in Utah last spring.

PYE was humbled to receive the 2024 Child Safety Award from NOCSE and The PHASE Alliance! This was such a surprise at a conference where I had the chance to speak about policy and our Tech-Ready Home Framework. It's an award I accept on behalf of our amazing followers who share our content with others!

Our first Tech-Stress Transformation Boot Camp is over! I loved every minute. An amazing group went through a 4-week, accountability-based course this summer with live teaching, quizzes, and motivating prizes! The course will soon be rolled out for anyone to take on-demand with another "Boot Camp" version later this year.

"I’m so thankful for this Boot Camp and your passion Chris (and the team!) for all you are sharing with us over these weeks. I’ve just finished the week 3 videos and I’m very grateful we have unlimited access to this content as I know I will be going back to it again and again!"

Where we speak over the next month:

(PYE Master Calendar)

  • Sept. 4-5, El Paso Schools, IL
  • Sept. 5-6, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition, AK
  • Sept. 9-10, Red Hill Lutheran School, CA
  • Sept. 9-10, Salpointe Catholic HS, AZ
  • Sept. 10, St. Mary (Westphalia) School, MI
  • Sept. 12, Lowell Classical Conversations, MI
  • Sept. 15, Dunwoody Baptist Church, GA
  • Sept. 21, Faith Community Church, WI
  • Sept. 25, City Church, MI
  • Sept. 25-27, Stella Maris Academy (various!), MN
  • Sept. 29-30, Diocese of Jefferson City, MO
  • Sept. 30, St Lorenz Lutheran School, MI
  • ​Email Michele right here to bring us to your community!

A note from Chris:

Today's note is short. But one parent told me it was exactly the reminder she needed at a recent presentation:

"All the companies that own the digital spaces where our children like to spend time have goals that are different than ours."

They get one, precious childhood. Never forget that step-by-step and chat-by-chat, we'll walk with you, as we stumble through the digital age and start another school year, together!

Parenting with you,
​
Chris & PYE​
#delayistheway

​

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Chris McKenna

We help families, schools, and churches create safer digital spaces. Live talks: kids K-12, staff, and parents. Curriculum, app & device guides. Become a PYE member! #delayistheway

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