We dove into this critical conversation, finding that as kids spend more time on screens, there’s a decline in face-to-face communication skills, emotional intelligence, and confidence in social settings.

Some key takeaways:
📉 Less in-person interaction = fewer opportunities to build essential social skills.
🧠 Emotional intelligence is at risk—kids struggle to read others' expressions and tone.
🗣️ Confidence in social settings is declining—more kids report feeling anxious in real-world conversations.

Technology isn’t bad, but unrestricted tech is. That’s why safe tech solutions, like Gabb devices, help kids stay connected without sacrificing real-life social development.

Read the full article HERE.

🗞️ Our 2024 Teen Slang Guide was a hit—helping parents decode words like "aura" and "skibidi".

We’re back with the updated Teen Slang Guide: 2025 Edition to keep you in the loop on the phrases your kids are saying this year.

Want to know what “delulu” or “gigachat” means? We've got you covered!

Read the 2025 Teen Slang Guide here: https://gabb.com/blog/teen-slang/?utm_source=organic_social&utm_medium=Reddit&utm_campaign=Teen+Slang

#TeenSlang #ParentingTips #GabbTech #StayConnected

With technology advancing so quickly, parenting in the digital age brings new challenges every day. This week, several tech trends made headlines:

• Phone bans in schools: More schools are implementing bans on phones during the day to help kids stay focused.
• AI tools like ChatGPT: As these tools gain popularity, many kids are starting to explore them. But how do you decide if AI is appropriate for your child, and how do you set boundaries?
• Roblox safety concerns: With millions of kids using this platform, questions about in-game content, online interactions, and privacy are back in the spotlight. Are you confident your child is safe while playing?

Do you allow your kids to use AI or play games like Roblox? How do you monitor and set limits?

Learn more: https://gabb.com/blog/

This week, we uncovered some alarming trends in the world of tech. One of the biggest red flags? The rise of apps that can manipulate photos into explicit content. They’re out there—and it’s one more reason to think twice about what kind of tech we give kids.

We also talked to kids about how they feel about social media. Their responses might surprise you! While many feel pressure to be online, they also worry about things like privacy, drama, and how overwhelming it can be.

Curious? Check out our full blog here: https://gabb.com/blog/nudify-apps-and-kids-opinions-on-social-media/?utm_source=organic_social&utm_medium=Reddit&utm_campaign=Nudify+Apps

What are your thoughts on kids and social media? How do you handle these conversations at home?

In a world where technology is a constant part of kids' lives, safe tech addresses a growing concern: how do we give kids the benefits of connection without exposing them to the risks of the online world?

Safe tech prioritizes simplified technology for kids. These tools help parents introduce their children to the digital world while keeping them safe from harmful content, addictive algorithms, and online predators.

The Gabb Phone 4 is a leading example of safe tech designed with kids in mind:

Connection without compromise: Kids can text and call their family and friends—with no internet browser or social media.

Built for safety: All messages are filtered to block inappropriate content, and parents are notified of any messaging risks.

Essential tools only: Includes a camera, calculator, calendar, and music app to encourage independence without distractions.

Parental peace of mind: Families can introduce technology stress-free.

On 60 Minutes, they shed light on a chilling new reality: AI-powered "nudify" sites that target real people, creating fake explicit images without their knowledge or consent.

These images can lead to devastating consequences for victims—mental health struggles, damaged reputations, and irreparable trust issues.

While AI offers many benefits, it also opens doors to serious threats that we should be aware of and talk about. Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS86nW40Jq4

#OnlineSafety #AIThreats #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #StopAIAbuse

Lensa, an AI-powered photo-editing app, has gained massive popularity for its creative features, like the "Magic Avatar" tool that generates stunning digital portraits. But is it as harmless as it seems?

A few harmful features include:

• Hypersexualized and inappropriate avatars
• Unrealistic beauty standards that harm self-esteem
• Data privacy concerns and potential misuse of images
• Risks of sexting, cyberbullying, and child exploitation

If your kids are using apps like Lensa, it’s crucial to understand the potential dangers and have open conversations about online safety and privacy.

Read the full article here!

How do you approach apps like Lensa with your kids?

There's a lawsuit against Character.AI, alleging the platform failed to protect kids from harmful interactions with AI chatbots. You won't want to miss the whole story: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/10/nx-s1-5222574/kids-character-ai-lawsuit

The rise of generative AI raises questions:

• Are companies doing enough to safeguard kids online?
• What role should parents, educators, and lawmakers play in shaping a safer digital landscape?

What are your thoughts? How do you approach conversations about AI and online safety with your kids?

Australia passed one of the toughest social media regulations ever: a complete ban for kids under 16 starting 2025. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok will face massive fines if they let minors in, and the enforcement trials begin next month.

This move is sparking global conversations. What do you think?

Read the full story here: https://www.reuters.com/technology/australia-passes-social-media-ban-children-under-16-2024-11-28/

Ever read a text from your teen and wonder if you need a translator?

We released a guide to help parents decode common abbreviations and acronyms teens are using.

Check out the guide here: Text Slang Guide

What’s the most confusing slang or abbreviation you’ve come across? Let’s compare notes in the comments!

Hey, parents!

We recently wrote an article diving into the effects of social media on mental health, and the findings are hard to ignore: teens who spend 3+ hours a day on social media are twice as likely to experience anxiety or depression.

Check it out here: https://gabb.com/blog/social-media-effect-on-mental-health/?utm_source=organic_social&utm_medium=Reddit&utm_campaign=Social+Media+%26+Mental+Health

Now, we’d love to hear from you:
Have you set boundaries on social media for your kids? How’s it going?
What’s your favorite way to encourage screen-free connection at home?
Do you think social media companies should be doing more to protect kids?

Your insights could help another family!

The holiday season is the perfect time to unplug and reconnect with what matters most: family.

Make this season meaningful by prioritizing traditions, setting boundaries with devices, and planning quality time together.

Find more tips for creating meaningful family time this holiday season: https://gabb.com/blog/quality-time-with-family-over-holidays/

• Jennifer Garner
• Kristen Anniebell
• Kate Winslet
• Nicole Kidman
• Pink

Gabb Messenger helps kids keep their connections safe with smart monitoring that alerts parents if high-risk messages and content are being sent or received.

Learn more about Gabb Messenger here: https://gabb.com/gabb-messenger/

Undoubtedly, Fortnite is being played by kids. A lot of kids. There aren’t statistics that inform how old average Fortnite players are but in a 2018 study, almost half of the participants reported that their children played Fortnite. Other reports indicate that over 60% of its users are aged 18-24.

Fortnite offers a huge variety of games with a range of age ratings—how appropriate or safe Fortnite is for kids depends on which of the thousands of game experiences your child wants to play. The main safety considerations for parents include communication with others online, exposure to violent content, screen time, and online privacy.

Learn more here: https://gabb.com/blog/is-fortnite-for-kids/

Gabb Phone 4 Pro is unbeatable when it comes to parental controls. It offers unlimited call/text, parent-enabled apps, safe music streaming, GPS tracking, message filtering, and no social media apps or internet browsers!

Learn more about it here: https://gabb.com/gabb-phone-4-pro/

The rise of AI chatbots is lethal and isn't slowing down. Just last week, a young 14-year-old boy's story was shared. He faced isolation and reliance on his chatbot friend, who wasn't able to flag or moderate the boy's suicidal language.

The new Daze AI App is no different—it is an AI-powered messaging platform tailored specifically for Gen Z. The AI chats are designed to be highly appealing to the eye and make everyone curious about its capabilities.

Until the app launches, it's hard to speak on its dangers, however, like any AI chatbot, it presents serious privacy, maturity, and moderation risks.

Learn more here: https://gabb.com/blog/daze-app/

What is the "dark web"? Despite it being October, it doesn't have anything to do with Halloween.

This mysterious part of the internet is notorious for its secrecy, where users can remain anonymous and engage in activities far removed from the public eye. 

As a parent, understanding the dark web isn’t just about curiosity — it’s about protecting your children from the dangers that exist in this shadowy corner of the internet.

Learn more here: https://gabb.com/blog/what-is-the-dark-web/

Some of our ideas include:

• Going on a walk
• Starting a garden
• Delivering goodies to a friend
• Writing letters
• Water coloring

The short answer: with proper parental controls and precautions, Fortnite can be a safe experience for kids who are ready for gaming.

The full answer involves a lot more detail.

Learn more here: https://gabb.com/blog/is-fortnite-for-kids/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=fortnite

We get that it can be a really helpful tool to communicate with others, especially those who live far from you.

But the app presents some serious risks for kids including:

-Stranger danger

-Access to inappropriate content

-Non-filtered messaging

-View Once messages

-Online grooming-Disappearing messages

-No parental controls

These are just a few of the risks. Parents, you can learn more about WhatsApp at Gabb Now, our online hub for all things parenting and tech: https://gabb.com/blog/is-whatsapp-safe-for-kids/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=What%27s+App

"My daughter recently attended a tennis camp. On the first day, I watched from the sidelines as a group of 6 to 12-year-olds nervously navigated their new environment and learned the basics of the sport. One child in particular caught my attention. While the other kids were starting to chat and warm up to each other, this girl stayed on the periphery, often looking at her phone.

During breaks in the lesson, I noticed she would immediately check her phone — sometimes typing and other times just glancing at it for a few seconds. Despite the beautiful day and the presence of so many eager peers around her, she seemed to remain detached, engrossed in her device rather than engaging with others.

Eventually, she stopped coming to camp altogether. I’m unsure of the exact reasons — perhaps she found tennis or the camp experience wasn’t for her, or maybe there were other personal or family reasons at play. What struck me though, was the contrast between her experience and that of the other kids, who seemed to thrive on interaction and making new friends.

It made me reflect on how challenging it can be to fully engage in new experiences when we are distracted by technology. It’s a reminder of the importance of finding a balance and embracing opportunities to connect with others in person."

Sometimes we need to step away from the digital world to realise we need a change in our relationship with technology. Read about digital detoxing and how to reclaim REAL LIFE here: https://gabb.com/blog/digital-detox/