"If I call my teacher the F bomb on Snapchat, can I get in trouble with the school?"
This is the type of question being decided by the Supreme Court today, Wednesday, in the case of a Pennsylvania cheerleader who had her Snapchat F-bomb explosion shared with her cheer coach in 2017.
I'm not sure which side I'm rooting for on this one - protecting first amendment rights is so important. In my state legislative efforts, we are working very hard to stay away from first amendment issues with a minimally invasive device filtering solution that minimally protects kids while also allowing consenting adults to choose (we think we've found the balance).
At the same time, it's so difficult being a school leader right now. The 7 hours that they do "control" during the school day are so radically impacted by the 17 hours that they don't control. Back in the 1980's, when I was growing up, those 17 hours were what DE-ESCALATED school issues. It's completely opposite now. Those 17 hours are every assistant principal's NIGHTMARE with unmonitored access to smartphones.
It will be interesting to watch how the Supreme Court wrestles with trying to apply decades old laws to new, digital situations. Maybe we just need new laws. Congress - are you listening? Please. Diligent parents everywhere need your support.
Parenting with you,
P.S. Welcome to Providence Academy and Jackson Christian Schools! Our most recent schools who have licensed the Protect App for ALL of their families! The ability to reach thousands of parents, without having to be there for a live presentation is so exciting. My awesome assistant Michele can tell you more if you're interested (link)!
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Last week we told you that Discord was completely banning NSFW servers on all Apple devices. Well, Discord partially reversed that decision. Only servers devoted to explicit pornographic content will be banned. Alternatively, if users want access to NSFW servers, then they can opt-in from a computer. What does this mean for families? Discord is the most popular social network that parents haven’t heard of. Our Discord app review can help you determine the risks for your kid.
Instagram created new filters for direct messages. New messages may be automatically filtered out if they contain any words, phrases, and/or emojis that indicate abusive content. What does this mean for families? Instagram/Facebook recently made a lot of changes for the better in regard to direct messages and teen safety. Thank you! Now can we please do something about Vanish Mode?
Does your kid play Roblox? Parents, do you REALLY know what Roblox is? Many don't. It's the MOST popular gaming community for younger gamers. It's a collection of MILLIONS of other games (18 million+). Roblox is a New York Stock Exchange, publicly-traded company! (as of 2021) - important because I think this changes their business goals. Parental controls are getting revamped, but there are no specific details. What does this mean for families? We're not sure yet - not until we see the changes! We encourage you to check out our Roblox app review to learn more about the game and to not be afraid to play video games with your kids.
April Gabb Promotion!
Our followers know how strongly we believe in delaying the smartphone. The brain (and childhood) just aren't ready for the adult content and adult opportunities. We trust GABB (affiliate link here!) and I'd love for you to get one in time for summer months of amazing outside play and adventure. While keeping in touch! Including GPS. Use PYE30 at checkout for another $30 off right now!
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