Home - Wired Parents

Safety

An eyebrow pencil, the Online Safety Act, and the case for going further

Social Media

Australia just changed the rules. The algorithm is now the target.

Safety

Who should verify your child’s age — the app, or the phone?

Social Media

The UK now has the power to restrict children’s social media

Social Media

Meta is now using AI to catch kids who lied about their age

Latest Stories

Social Media

A judge is deciding whether to force Meta to redesign Instagram for children

A New Mexico trial could force Meta to ban infinite scroll, require age checks, and link every child's account to a parent. The school districts trial follows in June.

YouTube

YouTube has finally given parents an off switch for Shorts

YouTube has rolled out a zero-minute limit for Shorts. On supervised teen accounts, the limit is enforced. The setting takes thirty seconds.

Screen Time

When Should Kids Get a Phone? The Full Picture for Parents

The research, the readiness questions, the alternatives, and what to put in place if the answer is yes.

Roblox

Roblox Kids and Select accounts: what changes in June

Roblox is splitting under-16 accounts into two age groups from June 2026. What the new defaults mean and three things to check before it happens.

Safety

16 apps rated for child safety: the 2026 scorecard

X scores highest risk. Character.AI linked to teen harm. YouTube has the best parental controls. The Wired Parents Platform Safety Scorecard, explained.

AI is being built into your child’s toys — and not safely

Chatbot plushies and AI robot toys are on shelves now, marketed as educational. Congress wants to ban them.

Screen Time

England’s school smartphone ban is becoming law

England is making its school smartphone ban a legal requirement. What the law covers, which schools it applies to, and what it means for your family.

Character.AI

Teens are flagging Character.AI addiction themselves

A Drexel study found all six addiction markers in teenagers' own posts about Character.AI.

WhatsApp safety settings for kids: 7 things to change

WhatsApp's safety settings aren't designed for kids. Seven changes that take fifteen minutes and fix the biggest risks before your child starts using it.