Latest Stories

How to read an official warning about your child’s screen time, without taking it on trust

A US health advisory on children's screens made global headlines this week. Here is what is actually inside it, and the one habit that helps parents read the next one.

What changed on Snap, Meta and Roblox this week — and what TikTok and YouTube refused to change

Snap, Meta and Roblox agreed to specific child safety changes. TikTok and YouTube refused. The settings parents should check on each platform.

We’ve rebuilt the Wired Parents Scorecard

New social media age recommendations for 20 platforms, from Minecraft to Kick. Plus a new bullying category and four platforms parents have been asking about.

Roblox just raised the age for its most popular games to 16

From 19 May, Roblox restricts Social Hangouts, free-form roleplay games and sensitive content to ID-verified 16+ users.

Instagram is showing parents the algorithm — but not the content

From 12 May, parents using Instagram supervision can see the topics shaping their teen's algorithm. A real change, and a real limit.

The biggest study yet of school phone bans is in, and the wellbeing finding is what matters

A new study of 4,600 US schools using phone pouches confirms the policy works for the reason that always mattered most: how children feel at school

The EU just put a social media age limit on the table

Ursula von der Leyen says the EU could propose a social media age limit this summer. What's actually on the table and what it means globally.

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

New UK research finds age checks are easy to fool, and that the things parents most want regulated aren't even in the Act yet.

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

Five months into the world's first under-16 social media ban, Australia has quietly amended the rules to put the algorithm itself in scope.

GLOBAL NEWS

Apple just gave parents the controls they’ve been asking for

Apple is adding per-category time limits, website approval and a redesigned Screen Time this autumn.

After Molly Russell, Pinterest did the work most platforms still won’t

Pinterest scores 2.5 on the Wired Parents Scorecard, not as bad as its reputation.

Apple just gave parents the controls they’ve been asking for

Apple is adding per-category time limits, website approval and a redesigned Screen Time this autumn.