Safety

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.

Latest in Safety

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

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.

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

A fight is unfolding in US courts and Congress over whether apps or app stores should verify your child's age.

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

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act is now law. The government can restrict under-16s' access to social media features without a new Act of Parliament.

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

Meta's expanding its AI age-detection tool to Facebook in the US and Instagram across 27 EU countries. Here's what it changes for your child's account.

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 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.

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.

AI & Safety

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.

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.