Raising kids today means guiding them through a flood of online voices, from podcasts to TikTok to group chats. Some content can feel extreme, and the instinct is to shut it down. But when youth only hear one side, they lose the chance to think critically. By asking questions, listening, and exploring sources together, parents can help kids build balance, resilience, and thoughtful perspectives in a noisy digital world.

When fear meets complexity, bans often feel like the easiest fix. But history shows that blunt prohibitions rarely solve nuanced problems. Just as the Tylenol - autism debate oversimplifies medical risks, calls to ban phones and social media from kids risk ignoring both evidence and opportunity. Parents and schools need balance, not bans, to truly protect and prepare youth.

iOS 26 Roll-Out For iPhone & iPad: What Parents & Caregivers Need to Know About Apple’s New Safety Features Apple is putting safety technology front and center with its latest software release, iOS 26 (1). First announced in June and now available worldwide, the update introduces a suite of parental controls designed to make iPhones, iPads, Macs safer. These tools are not a substitute for conversations or active parenting, but they can support the boundaries you have alread

A viral bar graph claims screens, sleep, and work swallow nearly all of life, leaving almost no free time. Eye-catching? Yes. Accurate? Not at all. With no data, no citations, and exaggerated numbers, it’s designed to alarm, not inform. Using real Canadian research, we show why parents shouldn’t panic over hype-driven graphics and instead focus on balance, purpose, and evidence.

Dr. Jonathan Haidt has mastered something many academics overlook: how to connect with parents, caregivers, and policymakers in today’s networked world. His book The Anxious Generation dominates the conversation, while equally evidence-based works remain largely unknown. If researchers want their voices heard, they must rethink how they communicate, or risk being left out of the public dialogue.

What does ‘6,7’ mean?” That’s the question teachers and parents across the country are asking as Gen Alpha turns a random lyric into a cultural code. It’s slang, identity, and sometimes defiance, all rolled into two numbers. To understand it is to glimpse how music and internet culture shape youth language today

Scammers are using deepfake videos to target Canadian seniors with fake “CBC reports” and phony doctor endorsements for miracle cures like “Blood Balance Plus.” One slick ad claimed type 2 diabetes could be reversed in 14 days, with “only 17 left.” It looked real. It wasn’t. Learn the red flags, verify with trusted sources, and talk to your doctor before a convincing fake costs you money and health. Share this with parents and grandparents.

When tragedy strikes, grief often fuels the search for someone, or something, to blame. Today, technology, social media, and video games are cast as easy targets. While these tools can amplify harmful voices, history shows violence long predates the internet. The real challenge isn’t banning tech but preparing youth with the digital literacy, resilience, and critical thinking skills to navigate it.

Conflict has become a commodity. Today’s “conflict entrepreneurs” know outrage sells, and social media algorithms pay them handsomely for it. By manufacturing division, they profit from clicks, merch, and loyalty while shaping the career dreams of youth who see fighting online as a path to fame. For families, the question isn’t if this model exists, it’s how it’s influencing the next generation.

Why do the loudest and most extreme voices dominate our kids’ social media feeds? It isn’t by accident, it’s by design. Algorithms reward outrage because anger drives clicks, shares, and profit. The danger is that teens may mistake these amplified extremes for everyday reality. Parents must help them see past the noise, build resilience, and find strength in the middle ground.

Why are some young people drawn toward extremism? At The White Hatter, after decades of listening to teens, one theme keeps surfacing: hopelessness. When doors to housing, education, jobs, and even healthcare feel locked, frustration can deepen into despair. Left unchecked, that despair can make youth more vulnerable to radical voices. Hope, and being heard , are critical safeguards

When violent tragedies unfold, social media doesn’t just report, it amplifies. Graphic videos, conspiracy theories, and polarizing narratives spread within hours, creating fertile ground for those who want to recruit and radicalize youth. No family is immune. Parents need to step in with open, honest conversations that help kids process emotions, spot manipulation, and know they’re not alone.