I hear it all the time. From kids, from parents, from entire classrooms."Privacy? Who cares?"I can almost hear the collective eye roll when I mention it, like I’m just another adult warning them about "stranger danger" on the internet. But here’s the thing. Within minutes, those same kids are sitting up, leaning in, and actually listening. Why? Because I don’t just repeat the same tired advice. I know exactly how this system works from the inside out. I understand the tech, t

If you've been watching Netflix’s Adolescence and are trying to grasp the weight of the term "incel," you’re not alone. The word is often tied to news stories of violence and extremism, but there’s a much bigger conversation we need to have. One that isn’t driven by fear but by reality. Watching it, I felt sick. Not just because of what unfolded on screen but because I was so triggered as I have seen and experienced these behaviours firsthand from children. Children under 13

WhatsApp has become a default communication tool for many school communities, offering a quick and familiar way for parents to stay connected. However, while it may seem convenient, WhatsApp is not designed for school-related communication. Using it for parent groups comes with serious risks including privacy breaches, misinformation, and legal liability that many people don’t realise. If your school or parent group relies on WhatsApp, it’s time to rethink that decision. One

Short answer: Absolutely not (unless it is used as a medical device). Here’s why. Their Phone Is Robbing Their Sleep (and Sanity) That glowing screen isn’t just harmless fun, it’s wrecking their sleep. Blue light shuts down melatonin production, tricking their brain into thinking it’s still daytime. Instead of winding down, they’re wired up, scrolling past midnight. And trust me, they’re not reading Shakespeare.......they’re deep in TikTok spirals, group chat chaos, or bingei

I had Yum Cha for lunch today with one of my oldest and dearest friends, one of the wisest women I know. A mother of a spectacular young woman in her early twenties with the world at her feet. My friend told me what I am hearing almost every day. Something my friend Maggie Dent and I discussed at lunch this past week. The kids are scared. Yes, they are. They are watching a world that feels like it’s unravelling. Every day, there’s something new. Fires raging, floods, ecosyst

There’s a particular kind of silence that comes when you step away from social media. Not just muting notifications but truly disconnecting. It’s unsettling at first, like walking into a room you forgot you left. The mind, accustomed to the constant hum of updates, arguments, and algorithmic suggestions, twitches for stimulation. But then, something profound happens…….you begin to notice the world again. The rustling of leaves. The shadows. The colour of an apple. The weight

If any of our personal phones were ever checked because something unexpected happened at school or childcare, many of us would probably discover a handful of student photos sitting quietly alongside our own family pictures, cloud backups, messages and apps. Not because anyone set out to do the wrong thing, but because for years this has simply been the familiar way of capturing learning, connection and those small, beautiful moments in a child’s day. But the world has shifted

As a parent, especially new parents, we go through many emotions. Handing our children over to be cared for whilst we attend to working or other life commitments can be daunting and sometimes even terrifying. We worry about whether they will get the same care and attention we give them or what will happen if they get sick or hurt. Local community social media groups frequently feature callouts from parents asking for recommendations for the best childcare centre, or sometimes

The increasing prevalence of AI-generated 'people' on platforms such as Instagram has led to the rise of “synthetic relationships”. A synthetic relationship refers to an interaction or connection between a human user and an artificially intelligent entity, often portrayed as a human-like character or in the case of Facebook, celebrities with a side hustle of being a chatbot. These AI-generated personas, created using advanced technologies, can mimic human behaviors and commun

“Hey, buddy, is posting your birthday photos online okay?” To many parents, there is an easy answer - “Well, it's my child, and I just want to post their milestones and funny incidents of them online to share them with friends and family.” Although your intention might be pure, the outcome most certainly isn’t. Consent is a pivotal part of our society and keeps our community safe and comfortable. When I was young, my parents quickly taught me about ‘bad touch and good touch’.