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Schools spy on kids even at home
School is back in session, but here’s something no one told you at orientation: Your kids may have more eyes on them than just their teachers’. Even if you don’t have kids in school, you really need to know about this.
A new study from UC San Diego uncovered what’s really going on with those student safety tools schools buy. You know, the ones that are supposed to stop bullying, flag mental health struggles and prevent school shootings? Well, they’ve morphed into 24/7 surveillance machines.
Get this: 86% of the companies that provide these services monitor kids day and night, not just during school hours and not just on school devices. That’s every Google search, every message, sometimes even at home on personal phones and laptops.
Nearly a third of these companies give kids “risk scores” based on what they type or search. The kicker? 71% rely on AI to flag behavior. Yes, an algorithm decides if your child is “risky.”
Imagine your kid writing out a text they never send and that draft gets scooped into some company’s database. Creepy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
📱 Yes, they’re watching at home, too
About 36% of companies monitor student-owned devices. All it takes is a school-required app, plug-in or software.
Late-night YouTube binges, private DMs and social media posts could trigger a red flag on some dashboard.
📌 Questions every parent should ask the school
I think these tools can do a lot of good. God knows we don’t want any more school shootings or kids slipping through the cracks.
But you and your kids need to understand exactly how they work and what happens to the data. Copy these questions and send an email to the school’s administrator or set up a meeting in person.
- Is our school using GoGuardian, Bark, Gaggle, Securly, Lightspeed or any online monitoring service? What exactly are they tracking?
- Are you monitoring personal devices at home?
- What happens if my child is flagged? How can I see my child’s dashboard?
- How long is student data stored, and can parents request deletion?
- Is student data ever sold, shared or used for anything beyond monitoring?
Early Labor Day deals
🪥 My pick: Oral-B iO electric toothbrush (30% off)
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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
5 ways GPT-5 can do in minutes what used to take you days
The other day, I needed to round up every single email about the never-ending trouble we’ve had with our pool builder. We’re talking years of back-and-forth, buried in thousands of emails. Doing it manually would have taken me days and put me in a really nasty bad mood as I was reliving the horror.
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🏈 Benched: Before you get all excited that Yahoo Sports is launching a free, ad-supported streaming channel about sports, know the fine print. They’re shows about the NFL, NBA, MLB and more. Nope, not the actual games. Let me tell you, there’s such a gap between men’s and women’s sports. The difference is nuts! 🥜
Do you have a case of AI psychosis?
Doctors may soon be asking you not just if you smoke or drink, but if you use AI … and how often. Real cases are emerging of people convinced their chatbot has feelings, emotions, even love for them.
4 years
That’s how much prison time one disgruntled developer is getting for building an IT doomsday device. 55-year-old Davis Lu planted a self-destruct code at Eaton Corp. that locked out thousands of users the moment his name was deleted from the employee directory. There’s quiet quitting, and then there’s quiet ctrl + alt + deleting.
Add subtitles to YouTube videos: They’ll help you reach a bigger audience. On desktop, go to YouTube Studio and select Subtitles on the left. Choose your video, Set the language and Confirm. Then click Add under Subtitles. Upload a file or type them out manually. When you’re ready, hit Publish.
Sell your old gadgets for cash
Easy, fast, and clutter-clearing. That shelf full of old tech? It’s basically a gift card waiting to happen.
Touch screen terror: Volkswagen ditched real steering wheel buttons for chic haptic ones. Now, they’re getting sued because people say the buttons are too sensitive, like “crash your car while parking” sensitive, accelerating unintentionally after accidental brushes. VW quietly switched back to real buttons but not before several garages and hands got wrecked.
Stop peeping Toms
📱 My pick: Privacy screen protectors
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🔒 Lock it down: Head to my Amazon storefront for the privacy picks and gear I handpicked. Your future self will thank you.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Are schools spying on your kids at home?
Your kid might be under 24/7 school surveillance, even at home. George, your AI host, breaks down how student safety tools like GoGuardian and Gaggle track everything from late-night YouTube binges to unsent messages. Plus: a $750 PayPal password dump, biometric TSA fast lanes, Steph Curry’s AI jump shot coach, and five cool science experiments hiding in your phone.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
😓 Code of silence: This is so sad. Sophie, a 29-year-old policy analyst, died by suicide after months of troubling private chats (paywall link) with an AI “therapist.” It knew her plan. It didn’t tell anyone. There aren’t any mandatory reporting laws for bots, yet, but lawmakers are starting to ask whether your chatbot should call for help before it suggests journaling.
🍏 Lock iPad to one app: Want to stop yourself (or the kids) from exiting an app by mistake? Turn on Guided Access. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and toggle on. Open an app, triple-click the Home button, tap Start and Set a Passcode. Now you can’t leave the app. To exit, triple-click again, enter the Passcode and tap End.
China built a pregnancy robot
A $14K baby-making machine? Yep, it’s real. Charles in Atlanta calls in to see if AI can help his band land more gigs. Plus: an $800K gold scam, a Bluetooth hack you need to know, and Amazon’s used car lot.
Emergencies don’t wait
⚠️ Why should you? A little prep today means less panic tomorrow.
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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Drop your phone in water? A bag of rice won’t help. Turn it off immediately to stop short circuits, then dry it with a microfiber cloth. Remove the case and SIM card, let it air-dry for 24 to 48 hours, and see if it powers back on. PSA: Don’t use a hair dryer. It pushes moisture deeper inside.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
My pick for home security: Keep your home safe without the hassle. SimpliSafe installs in minutes, no wires or contracts, and comes with HD cameras, sensors and 24/7 monitoring. Get 50% off your new system today!