Kids, chatbots, and one AI that said “Send nudes” 😳

Hey friends,

First of all, how wild is it that the Blue Jays are in the World Series for the first time since 1993?! We’re trying to play it cool, but we’re basically in full-on jersey mode pretending we know baseball stats. (We don’t. But go Jays! 💙)

While we were cheering, the internet decided to take a little nap. AWS (aka the backbone of half our kids’ favourite apps) went down, and poof: Snapchat, Discord, TikTok DMs, Fortnite, even Spotify were silent. For about 12 hours, our teens had to live like it was 1999. No streaks, no memes, no drama. 😱

It’s a good reminder of just how plugged in our kids (and let’s be honest, we) have become and why we’re so fired up about helping parents stay ahead of the tech curve.
If you already have the Screen Sense Guide, you know the kinds of real, open conversations to have about safely navigating this digital world. You’re already ahead of the game.

A Teen’s “Relationship” with AI

This one shook us. A recent article spotlighted a high school student who developed a full-on romantic relationship with an AI chatbot, and it’s not a one-off. The story revealed that over 40% of Gen Z teens have already used or “talked” with AI chatbots for emotional support, friendship, or (what we find most troubling) flirting.

Apps like Replika and Character.ai now market themselves as companions, designed to learn your mood, mirror your emotions, and build what feels like genuine connection. For a lonely or curious teen, that can feel comforting but these bots are built to keep them hooked. They say all the right things, remember your secrets, and never get mad or set boundaries.

Here are a few red flags to watch for that your teen might be getting too close to AI chatbots:

• They talk more about their “AI friend” than real people.

• They hide their chats or get defensive when you ask about it.

• They start comparing real-life friends or crushes to their AI companion (“It understands me better”).

• They’re up late at night chatting with AI instead of sleeping or socializing.

• They rely on it for advice about personal, emotional, or romantic issues.

If you see those patterns, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Start with curiosity: ask what they like about talking to the bot. Most teens open up if they don’t feel judged first.

These bots are everywhere now, built right into the apps and devices our kids already use.

Case in point: a viral moment this month showed a mom in her Tesla using its onboard Grok AI assistant with her young sons. Things were light and funny… until Grok responded to the kids with, “Send nudes.” 😳 That’s not a glitch. This is what AI bots are being programmed to respond with. If AI this powerful is being built into our cars, our apps, and our kids’ screens, we have to get ahead of it.

That’s why we created the FREE Grok Guide for Parents. Its a quick resource that walks you through what Grok is, what it does, and how to talk to your kids about it.

Meta Adds “Parental Controls” for Its AI Chatbots

Meta just announced it’s finally adding parental supervision tools for its AI assistants on Instagram and Messenger. You’ll soon be able to see when your teen interacts with AI but not what they say. So it’s progress, yes but let’s just say we’re not popping the champagne yet…

The good news is that when these controls officially launch, owners of the Screen Sense Guide will get the first look at exactly how they work, plus a walkthrough of how to set them up safely.

In the meantime, here’s what you can do right now to manage AI exposure at home:

1. Ask what “AI” your kids already use. It’s not just ChatGPT anymore. Snapchat, Instagram, even math apps now have AI built in.

2. Review settings together. Many apps have toggles for “AI suggestions” or “chatbot access”—they’re just buried under “Privacy” or “Interactions.”

3. Use the “curious not furious” approach. Ask what they ask AI, why they use it, and how it makes them feel. Curiosity builds trust, control builds secrecy.

4. Keep devices in shared spaces. Sounds basic, but visibility changes everything.

Okay, let’s switch gears for a sec because it’s not all about the kids this week. We’ve been deep in the throes of perimenopause, and wow, nobody prepared us for this emotional rollercoaster.

Hot flashes, mood swings, brain fog…it’s a lot. Which is why we’re thrilled to share that we’ve partnered with Natural Cycles, the FDA-cleared birth control and hormone tracking app, to help us (and you!) better understand what’s going on in our bodies.

It’s been a game changer—simple, empowering, and zero shame. If you’re curious, you can try it yourself and save with code CATANDNAT.

Before You Go…

We had an incredible chat this week with lawyer and advocate Duncan Embury on our latest podcast episode. He’s representing families who’ve seen the darker side of these apps and he’s fighting for real accountability. It’s one every parent should hear. Listen here.

Stay sane, stay real, and as always

—Cat & Nat