March break survival mode

Hey Friends!

Okay so March break is upon us and we have already exhausted approximately every idea we had by day two. The snacks are gone, someone has watched the same YouTube video four times, and we are genuinely considering whether "clean your room" counts as an activity. It does not. We know this. We're doing it anyway.

But can we just say, the fact that spring is coming? That alone is carrying us right now. Winter has been holding on with both hands and we just got hit with what we are calling the last storm of the season (it has to be, right?!). We are manifesting warm weather, open windows, and kids who want to go outside. We're almost there.

In the meantime, while the kids are home and the house is loud and chaotic in the best and worst ways, let's talk about some things happening in the digital world that are worth your attention this week.

Meta is in court and what came out should matter to every parent

A landmark trial is wrapping up in California right now, and if you haven't heard about it yet, you need to. Meta’s and Google’s leadership have both taken the stand in a case that accuses Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube of deliberately designing their platforms to be addictive for children and then hiding what they knew about the harm it was causing (TikTok and Snapchat each settled before the trial began).

The case was brought by a 20-year-old woman who experienced serious mental health consequences from social media use, and it's the first time a jury will actually decide whether Big Tech is responsible for what happened to her. For years, these companies have said there's no proven link between their platforms and teen mental health struggles. This trial is asking a jury to decide whether that's actually true.

We're not here to tell you what the verdict will be or what it means legally (that's above our pay grade). But whatever happens in that courtroom, the conversation it's sparking matters. Our kids are on these platforms. The companies that built them knew more than they let on. And that's worth talking about at the dinner table. Being honest about what social media is designed to do and why being intentional about how your family uses it actually matters.

Here’s what you can do with this information today:
If you haven't revisited your family's screen time boundaries lately, this week is a good time. Are the limits you set still working? Does your teen know they can talk to you if something on social media is making them feel bad? That conversation matters more than any setting you can turn on. And if you want to make sure your settings are actually doing what you think they're doing, the Screen Sense guide walks through every platform and device in plain language so you can feel confident about what's in place.

Smart glasses might soon be able to identify strangers' faces in public

A new report this week suggests Meta is exploring new capabilities for its smart glasses, including the possibility of facial recognition features in the future. The idea is that someone wearing the glasses could potentially identify a person’s name, social media profiles, or other information just by looking at them. To be clear: this feature hasn’t been officially announced or released. But internal reports suggest it’s something being explored, which raises a bigger issue that’s already here today.

We are entering a world where people can film, photograph, or livestream others in public spaces using devices that barely look like cameras at all. Devices like glasses, watches, and other wearable tech. Think about what that means for teenagers just existing in public. A conversation, a mistake, a joke with friends, or simply walking down the street could potentially be captured and shared without their knowledge.

That’s why this is an important conversation for families right now about facial recognition as well as consent and responsibility with technology.

• Do our kids understand that filming someone without their consent can be a violation of privacy?

• Do they know what to do if they realize someone has recorded them without permission?

• And do they understand their own responsibility when they’re holding the camera?

Here’s What you can do:
Have a simple, honest conversation with your teen this week. Talk about what consent means when it comes to recording people. Ask them how they would feel if someone secretly filmed them and posted it. Discuss what they should do if they notice someone recording them in a way that feels uncomfortable (moving away, speaking up, or asking someone for help). And just as importantly, remind them of the other side of it: they should never film someone without permission. Not for a joke, not for a post, not for a group chat.

We don't know about you, but the change of seasons always brings up a lot of feelings for us. Excitement for sure. But also something a little more bittersweet. The end of a season is a natural moment to look back, take stock, and decide what you want to carry forward and what you're ready to leave behind.

There is a lot happening in the world right now. A lot of heavy news, a lot of things to worry about, a lot of noise. And we want to gently say, you don't have to carry all of it. You're allowed to put some of it down. You're allowed to be silly with your kids during March break even when things feel serious. You're allowed to dance in your kitchen or watch a stupid movie or do absolutely nothing meaningful and let that be enough for a day.

Connection doesn't always look profound. Sometimes it looks like making your kid laugh at something ridiculous. And that might be exactly what everyone in your house needs right now.

We're rooting for you. Go be a little silly this week. ❤️

—Cat & Nat