Running late (blame the holidays + sick kids) but this is big for parents

Hey! It’s us, popping in a tiny bit late this week because the holidays steamrolled our calendars and, not to brag, our homes are currently a rotating germ museum. If you’re also living that cough-syrup-and-tea life, we see you. BUT! We’re still barrelling toward year-end like a freight train and we didn’t want to miss this week because there’s big stuff parents should know.

Psst…If you’ve been following our newsletters the past few weeks, you know we walked through some major Snapchat settings and how to lock things down. Today we’re sharing the fresh Instagram change that just dropped, and our team has already updated the Screen Sense guide with step-by-step instructions to enable (or disable!) The features that impact your kid’s privacy and feed. If you haven’t picked up the guide yet, now is a great time! If you already have the guide, watch out for an email from us with the updated version very soon. 

—Cat & Nat

Australia’s under-16 social media ban (and why we’re into it)

As of December 10, Australia flipped the switch on a nationwide rule: no social media accounts for users under 16 on the major platforms, with platforms required to block underage users or face fines. It’s already resulting in mass deactivations of underage accounts.

Our take: Honestly… it’s refreshing to see grown-ups in charge do something big to shield kids from the power of social media. Do we think kids should learn to exist with the tech that runs our world? Absolutely. And we think steps like this help reduce the peer pressure and the “everyone else is on it” pull, cut down the addictive scroll, and open space for kids to explore tech outside social feeds (think coding, creation tools, photography, music, robotics) without the risks of algorithmic rabbit holes, DMs, and public comment culture. Would we love to see something similar in North America? Yep. Even if our laws look different, this move gives parents and schools a new reference point to push for stronger defaults and real age checks. (Australian officials are also pressing platforms to show progress on under-16 account bans…accountability matters. )

If you don’t live down under, here’s what you can do right now:

• Use parental controls and restricted modes where available.

• Encourage kids to explore creation tools (photo/video editing, coding games) that build skills without the social feed. We have a post about our fave tools here.

• Pair any access with time limits + check-ins. Ensure you’ve got a solid screen use agreement set up with your kids. The Screen Sense Guide includes a template if you’re not sure where to start.

Instagram’s new Your Algorithm tool

Instagram just launched Your Algorithm, starting in Reels. It shows the topics the app thinks your teen is into (based on what they engage with) and lets them add/remove topics to adjust what they see — basically a little dashboard for steering the recommendation engine. It’s live in the U.S. this week, with a broader rollout coming, and Instagram says similar controls will expand beyond Reels soon. Look for the two-heart icon with sliders on a Reel to open it. 

Why we like it: It turns the mysterious algorithm behind the feed into a conversation starter. You (and your teen) can check the topics regularly, spot anything off, and course-correct, which is perfect for teaching media literacy and helping them understand why certain content shows up. And yes, we put the exact taps and toggles into our Screen Sense guide so you can do it in under five minutes

Once this feature shows up in your teen’s account, ask them, “What’s one topic you want more of in your feed that actually makes you feel good after you close the app?” Then go add it to their algorithm together!

December to Remember: our hearts are so full! That show was everything: seeing this community in real life, swapping stories, laughing, dancing, crying (yep), and remembering why we do this. Thank you for showing up for us and for each other. We are ending the year feeling wildly grateful.

We’re carrying that room’s energy into the new year — hearts cracked wide open and absolutely certain that this community is the good stuff. Here’s to more hugs, louder laughter, and the kind of nights you still feel the next morning (in the best way).

If you’re new here, or still need help finding the right gift for your kids, don’t forget we’ve got you covered. Here’s our gift guide for girls, and here’s our gift guide for boys.

We’ll catch you next week!

—Cat & Nat