The "safe" app that isn’t so safe

Hey friends, 

Valentine’s Day is almost here which means heart-shaped everything and teens pretending they don’t care while absolutely caring.

And while we’re over here trying to make everyone feel the Valentine’s Day love and keep them not emotionally wrecked by a group chat… the internet is basically like: “What if we made every app a social app and also addictive?”

So this week we’re talking about the big global “we need to protect kids online” moment happening right now and the sneaky new place teens are hanging out socially… Spotify. Yep. The music app. The one we thought was safe because it’s just Taylor Swift and heartbreak playlists. (Which… actually checks out for Valentine’s.)

Let’s get into it.

More of the World Is Saying Enough to Teen Social Media

Over the past few weeks, several countries have made moves to restrict kids’ access to social media. Like actual plans for bans, stronger age verification, and calling out addictive design. This signals a major shift in how governments are approaching kids’ online safety and frankly, we’re super interested to see what happens next in our neck of the woods.

This is going to change the conversation from “try to limit screen time” to “should teens even be allowed on these platforms?” And honestly? We get it. Because it’s not just the apps, it's the endless scroll, the dopamine hits, the pressure to keep up, the content they didn’t ask for, and the mood spiral that comes from comparing themselves to a filtered stranger’s perfect life.

Even if you’re in Canada or the U.S. where these laws aren’t here (yet), the vibe is changing globally and your kid is absolutely going to hear about it. 

Instead of waiting for governments to roll out new rules, we can start the conversation at home about why more places are sounding the alarm on the long-term impact social media can have on our kids. Here’s a simple way to open the door this week:

“What do you love about being online… and what hurts your heart about it?”

Skip the lecture and interrogation. Approach with curiosity.
And honestly? You might be surprised by what they’re willing to share when it feels safe.

Spotify isn’t just music anymore

A lot of us parents have been treating Spotify like one of the safe apps. Like it’s just music, just background noise…nothing to worry about. But it’s becoming more interactive, and for a lot of teens it functions like another social space.

Spotify now has an in-app chat feature called Messages, so kids can share songs and talk without ever leaving the app. That matters because teens already use music as communication since playlists can be a love note, a vent, a friendship update, or a whole mood without saying it out loud. 

Spotify also isn’t just music anymore. Between podcasts and audiobooks, it’s a full content platform, which means there’s plenty of mature, explicit, and not-kid-appropriate material mixed in with the playlists. So if Spotify is in the mix at your house, it’s worth a quick check-in: ask what they’re listening to beyond music, what gets shared between friends, and whether they’ve come across anything that made them uncomfortable.

We break down Spotify (yes, even the sneaky social features and mature content) inside our Screen Sense Guide so you know exactly what to look for and how to talk about it without a blow-up. If it’s on your teen’s phone, this is your sign to grab your copy.

It’s Cat here with a quick update from the front lines of parenting and home ownership. I just bought a new washable rug, and I’m not being dramatic when I say: with a dog and three kids, a washable rug is a survival strategy.

And because the universe loves a storyline, one of the kids spilled a pink drink on it when the rug was three days old. THREE. DAYS. But something about the whole thing made me weirdly emotional: my kid came straight to me and told me right away. They knew they broke a rule, but they still felt safe enough to come to me instead of hiding it. And honestly? That’s the goal, right? Not perfection. Just honesty and trust… even when the beverage is neon pink.

And for anyone who needs the practical details: Ruggable + Folex spray is our current magic combo. Ruggable for the washable win, and Folex for the “how is this stain disappearing?” miracle moment. 

Happy Valentine’s week, friends. May your kids confess quickly and your stains lift easily.

—Cat & Nat