TikTok’s at it again. Snapchat’s no better.

So this week, we traded in our podcast mics for campus maps because yep, we’re officially in post-secondary planning mode. Between the campus tours, cafeteria food (not terrible, honestly), and dorm room decor planning, we’ve been feeling all the feelings.

And here’s what hit us hard: if you wait until grade 12 to start looking at schools, your kid might be missing some credits you didn’t know they needed! We had no idea how early you need to be thinking about programs, prerequisites, and all those random course requirements that can make or break your kid’s education goals or timelines.

So, mom-to-mom, if you’ve got a teen in grade 11 and secondary education is their desired path, start checking out what universities and colleges are looking for now. It doesn’t mean locking them into a plan, but it helps them (and you) know what boxes they’ll need to tick. Because once you hit grade 12, it’s more about execution than exploration.

Anyway, despite our busy week of planning for the first kids to launch out of the house, we still found time to catch up on what’s happening online this week. Let’s dive in.

Sora 2 Is Here and It’s Blurring Reality Even More

OpenAI just released Sora 2, an upgraded AI video generator that makes insanely realistic videos from text prompts. It’s creative magic… until you realize that we’re inching closer to a world where we can’t tell what’s real and what’s AI-made.

And this has us thinking, if social media becomes flooded with fake “real-life” videos, does that kill the whole point of being part of social networks? Social platforms were built around connection, seeing into people’s actual lives. But if those lives are just AI illusions, what’s left? Are we connecting, or just consuming? What do you think?

Want to help your kids (and yourself) get better at spotting the fakes?
Here are a few quick tips:

• 1. Spot the Subtle Slip-Ups: AI still messes up small things like hands, teeth, and shadows. Some human features, expressions, and mannerisms just don’t look natural.

• 2. Check the Clarity: AI videos are getting better, but the quality often gives them away. If parts of the video are sharp while others look oddly blurry or inconsistent, that’s a red flag. (Bonus tip: Tools like InVID or Google Lens can trace where a video really came from.)

• 3. Watch the Background: Keep an eye on what’s happening behind the subject. If objects are moving weirdly, blurring in and out of focus, or glitching completely, you’re probably looking at AI-generated content.

→ We’re currently developing the Ultimate AI Guide for Parents. It’s going to be your one-stop resource to understand what AI actually is, how to explain it to your teens, the tools they’re using (and how they work), and how to raise responsible AI users — and it’s coming soon. If you’ve purchased the full Screen Sense guide, you’ll get early access and a special discount when it launches.

So, speaking of prerequisites…
✨ Get the full Screen Sense guide now so you’ll already have the basics down before the AI edition drops.Instagram’s safety tools are failing teens.

Snapchat’s Shadow Side

A recent study by a Danish research group revealed that Snapchat is being used by drug dealers to openly market illegal substances to young users, including profiles selling cocaine, MDMA, and opioids. Here’s what they found:

• Researchers created fake accounts posing as 13-year-olds and found numerous profiles with drug-related usernames.

• Of 40 flagged profiles, only 10 were removed, raising questions about Snapchat’s enforcement practices.

• Even worse: Snapchat’s algorithm appears to recommend these illicit profiles to young users—sometimes within hours.

• The study’s authors argue Snapchat is not doing enough to moderate or block obvious drug-related content and may even be violating child protection standards.

This is another example of how digital platforms are not doing enough to protect kids from inappropriate or illegal content. Your teen doesn’t have to go searching. Sometimes, it lands in their “For You” or “Suggestions.” It underscores why we can’t leave tech to “take care of itself.” We have to help kids learn how these systems work—and how to resist being drawn in.

TikTok’s Latest: Inappropriate Content for Kids

A recent investigation found that TikTok’s algorithm is suggesting pornographic and highly sexualized content to newly created child accounts, even when “Restricted Mode” is turned on. Here’s what they found:

• Researchers made accounts pretending to be 13-year-olds (on clean devices, no search history) and enabled all safety settings. 

• Despite that, those accounts were presented with sexualized search suggestions immediately — for terms like “very rude babes” — which then led to explicit content.

• In some cases, it took just two clicks to end up on explicit videos.

• Some explicit content was hidden inside more benign-looking videos, likely to evade moderation. 

Algorithms are actively pushing kids toward harmful content and it can happen fast, even on brand-new accounts. The takeaway? Even with “safe mode” on, TikTok’s algorithm can quickly spiral into content kids were never meant to see. It’s a reminder to stay curious about what’s showing up on their feeds. Not to police every scroll, but to open up conversations about how the internet shapes what they see and how they feel.

Can You Spot The AI?

AI is getting wildly good. Like, “wait… is that even real?” good. So let’s put your detective skills to the test with two photos: one real, one AI-generated. Think you can tell the difference between the two photos below? Which one do you think is AI? The answer is at the end of this email.

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we’ve been on a years-long mission to find the perfect pair of leggings. You know, the kind that lift, smooth, stay put, and don’t show camel toe. 🐫

Well… we finally found them!! Cue the hallelujah chorus. 🙌 These are the ones — buttery soft, flattering, and miracle-level when it comes to fit.

And since it’s somehow only 11 weeks until Christmas (HOW?!), we’re calling it now: these leggings make the perfect gift, for your bestie, your sister, or let’s be honest, yourself. Because nothing says “happy holidays” like pants you can actually move and bend in without worrying about the front view.

Catch you next week!

—Cat & Nat

P.S. The photo on the left is AI generated 🙂