Lakshmi

  • How Does Twitter (X) Usage Impact Teens?

    Back in March 2006, a simple bird call became a loud clarion call for online communication.  Since then, Twitter, more recently rebranded as X, has grown to become a central hub for global conversations, attracting users of all ages. There are currently over 600 million monthly users on X, 58% of whom are under 35…

  • How Artificial Intelligence Influences Kids Online: Benefits and Risks

    Isaac Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics were designed to ensure that robots could never harm humans. Yet, in almost every science fiction tale, a robot or any Artificial Intelligence tool inevitably finds a loophole, leading to chaos. Think of HAL9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey, whose mission to “help” ended in paranoia and disaster,…

  • Setting Healthy Screen Time Limits for Kids

    “If we want our children to move mountains, we have to first let them out of their chairs,” said Nicolette Sowder, founder of Wilder Child. Not just their chairs—but their devices, too. Screens are everywhere. From TVs and tablets to smartphones and gaming consoles, they’ve become such an integral part of our daily lives that…

  • The Effects of Social Media on Teen Productivity and Time Management

    Did you know many teenagers spend nearly five hours daily on social media? According to the American Psychological Association, 37% of teens fall into this category, and use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Even more concerning, only 23% of teens manage to limit their usage to under two hours daily. These numbers are alarming…

  • Should Parents Monitor Their Children’s Social Media Activity?

    You glance over your child’s shoulder, and there they are — scrolling, tapping, and laughing. It’s no secret—social media has become an integral part of our kids’ lives, and digital parenting is a way of life now. According to a Pew Research survey in 2023, nearly half of teens say they’re online almost constantly. But what’s…

  • The Impact of Excessive Screen Time on the Health of Teens and Kids

    Imagine spending over seven hours a day—more than 43% of your waking hours—staring at digital devices such as smartphones, tablets and video games. For teenagers, this staggering average of 7 hours and 22 minutes is like watching an entire season of a TV show every single day.  As parents, we have valid reasons to be…

  • FOMO and Fizz:  How Social Media Drives Energy Drink Addiction Among Teens

    Citric Acid Sucralose, Potassium Benzoate, Caffeine, Acesulfame Potassium, Niacin, Thiamin, Potassium Iodide, and Filtered Carbonated Water. Does the above list make you think of something like this? You are wrong.  The above is the ingredient list for one of the oldest energy drinks still being consumed today – Dr Enuf. Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages…

  • What Every Parent Should Know About TikTok’s Hidden Risks

    TikTok has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon in many countries that have not banned the app, especially among teenagers. Launched as Douyin in China in 2016 (hence the stylized d as its logo) and later introduced globally as TikTok in 2017, the app’s name itself, echoing the sound of a ticking clock, emphasizes its focus…

  • How To Set Up Kids For Success during Back-to-School Season?

    So, teach us something worth knowing, Bring us back what we’ve forgot, Just do your best, we’ll do the rest, And learn until our brains all rot. – The School Song of Hogwarts, J. K. Rowling. As the iconic lyrics from Hogwarts’ School Song remind us, education is an ever-evolving journey of discovery, growth, and,…

  • Best and Safest Game Console for Kids in 2024

    As of February 2024, 1.7493 billion video game consoles have been sold worldwide since the first television-based console came out in 1972. Today, over 831,000 video games are available across various platforms, including major digital storefronts like Steam and consoles such as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. With nearly 2.6 billion gamers worldwide, video games…