If you’ve ever wondered why certain phrases or videos keep slipping through even though social media platforms promise strict moderation, the answer may lie in a fast-moving trend called algospeak. It’s the coded language teens use to outsmart the systems designed to filter harmful content.

The idea of a digital companion isn’t new. Kids have long poked at Tamagotchis, asked Siri or Alexa for jokes, and chatted with simple virtual pet apps.

What’s changed is how far AI companions have evolved. Apps like Replika and Character.AI now hold conversations, remember details of past chats, and build personas that many children and teenagers describe as friend-like.

If your child has asked for a social media account, you’re not alone.

While social media apps are undeniably part of growing up today, allowing your kids access to them brings risks that many families would rather not take too early.

That’s why parents everywhere are trying to decide when the right time comes to hand over that kind of responsibility. But the answer isn’t simple.

Parenting is difficult in the digital age, when a world of information—both helpful and harmful—is available at your children’s fingertips. But there is a silver lining.

The mindless gaze. We’ve all seen it, and many of us have done it ourselves. But when our children are staring at screens for hours, it brings a whole new level of worry for parents: “How much time should my kid spend in front of a screen?” 

Raising children in a tech-savvy world brings unique challenges, especially when it comes to introducing devices. For parents weighing the leap to a smartphone, the Xplora X6Play smartwatch offers a safe, kid-friendly alternative packed with features that promote connectivity, safety and peace of mind.

The X6Play is the ideal first device for young children who aren’t ready for a smartphone but still need to stay connected. For parents, it’s a way to introduce children to technology gradually.