While I detangle my own participation in the family vlogging space and its consequences on kids, I find it useful to pull one thread at a time. Continue reading Social Media Laws Around the Globe: China cracks down on Education Influencers
At first, it looked like just another “bad air day,” as I tell my kids. Then my oldest noticed that the air was yellow, and that’s how we clued into our first sandstorm. Continue reading Ever been in a sandstorm? YouTube Science & Climate Channels
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Media Swap presented by and at Audobon Park Church in partnership with Goblin Market and Waste Knot Orlando Continue reading Out Think Media IRL: books and digital safety tips at Orlando’s Media Swap on March 14
Everything I first learned about the reality of modern day Iran, I learned from Persepolis. This memoir brings us through Satrapi’s childhood, and tackles difficult themes. Continue reading What should kids know about Iran?
Haminations has extended his massive popularity as a Storytime Animator into a small card game empire. His latest is called Bull Shark. Continue reading Bull Shark! is a new card game by Storytime Animator Bryson (Haminations)
We can thank the Wayan Brothers and an upstart FOX Network (ah, happier memories) for transforming the dull Super Bowl Halftime shows to a pop culture event that often overshadows even its famed commercials. Continue reading Thank the Fly Girls for the Super Bowl Halftime Show – A Media History Treat (2/8/2026)
Think about the notes you passed in school or the DMs you’d get.
Would you want those messages available for strangers to see, for data brokers or law enforcement to use? Continue reading Messenger Kids, Meta, and Moderation
The day after Christmas in 2004, something had happened that these kids couldn’t ignore.
The Boxing Day Tsunami or Asian Tsunami had shown us normal everyday tourists trying out their brand new camera phones, who suddenly became the front lines of citizen journalism during one of the most destructive natural disasters to date. Continue reading How Tsunami footage empowered a generation: 12/26/04 in Media History
I haven’t heard much about Zootopia 2, but I’ll take any chance I can to sing the first one’s praises. Let’s highlight how Judy and Nick are the perfect models against microaggressions. Continue reading [UPDATED] Zootopia: When a rabbit and fox model how to move through our own implicit bias
One of our favorite YouTubers, North of the Border, dedicated his latest modeling project to the Starbucks baristas on strike. Continue reading How YouTubers support Starbucks baristas on strike: North of the Border
When we first moved to Orlando with two friends to our name, I knew that Maker Faire was a place where we could find community. Continue reading Meet YouTube Makers at MakerFaire Orlando 2025 this weekend
Florida released new social studies standards that specifically re-examines Senator McCarthy and emphasized anti-communism messages for grades 9-12. Continue reading Florida’s new Social Studies standards sanitize the McCarthy Hearings
Another round of K Pop Demon Hunters Sing-Along screenings is scheduled for Oct. 30th-Nov 2nd. Rumi, Mira, and Zoe slammed through our entertainment siloes last summer, resonating across gender and age borders faster than most parents could say “Saja Boys.” Continue reading Takedown! KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Along hits movie theaters this Halloween weekend
Roblox Red Flags and Lawsuits💥what happened with Roblox
💥how it affects your family
💥setting up safety perimeters
💥ways to talk to kids about predators
💥clues your child might be at risk of grooming
💥how to approach the topic if you suspect they’re being groomed Continue reading Roblox Red Flags and Lawsuits (Resources Round-up)
Listen to an inspiring talk with Author Kristin Bair on the mental load of motherhood and where menopause sits in This Moment in Media History. Continue reading Menopause & Mental Loads: This moment in Media History w/ Author Kristin Bair
Headline writers had a ball on on Thursday when Pope Leo XIV gave news agencies a pointed master class on morality and clickbait. Continue reading What is Clickbait & Why is the Pope Against it
Every Friday ConnorEatsPants plays #FortniteFriday with a celebrity of some sort, but my alerts rarely ring as loudly as they did today, and with good reason. On Friday, October 3, California Governor Gavin Newsome joins Connor on the Battle Bus. Continue reading Why is Gavin Newsom playing #FortniteFriday with a guy called ConnorEatsPants?
Dr. Jane Goodall passed away while on an advocacy tour, her Institute has confirmed. Her name alone conjures the image of adventure, breaking glass ceilings, and an unparalleled devotion to saving and sustaining the earth. Continue reading Honor Jane Goodall’s life by respecting our earth
I focus on sharing historical, cultural, and emotional contexts through commentary and interviews with experts.
With that in mind, here’s recent news in kids media, specifically YouTube and what you might need to know: Continue reading How YouTube affects your daily life: September 2025
As I sat in the movie theater vacillating between laughing and crying for 80 minutes, I realized how important it would be for my boys to watch Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. The film starring Kathy Bates and Rachel McAdams is obviously a must-see for young girls. Continue reading Periods & Puberty: A Parent’s Cheat Sheet for “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”
Around 2018, young actress Shiloh Nelson started uploading short sketches with her family to social media, which has now grown into the kind of media company that kids dream about. Shiloh & Bros (including Shiloh, Judah, Elijah, and Micah) produce variations of video games in real life, Continue reading Shiloh & Bros: the Antidote to Obnoxious Gamers
In brighter news, this is a very good app for focus! I often gush about Hank Green’s excellent work on YouTube and beyond. Recently he dropped a secret project: an app called “Focus Friend.” Besides how adorable the illustrations by Honey B Games are, it might just help your children self-regulate their screentime. [Note that Focus Friend does not claim to help with screentime; I’m suggesting it’s worth a try based on my experience. – CMJ] Continue reading Help kids self-regulate with Focus Friend by Hank Green
I was watching @KreekCraft on Friday when the Roblox Developer Conference began, which started airing at 1 pm ET. Follow the Bluesky & Threads accounts to get real-time updates on Roblox safety. BACKGROUND on recent Roblox news as of 5 Sept 2025, 4:30 PM ET It’s been a rough few weeks for Roblox. But you wouldn’t know it from their Roblox Developers Conference (RDC 2025) … Continue reading I watched the Roblox Developer Conference to see what they’re doing about child predators
Would you accept an invitation to a party from a stranger? Would you let someone you don’t know inside your house? Would you give a stranger your phone number? No? Not until college? Then don’t do that in the game either. Continue reading How to set up Roblox: From parental controls to explicit consent [Updated]
Our family binging Haminations when I came upon his Kickstarter for the animated board game Hoard the Hams, I signed up to get the game. Continue reading New Game by Haminations: “Hoard the Hams” Sneak Peek
Stephanie Mitchell believes that stories create empathy, and empathy is how we change the world. Continue reading Anne Frank & the Impact of Memoir in History w/Stephanie Mitchell
As I cleaned out my files, I rediscovered this really lovely 2021 National Geographic article “Talking to Kids about advertising,” where they used our Gatorade story as the introduction. Continue reading Break the Fourth Wall of Advertising for Your Kids
How parents can spot red flags that a Roblox game might be connected to a predator. Continue reading How to spot the red flags in a Roblox game
Ever wonder why “The Cat in the Hat” feels icky?
I always enjoy reading Meg St-Esprit’s work, and contributing is an honor! Here she lays out an excellent roadmap for the different ways to approach Digital Literacy. Continue reading Care.com: I contributed Digital Literacy tips for families
Fortnite is certainly a hot topic among families, and I hear people try to describe this thing that happens….this ethereal idea that Dr. Emily Edlynn, PhD, pinpoints exactly: The Fortnite Creep. Continue reading Fortnite Follow-Up:
What if I was that new mother, over a decade ago, desperately searching for answers as to how to be a “good” mother? I would have been tempted. Continue reading What do my kids need to know about AI? or “Mattel, I have questions.”
Given the WICKED: for Good trailer caused such excitement, we’re revisiting our own coverage of the Wicked Witch of the West- two years ago, I explored the concepts of evil and good in relation to pop culture and parenting. Continue reading Witchy Wednesday #1: The Wicked Witch got the shaft
I want to share a special Out Think Media calendar with you all- see which topics I’m covering this month and vote on the dep dive. Continue reading Grab our new June calendar
With The Taming of the Screens premiering last weekend, it’s time to sit down and explain how Shakespeare ties into digital literacy. Thanks to everyone who joined us at the Orlando Kids Fringe Festival for activity tables and at our new workshop, performed for free in the Courtyard each day. Why use Shakespeare for digital literacy? If you can decode Shakespeare in 2025, you have … Continue reading What’s digital literacy & what does Shakespeare have to do with it?
Kids team up with Shakespeare’s clowns and sprites on a quest, where they see the power of curiosity and context clues are the keys to staying safe online! Continue reading Happy birthday Shakespeare! & Introducing “The Taming of the Screens”
The world of kids media, influencer marketing, and online safety move so quickly, and here are the topics on the edge of my brain right now. Continue reading Kids Media on my Mind
We are what we watch. And there’s a reason why our kids take the advice of YouTubers and other influencers more than we assume they do. Continue reading Under the Influence of The Royalty Family
Recently announced changes mean that fewer players will be deceived into joining games like “Coin Slide” that can’t actually offer their players copious amounts of coins or XP as advertised. Continue reading Epic Games Loyalty Levels Up w/ Small and Significant Change in Fortnite
The fires still burning through areas of Los Angeles have led many creators to post updates to fans about their safety. Continue reading West Coast YouTubers Update Fans on Their Safety During L.A. Fires
Here’s what families need to know about influencer marketing, YouTube, and attacking algorithms in 2025. Continue reading I Watched YouTube in 2024 So You Didn’t Have to
Shari Franke’s memoir The House of My Mother is a must-read, especially in light of recent laws, regulations, and questions put forth about the role of social media in our children’s lives. Hear it from a young woman who lived her entire childhood online. Continue reading Family Vlogging and Shari Franke, The One Who Got Away
Ask if your child watches ConnorEatsPants, or Fortnite Friday. You can gain insight into how gamers discuss current events and some of Connor’s questions/views could align with your child’s. Continue reading Who is ConnorEatsPants & What is Fortnite Friday?
Is the Wicked Witch of the West really the wicked one? How to talk to your kids after seeing the WICKED movie. Continue reading WICKED: When the Hero Must Play the Villain
Get insights on the role of content creators in the Democratic National Convention and how much influence does MrBeast really have? Continue reading In the Belly of MrBeast: Influencers Gonna Influence
Every month, I’ll share a kids’ media roundup of all the articles, announcements, and new reviews—when they happen. Continue reading Skibiditoilet Goes Hollywood, Congress Puts a SHIELD between Kids and Data Miners – August News
What’s the connection between neuroscience and kids’ media, and how can families harness that knowledge for good? Continue reading Civic Science, Kids’ Media, and Me
The key to making any relocation run as smoothly as possible: communication. You and your spouse must talk to each other and listen to one another, even — and especially — if they are saying things you don’t want to hear. Continue reading Questions Families Must Ask Before Moving
Get an inside look into Inside Out 2 as we dissect themes of friendships, adolescence, and anxiety with experts. Continue reading Burning to Talk About Inside Out 2? Here Are 2 Great Choices
Riley’s in middle school and her brain is overwhelmed with new emotions! How should her parents handle her newly found Anxiety? Continue reading Enter Anxiety: Helping Kids Handle Bigger Emotions in Inside Out 2
The annual Orlando Fringe Festival brings hundreds of families downtown, and we got to meet them! Continue reading Caregivers Connect at the Orlando Kids’ Fringe Festival!
Why is a solar eclipse so rare, and what does it all mean? If families need help explaining it, let our favorite Science Communicators lead the way! Continue reading 5 Science YouTubers to Explain the Solar Eclipse to Your Kids
I read Turtles All the Way Down while I was slowly coming to understand the role that anxiety plays in my life. If anyone could figure out how to express OCD in writing, it is John Green. Continue reading John Green, OCD, and the Turtles All the Way Down Trailer
Now that Ninja told his audience about his cmelanoma diagnosis, how do you talk to your kids about cancer? Continue reading Popular Streamer Ninja Uses His Platform to Encourage Cancer Checkups
The girls sing “First comes love….” about Rad and Frisky, so we’ll get to see them tie the knot! Share the bone? Who knows, and who cares? It’s four times as long as any Bluey episode. Continue reading Watch the official trailer for Bluey’s 1st long special, “The Sign”
Their stories of fulfillment and the neverending tug-of-war between family, love, career, and parental obligations still shine and spark dialogues the whole family can engage in. Continue reading Everyday Marriage Issues on the ISLE OF HOPE
NIMONA is a good companion piece to Percy Jackson – when we stop looking to our parents to learn who we are, how can we choose the right friends? Continue reading Nimona: Breaking Animation Barriers on YouTube
Ruby Franke, the former family vlogger on the “8 Passengers” channel, and her former business partner Jodi Hildebrandt are being sentenced today for – counts of child abuse. Continue reading Live Updates on the Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt Sentencing
The Pink Shirt Couple is just one of the latest YouTube couples who broke up after rising to fame – while dating. But why does my kid care? Continue reading What the Pink Shirt Couple Can Teach Us About Break Ups
If your kids give you the old “I need to play Fortnite so I know what my friends are talking about,” here’s what you need to know, Continue reading Fortnite and Disney? A Parent Primer if You’re Still Unsure
Let’s use Milne’s birthday as an opportunity to explore the whys, wherefores, and drawbacks of writing or filming about your family. Continue reading The Perils of Writing About Your Kids: A.A. Milne, Christopher Robin, and Family Vloggers
Imagine my surprise to hear a video essayist proclaim MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) as the modern Wonka: “Clickbait Wonka.” Continue reading Wonka, MrBeast, and Clickbait Philanthropy
I was a guest for the “On Boys” podcast, and we discussed how to see the clues that extremists might be influencing your child, parasocial relationships, doxxing, Gamergate, The Great Replacement Theory, how to mentor and guide YouTube use, and more. Continue reading What are the Signs of My Child Being Radicalized?
How can you talk to kids about death and grief? How hard is it to watch “The Boy and the Heron” if you’ve experienced the loss of a parent? Continue reading Death, Grief, The Boy, and the Heron
We continue our first series, “Exploring Evil,” exploring the concept of evil in classical stories and how it relates to parenting and kids. Part 2 of Loki welcomes Julia Washington & Dr. Drea Letamendi to our library to connect Loki to parenting, psychology, and pop culture. Continue reading Listen to “Out Think the Classics” EP 3: Loki Pt 2 with Dr. Drea Letamendi & Julia Washington
Given the great news that Pixar is not shying away from tackling puberty in Inside Out 2, let’s bring our conversations about puberty and developing bodies back! Continue reading Pixar, Periods, and Puberty: Inside Out 2
Inundated by Black Friday or Cyber Monday posts?
We know the most important part of gift giving is that it’s personal and meaningful. So for gamer kids, what are the best gifts? Here’s our guide! Continue reading Gift Guide for the Gamers in Your Life 2023
The film and play help children witness a 10-year-old child in transition– moving away from her friends and her life, moving away from following her parents’ instructions, and remembering who you are and where you came from while also learning to move on. Continue reading The Gorgeous Stage Play of “Spirited Away” Now Available to Stream!
I could say so much about The Marvels: how I could watch Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel) forever; how Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) lets emotions leak past her “I’m fine” face; and how Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau/Spectrum?) perfectly blends childhood betrayal and performing her duty even if- and especially when- they conflict.
Maybe one day, I will share some critique of the film, but today is not that day. Continue reading The Marvels: When the Villain is the Hero of Their Own Story
The allegations that Creator Rosanna Pansino has recently brought against MrBeast’s Creator Games 3 is an important lesson for kids to learn about YouTubers so they can view their favorite channels critically. Continue reading The MrBeast Cheating Controversy Shows Your Kids How Editing Tells the Story
It’s Chuck-E-Cheese meets Freddy Krueger. It’s actually Showbiz Pizza meets Freddy Krueger if you want to get really specific. Continue reading A Parent Primer For “Five Nights at Freddie’s”
Given the incidents occurring in Israel and the Middle East, and threats of violent imagery being spread across social media, I asked my friend and parental controls expert Shelley Delayne to help families understand extra precautions to take and conversations around it. Continue reading How to (Try to) Prevent Your Kids From Seeing Violent Images
AI is just one hot button issue at play; Safeguarding a child actor’s time and experience on set are also under negotiation, and starts even before they get the role. Continue reading SAG/AFTRA Strikes For Children’s Rights to a Safer Set
It might be one of the first times in modern cinema when the goal is to get into high school and not break out of it. Continue reading A Tale of Mutant Turtle Acceptance
Reports directly from the police state that a child climbed out of a window and asked a neighbor for food and water. Neighbors saw duct tape on the child’s hand and wrists, along with open wounds. Continue reading Why was Ruby Franke Arrested? Parenting Advice with a Side of Pain
The First Law to Regulate Family Vlogs on YouTube Until last week, there was no guarantee that a child who is featured in their family’s monetized YouTube channel would ever see a dime. YouTube Help cites some guidelines for minors, but only about the kind of content they can participate in. Now, vlogging parents in Illinois must open and maintain a trust for their children. … Continue reading Illinois Tells Family Vloggers to Pay Their Kids: YouTube News
MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, staked his reputation on a ghost kitchen, and now they’re embroiled in lawsuits. Continue reading Who’s Suing MrBeast?
What parents need to know about the Colleen Ballinger controversy and how to protect your children. Continue reading The Sad Ballad of Miranda Sings
We watch Ken, who Ryan Gosling manages to play with both artificial sincerity and heart-wrenching nuance, go from needing to prove himself as Barbie’s love/friend interest to feeling great while she experiences misogyny in The Real World. Continue reading Mattel vs The Matriarchy: How the Barbie Movie Shows that Misogyny & Toxic Masculinity Must Be Taught
As a child of the 80s, it takes a minute to shift my expectations around toys; mainly, that they don’t want Care Bears or He-Man as much as a plushie of a monster. Continue reading YouTube Merch Part 2: Hug a Horror Friend
The Super Mario Movie, Peter Pan & Wendy, The LIttle Mermaid, and I want to watch The Barbie Movie?!?!?!? Plus TikTok Goes to Washington, Apple Barks Back, Link Learns to Cook, and YouTube Shorts Come Up Short.
Turn the pages to travel back to a time before social media, in a world that included basic cable and dial-up internet.
The answer, according to school leaders at October’s Jing International School Expo panel, is empathy, flexibility, and a multi-pronged approach that looks at all stakeholders in the school community: students, parents, and staff.
he trope of the absentee or deadbeat dad is so pervasive that it often seems like a lazy way to motivate your protagonist. Think of your top five movies and then try to name one whose dad is a good influence, or even alive.
Continue reading Baba’s Not a Buffoon: Dads Play a Big Role in Early Childhood Development
When my husband was six years old, a tonsillectomy almost killed him.
Continue reading Navigating a Rare Illness in Another Country
William Lindesay has achieved what few foreigners could imagine: his name is synonymous with The Great Wall of China. Lindesay first arrived in Beijing with the goal to journey from the start to the end of the Wall, but his adventures here just kept going! He’s known for hiking the Wall and capturing its entirety via a drone (that originally his sons encouraged him to … Continue reading 20 for 20: Great Wall Explorer William Lindesay
Newsweek’s Beijing Bureau Chief Melinda Liu once considered Beijing a stop on her way to living around the world.
Continue reading 20 for 20: Newsweek Beijing Bureau Chief Melinda Liu
