What COPPA actually covers when your child under 13 signs up for an app
The federal children's privacy rule governs data, not content. Here is what it requires of an app, what the 2025 amendments changed, and where the decision is still yours.
Family
Family covers the domestic side of media: rules that hold up, shared viewing when siblings are four years apart, disputes over devices at the table, and the agreements households renegotiate as children grow. Approaches come from parents and researchers rather than one ideal home. Written for families wanting something workable.
The negotiations at home: device rules that hold, shared watching across age gaps, sibling disputes and agreements that survive a second week.
How to talk to kids about scary news
Ask what they already heard, tell the truth in age-sized pieces, and end with what is being done and who is helping.
Screen-free weekend activities that actually work
Screen-free time survives only when it is planned, social, and slightly novel; boredom alone is not a plan.
How to set up shared family streaming accounts safely
Separate profiles, kids' modes, purchase locks, and a short conversation about terms: the whole setup takes one evening.
How to talk about shows and games at the family table
The family dinner is where media literacy actually gets taught, one open question at a time.
How to plan screen time on a family road trip
A road trip screen plan is a budget, not a ban: decide the windows before you drive, and the car stops being a fight.