This State Is Trying To Ban Kids From Social Media

TOP OF MIND

Under 16? No social media for you!
The "Sweet Sixteen" might get even sweeter for teens in Florida if a new bill introduced by republican Florida Representative Tyler Sirois is passed. House Bill 1 would require social media platforms to ban minors under 16 years of age in Florida from creating a new account.

It also proposes a system to delete accounts currently held by kids under the age of 16. The bill does not call out any social media platform in particular. They want them all to comply.

The important bits
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature will begin its two month session, and one of the top priorities will be trying to introduce and pass this bill by Sirois. Under the bill, all social media platforms would be forced to develop a way to verify the age of each account holder.

No one under the age of 16 would be allowed to have an account. Sirois believes social media is contributing heavily to bullying, suicidal thoughts, depression and other mental health issues among minors.

What do the parenting experts have to say? Almost every expert agrees that heavy social media use can not only harm children, but adults as well. However, not all experts agree that a "ban" is the best response, with some writing that a ban would simply result in teens finding more secretive ways to use the apps, which could be even more dangerous. Typically, when adults try to outsmart kids in the world of technology, it doesn't end well.

Some have even compared the proposed ban to the war on drugs, which hasn't exactly gone as planned.

Others believe there should be a ban, but only for kids under the age of 13.

What's it all mean?
At the end of the day, we can't count on the government to parent for us. You can make sure your kid is able to navigate the minefield that is the internet by giving them the gift of social media literacy. What's that? You can (and probably should) read all about it here.

DID YOU HEAR

Say bye bye to diapers?
A mother on Twitter started a huge debate on Twitter when she posted about how she started potty training her newborn at just 10 days old. How is that possible? With something called elimination communication. She claims "Big Nappy" doesn't want you to know about it, but we're not big nappy, so you can read all about it here.

Yes, we're still trying to figure out this whole reading thing
Many weeks ago we told you about how some school districts were going back to phonics to teach young children how to read. Well, the movement is still going strong, but it's adopting a new name: The Science of Reading. The movement got a pretty big boost last week when Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a proposal to require schools to use "scientifically proven" reading curriculums by 2025. She also wants to invest $10 million in retraining teachers.

Why are black women 3x more likely to die of pregnancy complications?
This reporter wondered the same thing, so she had a novel idea... why don't we ask black women? She interviewed dozens of black women about their medical care during pregnancy, and some of the comments they've had to endure are pretty shocking.

Kelly Clarkson has already banned social media in her household
Former 'American Idol' winner Kelly Clarkson isn't waiting for the government to ban social media, she's already put a ban in place for her children. During a recent interview with PEOPLE, Clarkson revealed her children aren't allowed to use social media for as long as they live under her roof. Her 9-year-old daughter River Rose has already been asking, but Clarkson told her that until she provided a "solid argument" the answer would always be no.

A playhouse worth nearly $20,000?
It's a thing, and this Staten Island mom just bought one for her daughter.

A DOSE OF GOOD

BITES WITH KIYAH

There's a doctor in the house! Every week, Kizingo Kids co-founder and nutrition expert, Dr. Kiyah Duffey, will be sharing recipes and health tips for your family. This week, she's giving us a super secret granola bar recipe that is low on all the processed junk.

From Kiyah:
Ultra-processed foods - foods made from formulations of highly industrialized ingredients - are getting more attention these days, especially because they are everywhere. And if you’re like most of us you eat a lot of these ultra-processed foods without even really knowing it. Granola bars often (almost always!) fall in this category, and yet they remain among our kids’ most requested snacks. This recipe produces chewy chocolate chip granola bars that taste like the real deal, but contain only ingredients you can pronounce.

Enlarge or print recipe here. Follow Kiyah on Instagram.

JUST FOR YOU

Betterments: According to some of the top mental health experts, the toughest mental health goal is being kinder to yourself. For most of us, the voice that lives inside our heads is our toughest critic. It's time we change that. As this informative article points out, practicing self-compassion actually helps you be kinder to everyone around you. 

Deals: Now is the time to stock up on all Christmas items! Major retailers like Target and Walmart are practically giving away their 2023 Christmas inventory. Walmart has Christmas decorations and clothes going for 90% off this week. It's the same story for Target, Hobby Lobby and Walgreens. The expert shoppers recommend stocking up on wrapper paper, holiday snacks, artificial trees and holiday pajamas! More here.

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

This week, loyal reader Anthony B. shares how a tiny miracle happened inside the bathroom...

Anthony, you must be doing something right! Most adults don't even change the toilet paper roll. It's always left to the person needing it in the moment, and then you're left shuffling around the bathroom trying to find a roll. And then sometimes—the darkest of times—you find out there are no extra rolls in the bathroom. Then you look at the hand towel and think, "Maaaybe?"

Okay, we're getting off track here. If you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share, email us at [email protected] and your story might be featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked what you were most looking forward to in 2024 and nearly 60% of you said, "More money!"

RECALLS

Remember the high levels of lead found inside applesauce pouches? Well, the FDA has found another dangerous metal contaminant inside the sauce. Read all about it here.