One in Five American Teens Use AI for Mental Health Advice
What? A survey released by JAMA Pediatrics found that, in 2025, roughly one in five American teenagers asked artificial intelligence for advice concerning mental health. According to the same survey, more than three in five of those who used it for this purpose did not mention it to anyone.
So What? Other studies have indicated that AI gives incorrect or incomplete information regarding health-centric questions almost half the time. AI sycophancy additionally causes the software to affirm its users, which, in terms of mental health, can reaffirm incorrect diagnoses or false beliefs about oneself.
Now What? While AI is useful in a variety of contexts, diagnosing and talking about mental health should be left to parents and professionals. Consider how you might help your child open up about such feelings so they’ll choose not to seek AI for assistance.
Study Finds Screen Time Damages Two-and-Under Development
What? A new study conducted by researchers from four United Kingdom universities links screen time for children 2 years old and younger with “long-term negative effects on health and quality of life.”
So What? The study indicated that increased screen time among infants and toddlers worsened language development and made sleeping more difficult. Other studies on the topic state that more screen time doubles the risk a child will experience “atypical sensory processing.”
Now What? This is far from the first time we’ve heard this (Carl D. Marci’s book Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age extensively covers this), but it serves as a helpful reminder for parents about the risks associated with screen time for babies.
Sony to Cease PlayStation Physical Game Disc Production in 2028
What? Sony, the company behind the gaming console PlayStation, recently announced it would end its production of video game discs in favor of an all-digital future starting January 2028. The announcement led to fan backlash, with many gamers opting to cancel their subscription to the console’s online PlayStation Plus accounts in protest.
So What? Many see this as a step closer to gaming companies removing a gamer’s ownership of video games entirely. The consumer advocate group Stop Killing Games argues that companies should not be allowed to shut down server access to games, effectively “killing” a player’s ability to play what they paid for.
Now What? Movements like Stop Killing Games are certain to gain more popularity and prominence as the digital-only trend continues. But families should still consider their own gaming (and game-buying) habits, evaluating whether the costs—both figurative and literal—are truly worth it.
2 Responses
I have a relative who specifically bought the PlayStation because it does play discs for games and Blu-rays and DVDs. That way if you forget your account or are offline you can still play the games and you can watch movies without having to change devices.
I sometimes play the Sims game in Spanish on my computer. It is inconvenient, though, because I have to sign in on library wifi and then hope the laptop doesn’t restart before I get home. I used to be able to start it up offline, but they removed that option. My guess is it was because of piracy, but I haven’t played the game since January because I’ve forgotten to sign in while still online. The Sim’s is pretty inconvenient for people who want to limit Internet time. I am sad to see Sony going the same direction.
Precisely, and that’s also why I have a large collection of disc movies—they’re invaluable when the internet goes out or when I can’t log into the PlayStation Network because of an update being downloaded.