Contributor: Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

on the radar

On the Radar: Teen ‘Threat Alert,’ the Castor Oil Trend and Bluesky

Isolation raises “threat alert” in teens. The new castor oil trend perpetuates toxic diet culture. What do parents need to know about the social media app Bluesky?

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We Live in Time

We Live in Time is a really, really sad movie. And content issues throughout the film make it even more difficult to watch.

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spellbound

Spellbound

Spellbound turned out to be a bit of a letdown.

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dune: prophecy

Dune: Prophecy

Language, violence and sexual content will make ‘Dune: Prophecy’ much less accessible to families than the films it’s based on.

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Silo

Apple TV+’s Silo pairs a sci-fi murder-mystery with profanity and violence in a world where nothing is as it seems.

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what teens want for Christmas

What Teens (and Kids) Want for Christmas

Kids and teens are getting Christmas gift ideas from TikTok and YouTube. But that comes with a number of problems for parents.

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On the Radar: Moldy Lunchly, Crashing Out and Tren

Check your Lunchly for mold before eating. Why Gen Z is “crashing out.” And what parents need to know about the steroid Tren.

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Arcane

As you might’ve guessed from the title, Arcane features plenty of magic. The results are anything but magical, though.

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Saturday Night

Nearly everything went wrong the first time Saturday Night Live aired. And families will likely feel the same about this film.

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Megalopolis

Megalopolis wants to build a better future. But it’s mired by graphic sexual scenes, nudity, foul language and heavy drug and alcohol use.

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Movie Monday: ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Keeps Twirling

It wasn’t a particularly exciting weekend at the box office. Venom: The Last Dance managed to keep its No. 1 spot. But the alien parasite took home an estimated $16.2 million in its third weekend theaters. But with no strong new challengers in theaters …

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Mistletoe Murders

This Hallmark+ murder mystery is light on explicit or really problematic content. That said, it’s still a murder mystery.

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On the Radar: Snapchat Grooming Dangers, Harmful Leg Lift Challenge and the Legacy of ‘Brat’

Snapchat is the most popular social media app for child grooming. Trying the Dancing with the Stars leg lift could cause injury. Collins Dictionary names “brat” its Word of the Year.

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AI Is Terrible at Translating: Why Christians Should Care

AI large language models give poor translations for lesser-known foreign languages. But Christians might be able to utilize them for evangelism.

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On the Radar: Pro-Ana Retrending, Teen Tobacco Use Drops and the ‘October Theory’

Why is pro-ana content trending? Did you know that teens’ tobacco use is at a 25-year low? What is the “October theory”?

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