Teenagers Trashing Theaters During ‘A Minecraft Movie’
What? A viral trend on Instagram and TikTok has inspired teenagers (particularly teen boys) to throw popcorn into the air during a particular scene in A Minecraft Movie. Unfortunately, the trend has escalated, and now kids are throwing drinks and messier food items, pouring bottles of water on people and even breaking glass.
So What? Besides the fact that nobody wants to get covered in food and soda while watching a movie, these actions put a huge burden on the theater staff. Most theaters have a 20- to 30-minute turnaround window to clean auditoriums between screenings. With the increase in mess, some theaters are having to delay showings or even issue refunds for cancelled shows. And, obviously, broken glass could damage property or harm someone.
Now What? Set clear boundaries for your kids, especially if they’re attending the cinema without adult supervision. Let them know this is a disruptive and unacceptable behavior (reminding them that most people came to relax and enjoy the film). Encourage them to caution their friends against participating in the trend. And if they do decide to join in, let them know before they go what the consequences will be.
Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Can Swear and Simulate Phone Sex
What?Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI, offers several “uncensored personalities,” says Ars Technica, “including an ‘unhinged’ mode and one that will roleplay verbal sexual scenarios.”
So What? Although these personalities are only available to premium subscribers, they present a significant danger to teenagers. Besides the fact that the “sexy” mode is pornographic, many of the “unhinged” responses can be found on social media, too. One mode is dedicated to conspiracy theories. And even the seemingly innocuous “unlicensed therapist” personality could result in some bad advice or self-diagnosing problems.
Now What? The creators of Grok may pride themselves on creating an AI chatbot that doesn’t withhold information from the user, but sometimes we need those filters in place. The aforementioned “sexy” and “unhinged” modes are marked as 18+. But as we all know, age restrictions are often easily bypassed. And some of the content teens may find through a chatbot could be harmful to their physical, emotional or mental health.
‘Divine Feminine Energy’ Is Trending Online
What? “Divine feminine energy” is a “force” that believers say exists in everyone, guiding our emotional and creative sides. Tapping into that energy, they say, can help you create the life you want.
So What? Experts are warning that the message of “divine feminine energy” is getting “watered down” and “lost in translation” on social media, says Business Insider. But for Christian families, it presents an even bigger worldview challenge for parents of teen girls.
Now What? Most believers in the “divine feminine” say it promotes love, forgiveness, compassion, nurturing and creativity. Those aren’t bad things, in and of themselves. But when those virtues are linked to the “divine feminine” instead of God—who exudes all those qualities—then we run into some huge theological issues. And while believers in this “energy” are saying it pushes back against sexist ideas that women are hysterical or overly emotional, it may nevertheless reinforce a sexist divide. The idea implies that men can’t embrace the aforementioned qualities as readily as women, which just isn’t true. And as parents, we need to be mindful of any “divine feminine” influencers our daughters may be following online to identify and correct any falsehoods promoted.
