By SCN Staff Quick Review Pretend play is led by the child: the child supplies the voice, meaning, story, and emotional direction. A responsive AI toy answers, remembers, listens, and may use affectionate language, making it feel more like a social partner. Italy’s National Committee on Child Environment and Health submitted a memorandum, not a […]
Author: SCN StaffPolicy Update: September 18, 2026 Quick Review The European Commission proposed the EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy Act, known as the EU KIDS Act, on September 17, 2026. The proposal would require AI companions and chatbots accessible to minors to be off by default, easy to disable, and not pushed […]
Audio Version: Add this article to a WordPress Gutenberg Audio block when the narration file is available.By SCN Staff Content Note: This article discusses technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse. It also includes practical support and reporting information for families. Quick Review UNICEF estimates that 20 million children ages 12 to 17, or nearly 1 […]
By SCN StaffPublished September 13, 2026 Quick Review A new UNICEF Innocenti report estimates that 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year. More than 40% of cases were never shared with anyone, and fewer than 1% were reported to […]
Quick Review California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 bipartisan child online safety bills on September 10, 2026. AB 1709 restricts autoplay, infinite scroll, and personalized algorithmic feeds for users under 16. Adam’s Law, SB 1119, creates new safeguards for companion chatbots, including crisis protocols, parental controls, risk assessments, and independent audits. AB 2 creates civil […]
By SCN StaffPublished September 8, 2026 Quick Review NYC Public Schools has enacted a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI for students in 2-K through eighth grade during the 2026–27 school year. Companion chatbots designed for emotional or mental-health support are prohibited in every grade, including high school. High school students may access five centrally […]
