TL;DR: Halloween Tracking, Photo Privacy, Age Verification

In this week's Plugged In by Wired Parents, we have our costumes and candy buckets ready, along with location tracking apps, apparently. This Halloween, we're looking at the tech backstage. Most parents will GPS-track their trick-or-treaters (because 2025), but experts reckon we're solving the wrong problem. And we reveal what your cute doorstep photos might be sharing more than smiles.

Here's what you need to know before Friday night 👻 🎃 🐈‍⬛

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New research reveals 9 in 10 parents will use technology to monitor their children at Halloween 2025:

We're not just setting up tracking and forgetting it, we're actively monitoring throughout the evening.

Clinical psychologist Dr Emily Edlynn raises a critical concern: "There's always a risk with technology that parents feel a false sense of security that means they do not have important safety conversations with their children."

The uncomfortable truth? No tracking app prevents distracted walking or teaches children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Yet children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year.

The tool designed to keep them safe might be preventing the conversations that actually would.

When children receive frequent check-ins, they may feel their parents don't trust them. But there's another side: if we can see exactly where they are, will we text them to change course every time we feel anxious?

Are we using tracking to teach independence—or to avoid the discomfort of letting go?

Primary school: If you're with them, you don't need tracking. If they're with another parent, a simple "made it home" text is enough.

Upper primary/early secondary: This is scaffolding time. Start with more frequent check-ins and smaller areas. Each year, extend the perimeter and reduce the check-ins.

Secondary school: If you're still tracking every move, consider what lesson you're teaching about trust and competence. Agreed-upon check-in times make more sense than real-time GPS.

❓ Does my child know what to do in an emergency, or do they just know I'm tracking them?

❓ Have we practised what "staying safe" actually means—or are we relying on the GPS?

❓ If I can see exactly where they are, will I text them constantly?

❓ Am I feeding my anxiety or actually increasing their safety?

78% of parents see technology as helpful for keeping children safe on Halloween. And 72% say giving their child independence is important.

These aren't contradictory goals. But the tools designed to balance them may be creating new problems.

The conversation matters more than the coordinates.

What are you doing this Halloween? Hit reply and let us know how you're navigating the tracking tech decision.

Source: Verizon | Full story

Security experts warn that Halloween photos often expose:

That innocent photo of your child ready for trick-or-treating? It might reveal exactly which school they attend, where you live, and when they'll be out of the house.

Social media safety expert Marcy Thornhill explains the risk: "Predators sometimes will take your information, go across country, and have surgery out of your child's name, create a false ID and get speeding tickets, open up credit cards."

The uncomfortable reality? It's not just strangers. Research shows that every photo parents share online creates a digital identity for their child, one built without the child's consent.

By age five, many children already have hundreds of photos online. Halloween adds to that footprint with images that often contain more identifying details than parents realise.

The "No Social Media" approach: Share Halloween photos only through private messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal. No public posts.

The "Face Hidden" strategy: Photograph children from behind or use emojis to cover faces. Costume visible, identity protected.

The "School-Free Zone": No photos in school uniform, no school events shared publicly, no location tags near school.

The "Delay and Delete": Share the photo, then delete it within 24-48 hours to minimise the permanent digital footprint.

❓ Can someone identify where my child goes to school from this photo?

❓ Are there house numbers, street signs, or other location clues visible?

❓ Have I asked my child if they're comfortable with me sharing this?

❓ Am I posting because I want to share—or because I feel pressure to maintain an online presence?

✅ Turn off location tagging on your photos

✅ Crop out house numbers and distinctive backgrounds
✅ Don't mention school names in captions

✅ Consider private messaging instead of public posts

Healthcare providers and safety organisations now specifically recommend avoiding images that display house numbers, street names, or school logos in Halloween photos.

The joy of sharing doesn't require sacrificing your child's privacy. Private photo albums, direct messages to family, or simply taking photos without posting them can preserve the memories without creating permanent digital footprints.

Your child might not thank you for the hundreds of searchable photos online when they're older.

How are you handling Halloween photos this year? Reply and let us know your approach.

Sources: Marcy Thornhill (social media safety expert, April 2024), Dr Valeska Berg (JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, March 2024) | Full story

Courts and governments worldwide are moving to verify who's scrolling - but at what cost?

The debate over age verification on social media has reached a critical point. In July 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states have a "compelling interest in protecting children" and that age verification requirements are constitutional. Meanwhile, the UK's Online Safety Act, also enacted in July 2025, requires platforms to verify users' ages and remove harmful material. Australia has banned social media entirely for children under 16, with the UK and New Zealand now considering similar measures.

After more than two decades of a largely unregulated internet, governments worldwide are finally attempting to rein in platforms - particularly when it comes to minors.

The current system is broken:

Nearly 40% of children aged 8-12 use social media despite platform minimum age requirements. Children simply lie about their birthdate during signup, and platforms rely on self-reporting with no meaningful verification. This "honour system" clearly isn't working.

The evidence for harm:

Research increasingly links early social media use to mental health issues, exposure to harmful content (including material promoting self-harm, eating disorders, and dangerous behaviour), and sleep disruption. The European Commission reported in March 2025 that prolonged social media exposure can affect brain development in areas controlling impulse control and emotional regulation.

A global Amnesty International survey found that more than half of young people aged 13-24 reported "bad experiences" on social media, including racism, violence, bullying, or unwanted sexual advances.

We verify age elsewhere:

Many jurisdictions already require age verification for driving, purchasing alcohol and tobacco, accessing gambling sites, and - following recent legislation - accessing pornography. Why should social media have lower standards?

It would end the peer pressure argument:

If age verification actually worked, underage children wouldn't have these accounts, removing the "but everyone else has it" dynamic that makes saying no so difficult for parents.

Widespread public support:

According to Pew Research, 81% of U.S. adults support requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, and 71% favour age verification. Concern about children's social media access is widespread across developed nations.

Everyone loses privacy:

To verify children's ages, platforms must verify everyone's age. Adults would need to submit government-issued IDs or biometric data to access social media - effectively ending online anonymity. Who stores this sensitive data, and how is it protected?

It won't actually work:

Tech-savvy teenagers can access their parents' IDs, create fake IDs, use VPNs, or ask parents to set up accounts on their behalf. No verification method is foolproof.

Platforms are already resisting:

When jurisdictions pass strict verification laws, companies either sue or withdraw entirely. Pornhub exited Texas rather than comply. Bluesky left Mississippi. Widespread implementation may be impossible without coordinated international action.

The approach lacks nuance:

Blanket bans treat all teenagers identically, ignoring differences in maturity and circumstances. Research shows LGBTQ+ teens spend more time on screens but often use that time seeking supportive communities they can't find offline. Heavy-handed verification may harm vulnerable young people who benefit from online connection.

It addresses symptoms, not causes:

Oxford University researchers argue that for teens already struggling with mental health issues, heavy social media use may be a symptom rather than a cause. The relationship between screens and wellbeing is more complex than simple causation.

Most platforms use AI-powered age estimation, analysing watch history, typing patterns, and social connections to identify likely minors. YouTube created YouTube Kids. TikTok sets time limits for teens. But enforcement remains inconsistent, and children routinely circumvent these measures.

Some experts propose a "child flag" system built into device operating systems - signalling when a user is underage without requiring ID checks from all users.

The trade-off is real: Do you support requiring everyone - including yourself - to verify their age with ID to access social media if it means your child genuinely can't lie their way onto these platforms?

Parents generally support these measures more than teenagers do. Governments worldwide are moving forward regardless - your country may already have legislation in progress.

The question now is whether the privacy cost is worth the protection, and whether verification will actually work or simply drive teen activity underground.

Where do you stand?

Sony's new mobile app puts PlayStation parental controls in your pocket - here's what it means for your family

On September 10, 2025, Sony launched the PlayStation Family app for iOS and Android, giving parents remote control over their children's gaming on PS4 and PS5 consoles. If you're managing screen time for kids who game, here's what this app offers.

Know what they're playing, when they're playing it The app sends you real-time notifications when your child starts a game. You'll see exactly what title they're playing without having to check the console - useful whether you're at work, running errands, or just in another room.

Set limits that match your family's schedule You can configure different playtime limits for each day of the week. An hour on school nights, three hours on Saturdays - whatever works for your household. When time runs out, kids can request extensions from the console, and you approve or deny from your phone.

Review their gaming habits Daily and weekly activity reports show you how much time your child spent gaming and which games they played most. This data helps you spot patterns and have informed conversations about screen time.

Control spending Set monthly spending limits for PlayStation Store purchases, add funds to their account, and view their balance. No more surprise charges on your credit card from in-game purchases.

Filter content appropriately The app uses ESRB age ratings to automatically restrict games based on your child's age. You can use preset age-appropriate settings or customize restrictions individually. When your child tries to access a restricted game, you'll get a request you can approve or deny.

Manage online interactions Control who your child can communicate with through voice chat and messaging, and adjust multiplayer game access. These settings help you determine appropriate levels of social interaction.

The PlayStation Family app addresses a common parenting challenge: managing gaming time and content when you can't physically oversee the console. The mobile interface means you can respond to requests and adjust settings from anywhere, and the activity reports give you concrete information for discussions about screen time and game choices.

Sony designed the app with guided onboarding to simplify setup, even for parents unfamiliar with PlayStation systems. The company has indicated it will add features based on user feedback.

Sources: TechCrunch, gHacks

For more articles from the week, head over to Wired-Parents.com

When technology goes terrifyingly wrong

1. The 45-Minute, $460 Million Nightmare In 2012, Knight Capital Group activated a faulty software update that began executing rogue trades. In just 45 minutes, the error cost the firm $460 million and pushed them to the brink of bankruptcy. The company never fully recovered from those chaotic three-quarters of an hour.

2. PlayStation's 23-Day Blackout In 2011, Sony's PlayStation Network suffered a massive security breach affecting 77 million users worldwide. The network went down for 23 days, gamers were locked out, personal information was compromised, and Sony faced lawsuits and regulatory investigations. The breach cost the company an estimated $171 million and remains one of gaming's darkest chapters.

3. The Laptop That Wouldn't Stop Exploding In 2017, CNET reported on a California teenager's Dell laptop that burst into flames - not once, not twice, but three times. Each time he attempted to extinguish the fire, the laptop would reignite. Dell laptops had already faced recalls for battery issues, but this particular incident took "tech support nightmare" to a whole new level.

4. Target's Cyber Monday Meltdown In 2015, Target's website crashed on Cyber Monday - the busiest shopping day of the year. Offering 15% off virtually everything online for the first time, Target's site buckled under traffic that was twice as high as their biggest day ever. Customers saw "high traffic's causing delays" messages for hours while competitors like Amazon sailed through without issues. Industry analysts had estimated retailers could make billions in a 36-hour window, but system failures made shopping impossible during peak hours for one of America's largest retailers.

5. The Billion-Pound Bug That Wasn't As the world prepared for the year 2000, apocalyptic predictions of computer systems crashing sent governments and businesses into a frenzy. Billions of pounds were spent preparing for digital doomsday. The result? Most systems ticked over into 2000 without incident. Whilst some minor glitches occurred, the real horror was the panic itself - though many argue the spending prevented disaster.

Happy Halloween! 👻