Tech keeps changing. Parenting doesn’t have to.
Welcome to the first issue of the Understand Tech Newsletter — calm, practical help for families navigating an increasingly digital world.
Each issue shares one big idea in plain English, plus a handful of guides you can use tonight. No jargon, no panic — just what actually works at home.
AI and Parenting: What I Learned When I Invited the Robots Into Family Life
AI can be brilliant — and overwhelming. In our house, I ran a simple test: if a tool removes friction, it stays. If it adds faff, it goes. That’s what I call the Art of Subtraction — using tech that quietly takes things away, rather than adding complexity.
AI shouldn’t just do more — it should do less, better. The next wave of AI, I believe, isn’t about adding features, but removing obstacles. It should remove notifications, decisions, and wasted steps, giving families space to focus on what matters.
In this month’s feature, I explore the best uses of AI for parents — from meal planning to family scheduling — and when to say no. Plus, we talk about ethics, data, and the boundaries that keep AI useful, not invasive.
Discord: The app everyone’s heard of, but few really understand
Is Discord just a chat app? Not quite. Think of it as a patchwork of communities — some friendly, some chaotic. In our guide, I explain servers, channels, privacy tools, and the difference between public and invite-only spaces. It’s like Reddit meets group chat — and knowing how it works is half the battle.
Deep Web vs. Dark Web — what parents should know
The internet we use every day is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath it lies the deep web — things like school portals, banking, and private data. Go deeper still, and you reach the dark web: a deliberately hidden network where anonymity reigns. It’s not all crime, but it’s no place for children to explore unfiltered.
From 2028: Schools will teach AI and fake news awareness
Starting in 2028, UK primary pupils will learn to spot fake news and AI-generated content, alongside new lessons in financial literacy — saving, budgeting, and understanding money. These reforms aim to build digital critical thinking and real-world financial confidence early on.
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