3 Back-to-School Tech Trends Parents & Educators Need to Know in 2025

As students return to school this fall, they’re bringing more than just new backpacks and schedules — they’re bringing new digital habits, social influences, and hidden pressures that have been quietly shaping them all summer.

And if we’re not paying attention, we’ll miss critical moments to protect and guide them.

As someone who speaks to thousands of teens, parents, and educators every year, I’m constantly tracking emerging tech trends that can negatively impact student behavior, safety, and mental health.

Here are 3 of the biggest trends I believe every parent, school leader, teacher, and counselor needs to understand right now. Please share this with your school faculty, admin teams, and parent groups — the health, safety, and growth of our kids depend on it.

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1. SnapChat is now on Apple Watches

Did you know kids can now send Snaps, check messages, and even record content from their wrists? It's a problem! Why? It's suble, silent, and has the potenital to be a HUGE classroom distraction. SnapChat has been a leader in focus stealing since it launched but now,

with the additional of wearables snaps, it's only going to get worse.

What to do?

Parents: Be aware of this new feature and talk to your kids about it. It's also one more thing to check to make sure your kids are being safe and appropriate.

Educators: Revisit your schools phone policy. Does it include wearables? It may be time to update it. Be prepared to talk about this new feature at your next faculty meeting.

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2. AI tools are making cheating and cyberbullying easier

AI, ChatGPT, Gemini and others aren't new this school year BUT studetn's useoAI is getting more advanced and sophisticated. Just like AI is adapting, students are adapting and learning to use AI in more elobarte ways. Students have already been using AI to write essays and do homework for them but that's not the only risk. AI has the ability to fake text threads or even generate deepfake images (images that look real but are not). AI's risks go beyond homework. It now has the ability to damage lives if used in the wrongeway. if issues arise in your home or school with bullying, it could be AI generated.

What to do?

Parents: Pay attention to how your kids are using AI. Talk with them! Communication is key!

Educators: Inform your faculty so they are aware of this new potential trend and thread to kids.

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3. AI Companions & The silent rise of Mental Health Struggles

Have you heard about AI companions? 72% of US teens have used an AI companion at least once. What does that mean? Students are turning to AI "friends", "girlfriends", or "therapists" through apps like Character.AI. In fact, Elon Musk is even expanding his AI companion for teens. This is extremely dangerous for teens who think emotionally with brains that are "under construction". In fact, 31% of teens say conversations with companion AI are as satisfying if not more satisfying that talking with real people. The risk is that they will become emotionally attached and dependent on artificial relationships and pull away from real-life connections. These bots als have NSFW (not safe for work) content. This is agrowing concen of mine that has the potential to really harm kids.

What to do?

Parents & Educators: Look for the signs that kids may be talking to chatbots.

• Do they refer to "friends" no one else knows?

• Are they overly attached to devices during breaks and downtime?

• Have they withdrawn from peer groups and participating less?

• Sudden behavior changes.

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How to get more support?

Parenting is hard. Parenting kids with phones and social media...well you know.

I recommend parents start at the basics. The ABC's of devices. I created the "4M's of Parenting in the Digital Age" online course to do just that.

Click here to get learn the step-by-step guide to parenting kids with phones and use code BACKTOSCHOOL to get 50% off during this back to school season.

This course will teach you how to:

1. Model positive digital habits: This is the foundation because we can't tell our kids to do something you won't do yourself! You'll get the tools to create your own positive screen habits and break any addictions you have.

2. Help make screen time Meaningful: Learn why devices are negatively impacting your kids and exactly what to do about it. This will guide your kids to make device and social media use healthier.

3. Manage digital devices: They key to managing devices: setting boundaries. The digital course will help you know the right time to get your kids a phone and how to create boundaries to help them when they do get a device.

4. How to Monitor the device: The most critical step to keeping kids safe is monitoring their phone usage. You'll learn the mental health signs to pay attention to and exactly what you should be monitoring on their phones and social media.

Ready to Inspire your Students?

Let's make your next assembly unforgettable. Visit my booking page!