Roblox, "Bed Rotting", and Graphic Feeds: What to Do.

The Screen Report: 3 Dangerous Online Trends Parents and Educators Need to Know; and What to Do.

Teens are growing up with unprecedented access to social media, apps, and online communities which pose hidden risks. Even when we think our kids are “just scrolling” or “gaming with friends,” they may be exposed to content, interactions, or trends that affect their mental health, safety, and wellbeing.

From viral videos and online challenges to immersive gaming platforms and new social features, the online landscape evolves faster than most educators and parents can keep up with. That’s why staying informed and proactive is so important — knowing what’s trending, what’s risky, and how to guide your teen can make a real difference in keeping them safe and resilient.

Here are 3 dangerous tech trends every parent, school principla, teacher, or student counselor needs to be aware of, along with practical steps to help your kids navigate them safely.

1. Our Youth Can't Unsee Social Media

In the past two weeks, the world has witnessed multiple tragic events that spread across social media like wildfire. Teenagers were exposed to graphic footage of people being killed on camera. If your kids have social media, it was nearly impossible to avoid.

The images were graphic, haunting, and left a lasting impression on the minds and hearts of students everywhere. One of the most dangerous aspects of tech and social media is the uncontrollable algorithm. It pushes content regardless of whether young people are emotionally ready to see it. From violence to promiscuity, the harm it causes young minds is real.

Many teens (and even adults) reported being unable to sleep or stop replaying the disturbing images in their minds. They were left searching for light and goodness after feeds became consumed by darkness.

What to do?

Parents:

• Talk openly with kids about what they’ve seen online.

• Remind them they can come to you if something feels disturbing or overwhelming.

• Set clear limits on exposure and create device-free zones at home. Beaware 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:

• Provide space for discussion, reflection, or journaling - not scrolling.

• Partner with counselors to watch for students struggling emotionally.

• Invite Tanner to do an assembly at your school where he talks about being in control of your life and social media.

2. "Bed Rotting": The New Viral Coping Mechanism

A trend called “bed rotting” is gaining traction on TikTok. Teens film themselves spending hours (even entire days) lying in bed, scrolling, binge-watching, and avoiding responsibilities. While it’s packaged as self-care, "Bed Rotting" promotes unhealthy withdrawal and isolation.

Instead of learning positive coping skills, students are being encouraged to escape stress by checking out. Over time, this can worsen anxiety, fuel depression, and weaken resilience.

What to do?

Parents:

• Show teens how to rest without devices.

• Offer positive coping tools: exercise, journaling, reading, or creative hobbies.

• Watch for warning signs of isolation or avoidance that go beyond simple relaxation.Pay attention to how your kids are using AI. Talk with them! Communication is key!

Educators:

• Be mindful of students who appear chronically tired, withdrawn, or disengaged.

• Teach and model positive stress management strategies in class.

• Equip staff to recognize this trend and intervene early with at-risk students.

3. Warning!! Predators Still Targeting kids on Roblox

In recent weeks, Roblox banned “Schlep” — a well-known Predator Hunter with over 1.5 million YouTube subscribers — from its platform. Over the last year, his independent investigations have led to the arrest of six predators.

So why was he banned? The reason isn’t as important as the bigger truth: predators are still on Roblox, and they are actively targeting children and teens.

In fact, there are currently multiple lawsuits against Roblox for failing to protect kids who were harmed after being contacted by predators on the platform.

Roblox may look like “just a game,” but it has unmonitored chat functions, role-play spaces, and private servers where students can be exposed to predatory behavior.

What to do?

Parents:

• If possible, do not allow younger kids to play Roblox at all.

• If your child is already on the platform, turn off in-game chat features and limit play to private servers with known friends.

• Regularly check your child’s account, including friend requests and chat logs.

• Talk openly with your child about online predators and reinforce that they should never share personal information or engage with strangers.

Educators:

• Include Roblox in your digital safety discussions — many students don’t realize it carries the same risks as social media.

• Watch for warning signs: students mentioning “new Roblox friends” they’ve never met, or secretive behavior around gaming.

• Remind students that “gaming platforms” are not free from real-world dangers.

How to get more support?

These trends aren’t going away — and ignoring them only increases the risk for our students. Together, parents and educators can build awareness, create boundaries, and protect kids in a digital-first world.

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?

If you’d like help sparking these conversations at your school, that’s exactly what I do. I’ve spoken to nearly 50,000 students and parents in the last two years, helping them use their One Second of Strength to take control of their digital habits and thrive in the real world.

Let’s protect our kids together.

👉 Learn more about bringing me to speak at your school or or email me directly at tanner@secondofstrength.com.