The Garfield Movie settled into the No. 1 slot in North America, gobbling up cash as if ticket sales were tubs of lasagna. Garfield earned $14 million stateside, pushing its total domestic haul to $51.6 million. And it’s been doing almost double that business overseas. Add in its international grosses, and Garfield has earned nearly $152.3 million worldwide. Nothing Odie-ous about that.

Sure, prognosticators will point out that Garfield topped a pretty weak weekend, cinematically speaking. Varietysays that ticket sales were down 65% from the same three-day period last year. But I’d like to point out that the movies holding their own seem to be family friendly fare.

Case in point: IF, the PG film about down-and-out imaginary friends, climbed into second place this weekend, earning $10.8 million. That’s not a lot of money, but here’s the thing: Family movies tend to run longer and stay stronger. IF has now earned $80.4 million in North America (and $138 million worldwide), and it lost just a third of its weekend-over-weekend audience—a sign of strength in the here-today-gone-tomorrow world of entertainment. And while it has plenty of work ahead of it to turn a profit, IF is doing better than some of its peers.

Furiosa, I’m looking at you.

One week after claiming the box-office crown, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga slid to third place, according to early estimates. It collected $10,750,000, about $50,000 less than IF. That pushes its total domestic earnings to about $49.7 million—a sizable disappointment for this hyped Mad Max prequel. And given that it comes with an R rating—locking out families that might want to see the same film again and again—Furiosa’s pathway to profitability is narrower.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes finished fourth with $8.8 million, while The Fall Guy locked down No. 5 with $4.2 million.

What’s that? There’s not a single new movie in the top five, you say? Where did they all go?

Well, I’m glad you asked, dear reader. Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle is the first new release we can talk about here. It landed in seventh place with $3.5 million. (I’d insert a dumpster joke here, but honestly, $3.5 million probably isn’t too bad for an anime title.)

In a Violent Nature gutted out an eighth-place finish with $2.1 million, while Ezra—a sweet-but-problematic road movie—landed in ninth with $1.2 million. Summer Camp finished 11^th with about $1.1 million, while Young Woman and the Sea—a very nice film with a very narrow release—finished 13^th with $500,000.

The post Movie Monday: ‘Garfield’ Is the Weekend’s Fat Cat appeared first on Plugged In.

What? Despite age restrictions, a new study published in BMC Research Notes found that about one in 250 underage children (including 11- and 12-year-olds) have used dating apps intended for adults.

So What? Previous studies linked “early adolescent online dating” with other risks, including increased likelihood of “insults, privacy violations, threats of violence and unwanted sexual advances from predators.”

Now What? Although dating apps technically require users to be 18, that restriction is easily bypassed by entering a fake birthdate. So parents are truly the first line of defense in this situation. Parental controls on the devices your children have access to can be helpful in blocking dating apps. But more importantly, initiate an ongoing conversation with your teens and tweens about “online safety, healthy relationships and appropriate romantic milestones for their age.”

Twenty-Five Percent of Teenagers Consume Caffeine Daily

What? According to a national poll, “a quarter of parents report that caffeine is basically part of their teen’s daily life.”

So What? Because caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system, too much of it in a developing adolescent can contribute to health problems such as irregular heart rhythms and bone loss. It can also impact teenagers’ mood, sleep and school performance.

Now What? Luckily, the most frequent place teens consume caffeine is at home, so parents are well-placed to monitor their children’s intake of it. Experts recommend limiting caffeine to 100 milligrams a day for teenagers (it’s discouraged altogether for younger children). So check product labels before purchasing food or beverages—a single energy drink can contain up to 500 mg of caffeine, not to mention added sugars and other chemicals. And encourage your teens to try noncaffeinated options when buying snacks for themselves.

Cassette Tapes Trending Again … Or Still

What? Possibly thanks to shows such as 13 Reasons Why and Stranger Things, we’ve been witnessing the unlikely revival of the cassette tape the last few years among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

So What? Newer artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar have jumped on this trend, releasing albums via cassette. (Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department sold more than 21,000 tapes in the first week of sales.)

Now What? Parents may be scratching their heads about why their kids are buying cassettes, especially if you remember how easy it is to unravel or break them. But it’s not uncommon for kids to want a physical memento of their favorite recording artist or band. This could be a good way to bond with your kids if you happen to have an old Walkman or boom box lying around. You can show them the trick of rewinding a tape using a pen. And hey, at least most cassettes are still cheaper than vinyl.

The post On the Radar: Tweens and Dating Apps, Teenage Caffeine Use, and the Cassette Tape Trend appeared first on Plugged In.

What? May 4^th has been recognized as “Star Wars Day” almost since the franchise started in 1977. It’s derived from the film’s line: “May the Force be with you.”

So What? Star Wars is so ingrained in pop culture that you may already know all about this unofficial holiday. However, between debates of who shot first (Han totally did) and whether or not Ewoks are cute (they’re adorable), some families may forget the deeper spiritual implications of Star Wars. 

Now What? Luckily, Plugged In has you covered. In addition to our reviews of Star Wars’ many entities, Kennedy Unthank’s latest blog, “The Theology of … Star Wars,” unpacks the Light and Dark sides of the Force, as well as the eastern spirituality that inspired them and how those worldviews compare to Christian ones.

Fun Fact: The first recorded use of this phrase was May 4^th, 1979, the day after Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her party took out a newspaper ad reading: “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.”

‘It’s Gonna Be May’ Meme History

What? In 2000, boy band NSYNC released smash hit “It’s Gonna Be Me,” wherein singer Justin Timberlake pronounced the word “me” as “may.”

So What? On April 30^th, 2012, Timberlake became a meme sensation when an image of him paired with the phrase “It’s gonna be May!” appeared on Tumblr to announce the forthcoming month. Since then, social media feeds have been flooded with variations of the meme every April and May.

Now What? The “It’s Gonna Be May” meme is actually one of the internet’s more innocent memes. And Timberlake has joked that the mispronunciation haunts him to this day. But this can also serve as an opportunity to teach your kids about what they reshare online. While some memes, such as this one, are just silly ways to participate on social media, others can be harmful or inappropriate—such as “Bad Luck Brian,” which became a source of defecation and masturbation jokes, or “Scumbag Steve,” which is widely known for marijuana references.

What’s the Deal with OnlyFans?

What? OnlyFans is an adult website wherein creators charge a subscription fee for access to their photos and videos, most of which are explicit. Although according to The Times, the site has tried to “broaden its appeal beyond pornography to content posted by celebrities and sports stars.”

So What? OnlyFans requires users to be 18 or older. However, Ofcom (the United Kingdom’s media watchdog) is investigating the site for flaws in its age-verification process which are allegedly allowing minors to view explicit content.

Now What? Obviously, parents should be aware of OnlyFans and the harmful content it contains. But the site has also been referenced in a number of TV shows and films (South Park, Solar Opposites, Abbott Elementary), the primary joke being that people (mostly women, mostly teachers) supplement their poor incomes as OnlyFans creators. And parents should be wary if their kids start using the joke themselves as it could be hurtful to the target (if untrue) or raise a red flag for inappropriate conduct.

The post On the Radar: May the Fourth, It’s Gonna Be May, and OnlyFans appeared first on Plugged In.

Introduction to the Series

The universe got a lot bigger on May 25, 1977.

That was the day the world was exposed to Star Wars, George Lucas’ space epic that would go on to capture so many hearts that the series fanbase is still strong enough for Disney+ adaptations today. With the original trilogy commencing in 1977, the prequel trilogy launching in 1999 and a sequel trilogy kicking off in 2015, three generations have now grown up alongside new franchise releases.

It’s an age where not having seen a Star Wars film may very well be a minority position. The same might be said for someone who hasn’t heard terms like lightsaber or Millennium Falcon. But despite a culture heavily saturated in all things Star Wars, the franchise’s spiritual themes might not be as quickly understood by the majority of viewers.

For instance, everyone knows that the Force lets you telekinetically push things and do that finger wave that makes people agree with you, but what are the implications of such a Force, spiritually speaking? We’ll explore that question and more.

So, without further ado, hop into your favorite spaceship as we take off to explore the most prominent spiritual messages in Star Wars in less than 12 parsecs.

Note: Because Star Wars is an expanded universe, it would take a much bigger blog post than this to cover all of the spiritual implications and realities found within. As such, The Theology of Star Wars will only consider events within the 12 Star Wars films. Any references to other Star Wars properties are merely to help explain ideas present within the franchise films.

Overarching Spiritual Worldview

Throughout the galaxy are dozens of sentient alien species, including humans. And though these creatures can all look vastly different, from hair-covered Wookiees to the slug-like Hutts, they all have something in common: midi-chlorians. These intelligent, microscopic life-forms live within the cells of all living things. And it’s these midi-chlorians that allow certain people with higher quantities of them to detect and interact with a mysterious energy known as the Force.

Those capable of using the Force through rigorous training are able to appropriate its power. Since midi-chlorians are connected to the Force, those who use the Force are able to exert varying degrees of power over others, such as telekinetically pushing or pulling them or even manipulating their minds. Those particularly connected to the Force can even discern that it contains a will of its own for the universe, and these Force-sensitive users will often submit themselves to its predestined will.

The two most prominent groups of Force users within the Star Wars movie franchise are known as the Jedi and the Sith. This split is due to the dualistic nature of the Force, as it could be channeled in one of two ways: toward a “light side” and toward a “dark side.” The Jedi dedicated themselves to serving the will of the light side of the Force, which emphasized compassion and peace through clearing the mind, clinging to calm emotions and disposing of attachments—spiritual practices that historically have been associated with Buddhism and some expressions of Hinduism.

Meanwhile, the Sith devote themselves to the dark side of the Force, which involves indulging strong emotions such wrath and hatred. Those who utilize the dark side, acting against the will of the Force, have historically threatened to destroy the balance of the Force—that is, to prevent the proper order of things, wherein the light side keeps the dark side in check.

These diametrically opposed and dualistic views between the Jedi and Sith mean that the galaxy is engulfed in a constant struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, as Jedi and Sith continuously clash.

This clash comes to a head when young Anakin Skywalker is discovered. Thanks to his connection to the will of the Force, one ancient Jedi had prophesied that “a Chosen One shall come, born of no father, and through him will ultimate balance in the Force be restored,” according to the Star Wars novel “Master and Apprentice.”

Anakin was determined to be fulfill this prophecy, as he was born of no father and had a higher midi-chlorian count than anyone had ever recorded before. And though things don’t go the way the Jedi expected, Anakin does eventually bring balance to the Force by defeating Emperor Palpatine, bringing the dark side back into check.

Glossary of Important Characters/Topics

Anakin Skywalker – Anakin is the “Chosen One” prophesied to bring balance to the Force. He is slowly corrupted by Emperor Sheev Palpatine, however, and he eventually turns to the dark side. He’s defeated by his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the injuries he sustains in that battle force him to remain in special life-preserving armor for the rest of his life. Following the fight, he is dubbed Darth Vader by Palpatine. At some point, Anakin learns that Luke is his son, as he had previously assumed his preborn children had died along with wife Padmé, and he plans to overthrow Palpatine so he can rule the galaxy with Luke. But when Palpatine electrocutes Luke in an attempt to kill him, Anakin gives his life to save his son, thereby fulfilling the Chosen One prophecy with his and Palpatine’s deaths.

Luke and Leia Skywalker – Luke and Leia are the children of Anakin and his wife, Padmé. After they were born, Jedi such as Obi-Wan and Yoda discussed what to do with the children, agreeing that they should be split up in order to protect them. As Luke grows older, he learns much about his heritage, and he is eventually trained as a Jedi. Luke and Leia both eventually reunite and align with the Rebels in the fight against the Empire (a totalitarian government led by Palpatine). Later, the two train up other soldiers to fight when, somehow, Palpatine returns.

Obi-Wan Kenobi – Obi-Wan is a Master Jedi, a teacher and mentor in the ways of the Jedi code of conduct and of the Force. He is also Anakin’s master. Obi-Wan first encountered Anakin when the boy was a slave on the desert planet Tatooine. Obi-Wan and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, discover that has a higher midi-chlorian count than any Jedi in existence. They believe that Anakin is the Chosen One spoken about in Jedi prophecy—someone who will bring balance to the Force. Obi-Wan and Anakin eventually spar following Anakin’s turn to the dark side. Much later, Obi-Wan briefly trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi as well.

Sheev Palpatine – Palpatine (also known secretly as Darth Sidious) was originally the senator of the planet Naboo and made many political plays in order to rise to power as the Supreme Chancellor and later, the Galactic Emperor. He orchestrates Order 66, a contingency plan that forced clone soldiers to turn on Jedi, killing most of them and collapsing the Jedi Order. He manipulates Anakin Skywalker into becoming his apprentice, luring him with stories of being able to use the Force to grant his loved ones immortality. Palpatine is later defeated when Anakin eventually turns against him in order to save his son. However, utilizing the aforementioned secrets to immortality, Palpatine would transfer his consciousness and spirit into a clone body before being defeated again in the sequel trilogy by Rey Skywalker.

Jedi – The Jedi (sometimes called Jedi Knights) seek to protect peace through their special connection to the Force. They utilize methods that emphasize the light side of the Force, the side which deals in “calmness, peace, and passiveness, and was used only for knowledge and defense,” according to Wookieepedia, a Star Wars fan information site. Jedi are typically adherents to the Jedi Order, a nontheistic religious order with a Grand Temple led by 12 Jedi Masters (the highest level in the Order) who serve on a high council. Jedi typically strive to follow the Jedi Code, a set of rules which dictate how a Jedi should live. One of the most important of these rules includes not becoming attached to anything, lest negative emotions should arise, cloud judgment and lead the Jedi to the dark side. The vast majority of Jedi are wiped out following Order 66.

Sith – In contrast to the Jedi, the Sith are an order which emphasizes the dark side of the Force. They encourage giving into emotions like anger and hate, since they believe these dark passions make them stronger. And while dark side is considered to be an easier path to follow, its power is significantly more difficult to control. Thus, the Jedi generally believe that anyone who gives into the dark side never fully recovers.

The Force – The Force is “what gives a Jedi his power,” Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker early in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. “It’s an energy field created by and connecting all living things. It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together.” While all people manifest some trace of the Force, some are able to better sense and even use it due to having higher than average midi-chlorian counts in their bloodstreams.

The two methods of utilizing the Force are known as the “light side” and the “dark side.” A more specific part of the Force, known as the Cosmic Force, even has a will to which those who clear their minds can tap into and discern. Jedi strive to “become one” with the Force, and at death, their life force then can “return to the embrace of the Cosmic Force.” Because the Force is everywhere and connects all lifeforms, some could likewise become “Force Sensitive” and supernaturally detect strong emotions as well as mentally manipulate others, telekinetically push and pull or even see visions of the future. The Force allows those who are sensitive to it to discern where future attacks will come from, enabling them to block or dodge laser blasts and lightsaber strikes.

Midi-chlorians – Midi-chlorians are microscopic, sentient lifeforms within the cells of all living organisms, and they are the means by which humanoids can detect and utilize the Force.

Death Star – The Death Star is a massive superstructure controlled by the Empire that is capable of destroying entire planets in a single, charged-up laser blast. It is described as being roughly the size of a moon. The Death Star (and others like it) poses a significant threat in several Star Wars films.

Connecting, and Contrasting, the Gospel

You have probably picked up on a few themes that connect and contrast with Christianity. For instance, Anakin having something like an “immaculate conception” without a human father as well as the 12 Jedi who speak into the religion certainly, at face value, mimic Jesus being conceived of the Holy Spirit and the 12 disciples. However, Star Wars is likewise syncretized with religion that follows a much more Buddhist perspective, too. Below are a few ways you might consider bringing up the gospel while watching Star Wars.

1. Dualism – In Star Wars, the Jedi and the Sith battle each other as two ideologies competing for supremacy. And while the light side of the Force ultimately triumphs in the films, the dark side has the legitimate potential to utterly destroy the light side. In other words, if Jedi like Luke and Rey fail in their missions, evil can finally and ultimately win. Both sides are, potentially, equally powerful. But this Buddhist-informed dualism (think the popular, circular yin-yang symbol) contrasts with the Christian view of good and evil, in which there is no dualistic view. Though Satan and evil exist, they are not equal to God and His goodness in power, and they cannot and will not triumph in the end (Genesis 3:15, Matthew 16:18-19, Revelation 12:10-12). Satan is subservient to God, and he has no chance of succeeding in his schemes (Job 1:6-12, Luke 22:31-32, John 12:31). Jesus has delivered us from the evil one and has justified all who believe in Him through His death, burial and resurrection (Colossians 1:15-23).

2. Emptying the Mind – Much of Jedi thought mirrors an Eastern way of thinking. Specifically, Jedi are encouraged to remove themselves from strong emotion and from their attachments, as such things only lead to the wicked path of the dark side of the Force. They are further encouraged to empty their minds in order to better hear and follow the will of the Force. While the Bible does teach that attachments can become idols that distract us from the Lord and that attachment to worldly desires is sinful (Colossians 3:1-11, Titus 2:11-12, 1 John 2:16), we are never called to abandon such things in the Eastern sense of ascetism. For example, while Eastern meditation focuses on emptying the mind, Christian meditation centers on filling the mind with thoughts of God, His law and His glory (Psalm 145:5). While Eastern desire is seen as evil, Christians are called to desire the things of God (Psalm 37:4 and 73:25, for instance). In fact, through God’s sanctification of the Christian, we are actively being transformed into the same image of the Lord from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

3. Inherent Sin – Though Jedi are devoted to the light side of the Force, they’re also taught that they must be mindful that everyone, including the Jedi themselves, have some dark side inside of them that they must keep in check lest it dominate them. They must cling to the good and be mindful of that which would cause them to indulge in the dark side of the Force. This can compare to the Christian life, too. A Christian is washed and redeemed by the blood of Christ and is called to strive to live a good, godly life (1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 4:1-6, Hebrews 10:19-25). However, Christians are likewise called to wage war against the sinful desires still present within us (Romans 7:21-25, Galatians 5:17). If Christ has redeemed you, you are called to live in the things of the Spirit and not the things of the flesh (Romans 8:1-11).

Conclusion

As with any huge franchise, there are more details (especially as relate to the ongoing Disney+ Star Wars series) that we could unpack. But this overview should give you and your family a foundation for thinking critically about this influential franchise from a Christian point of view. We hope that this serves as a helpful primer for parents looking to understand the spirituality presented in Star Wars—whether as a way to inject a gospel conversation or decide whether the franchise is for them.

The post The Theology of … Star Wars appeared first on Plugged In.

But while Challenger’s initial returns were good enough for a first-place finish, the R-rated drama was pretty pricey to make, with its creators reportedly spending $55 million. It’ll need to net some nice returns in the coming weeks to turn a profit.

Unsung Hero doesn’t have that particular issue to worry about. The Christian drama chronicling the riches-to-rags-to-riches story of the musical Smallbone family (which includes Rebecca St. James and For King and Country’s Joel and Luke Smallbone) finished second to Challengers, earning nearly $7.8 million in North America. But the film’s reported budget was just $6 million. And given that audiences loved the drama—giving it a rare A+ on Cinemascore—Unsung Hero may be just warming up.

A trio of holdovers fills the rest of the top five.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire continues its own box-office rampage, pounding its way to another $7.2 million stateside. That boosts its already-monstrous North American coffers to $181.7 million and its worldwide gross to $519.4 million. That might be just enough to repair at least one of the city blocks that the monsters have destroyed during their cinematic careers.

Civil War parlayed its own brand of cinematic destruction to a $7 million, fourth-place finish. It’s now earned $56.2 million. And Abigail, the horror comedy featuring a tween ballerina vampire, drained moviegoers of nearly $5.3 million to finish fifth.

Boy Kills World, the weekend’s third new wide-release flick, failed to make a killing of its own. It earned just $1.7 million to finish 10^th—about $110,000 ahead of the Alien re-release. The latter earned $1.6 million to land in 11^th place, but don’t feel too bad for the sci-fi horror flick: Alien earned $78.9 million stateside during its initial 1979 run—which would be about $339.3 million today. You know what they say: In space, no one can hear you count your money.

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When people ask what drew me to Plugged In, I have one answer at the ready. I just love counting swear words. But if I had to give another answer, it’d be simply this: Entertainment is important. It influences how we feel, how we think and even what we believe.

For me, the intersection between entertainment and faith is one of my job’s most interesting wrinkles. I’ve written, and talked, a lot about how secular movies can sometimes echo spiritual, even Christian themes. They can obviously teach plenty of other belief systems and worldviews, too (concepts that I’ve been exploring for Focus on the Family’s website). My cohort, Kennedy Unthank, dives deep into spiritual issues in his excellent “Theology of” series on our blog, as well.

So perhaps it’s not a huge surprise that we both wrote about how faith and entertainment intersect in different chapters of Plugged In’s book, Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family.

Kennedy and I hang out with host Adam Holz to talk about the book, belief and how the latter influences—and is influenced by—entertainment and technology. I had fun talking about these issues, and I hope you’ll have fun listening.

And speaking of faith and entertainment, we examine a very specific example of both when Kennedy talks about the Netflix show Testament: The Story of Moses. Does it stick to the biblical script? Or does it get lost in the desert? We’ll tell you.

But no conversation we have is complete without input from you. How has entertainment impacted your own beliefs? How have your beliefs impacted how you see entertainment? Have you watched Netflix’s take on Moses? Do you want to? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram. Or by sending us an email. Or by leaving a voicemail on The Plugged In Show homepage. We’re all ears.

And then get ready for next week’s episode, when we talk about JoJo Siwa’s latest song and Prime Video’s new TV series Fallout.

The post Episode 231: How Entertainment Shapes Our Beliefs. Plus, Netflix’s Testament: The Story of Moses appeared first on Plugged In.

The doc: What Jennifer Did. It’s the sordid story of a young woman (Jennifer Pan) who allegedly spearheaded a plot to kill her own parents. (Her mother was killed during an attack on the Pan home; her father survived and says that he saw Jennifer walking around the home, unbound, talking with the attackers.)

Jennifer and her three alleged co-conspirators were convicted of the crimes, though all have appealed the decision. But Netflix’s 90-minute documentary—currently one of the streaming service’s most popular films—unpacks the alleged plot in chilling detail, leaving perhaps little doubt in the viewers’ mind what really happened.

But an interesting thing happened to What Jennifer Did on its way to streaming success: People started taking a closer look at some archival photos of Jennifer and opined they looked a little … off.

“The images that appear around the 28-minute mark of Netflix’s What Jennifer Did, have all the hallmarks of an AI-generated photo,” wrote Futurism’s Victor Tangermann, “down to mangled hands and fingers, misshapen facial features, morphed objects in the background, and a far-too-long front tooth.

The executive producer of What Jennifer Did, Jeremy Grimaldi, offered a denial of sorts: “Any filmmaker will use different tools, like Photoshop, in films,” he told The Toronto Star. “The photos of Jennifer are real photos of her … The foreground is exactly her. The background has been anonymized to protect the source.”

But that did little to quell the controversy, and as the Futurist says in another article, “Questions abound. Did the film’s producers use existing archival images of Pan to generate new ones? Or were AI tools used to edit an existing image? Or do the images look like AI, but actually have another explanation?”

To those questions, we’d add another: Who, and what, are we to trust?

Listen, Plugged In has discussed the unreality of reality TV for a long time now. Unscripted shows feature very scripted premises and contrived dialogue. People on camera play exaggerated versions of themselves. And we still watch because, hey, many viewers like the end product.

But when we enter into the world of documentary—even one as inherently sensational as a true-crime story—viewers presumably go into it with different expectations. We expect the dialogue we hear to be what people actually said. We expect the facts of a case to be, y’know, factual. And we expect that the photos we see on screen are “real.”

But when plenty of us edit our own family photos—to make the skies look bluer or our cheeks look rosier or our families look happier—“real” takes on different connotations within our very own social media feeds. Even removing power lines from an otherwise clear sky still alters what was actually there. In an age when we’re able to “improve” upon reality with just a click or two, why would we assume that documentary creators would necessarily hold themselves to higher standards?

And as AI and photo-manipulation software get better, these problems will get worse. Already, we’ve seen plenty of instances of photos where celebs and politicians appear to do things they never did, and soundbites where they say things they never said. And while hopefully there will always be ways to detect such deepfakes with enough time and energy, society’s trust level has rarely been lower. We’re prone to distrust such instruments of detection, too—and maybe sometimes because we prefer to believe the fakes.

If there’s any solace to all this uncertainty, maybe it’s this: It’s nothing new. Having such a thing as “photographic evidence” is a relatively new development in our culture, and people have always found ways to manipulate it. And while we don’t want to encourage overt cynicism in our children—that’s a recipe for stressed-out kids—we do want to encourage them to ask plenty of questions. It’s important for them not to accept stuff blindly that they see or hear on their screens, be it in a Netflix doc or their own social media feeds. Doctored photos or conversations can ruin friendships—and ruin lives.

Who can we trust? Jesus, always. But be mindful of what He said in Matthew 10:16. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Or, to paraphrase a Russian proverb popularized here by Ronald Reagan, “Trust, but verify.”

The post With AI, ‘Reality Television’ May Become Even More Unreal appeared first on Plugged In.

So given their ability to literally destroy city blocks, perhaps it’s no surprise that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire proved to be a blockbuster of a different sort.

Godzilla x Kong went on a cinematic rampage this weekend, clubbing and stomping its way to an estimated $80 million opening in North America. That’s the second-biggest debut we’ve seen in 2024 (trailing Dune: Part Two’s $82.5 million opening),and it marks this monster mashup as a smashing success.

Overseas, Godzilla x Kong did even better, banking $114 million in international markets. That pushes the movie’s global gross to $194 million.

Fun fact: A $100 bill is about .0043 inches thick. If you stacked $194 million worth of $100 bills on top of each other, it would be just a bit over 695 feet tall—dwarfing even the 394-foot Godzilla. Now, that’s a lot of cash.

With Godzilla x Kong in town, every other movie pretty much ran for safety.

Last week’s champ, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, barely put up a fight. It lost nearly two-thirds of its weekend-over-weekend audience and earned just $15.7 million, slipping to second place in the process. Frozen Empire has now banked $73.4 million domestically, and $108.5 million worldwide.

Dune: Part Two, already the year’s biggest film, earned another $11.1 million to finish third and pushed its domestic cinematic coffers to $252.4 million. Worldwide, Dune: Part Two has mined a whopping $626.1 million. Spicy indeed.Kung Fu Panda 4 kicked its way into fourth place with $10.2 million, while the horror flick Immaculate finished a very distant fifth with $3.3 million.

The post Movie Monday: ‘Godzilla x Kong’ Is a Box-Office Beast appeared first on Plugged In.

What? Psilocybin, aka “magic mushrooms,” is a hallucinogenic drug that some states and cities have begun to decriminalize (for those 21 and older.)

So What? Despite not being commercially available to teens, calls to U.S. poison centers involving such mushrooms have tripled among those aged 13-19. A full 75% of children who were exposed solely to the drug experienced adverse side effects, also known as a “bad trip,” and required medical attention.

Now What? Parents need to recognize the potential symptoms of a bad reaction to psilocybin, including hallucinations, delusions, agitation, abnormally fast heart rate and confusion. And it should also be noted that the drug is available in alternate edible forms, such as chocolate and gummies, which could increase the risk of accidental consumption.

“Chroming” Challenge Is Fatal

What? “Chroming involves inhaling the fumes from common household items like aerosol cans, nail polish remover, paint solvents and cleaning products to get high, while teens film the process and results to post online,” says New York Post.

So What? An 11-year-old boy from the United Kingdom died of cardiac arrest after attempting the challenge at a friend’s house.

Now What? I’ve said it before, and I will continue saying it: talk to your kids about the dangers of social media challenges. If your child isn’t a teenager or even if they don’t have their own devices yet, it might be easy to think that they’ll be safe. But clearly, children too young to set up social media accounts (TikTok, which is where the boy found the challenge, requires users to be 13 or older) are finding ways to get around that. And if their friends have accounts, or even if an older sibling gives them access, they are at risk.

“Sharenting” Can Have Lasting Effects on Your Kids

What? According to POPSUGAR, “Sharenting” is when you share “photos, videos, personal stories, and other updates” about your child online. “Grandsharenting” is an offshoot of this wherein grandparents share about their grandchildren.

So What? Besides an ethical dilemma around consent, experts are saying that as children get older and begin “social comparison”—which is when you compare yourself to others—they may develop anxiety and self-esteem issues, worrying about what photos or videos have been posted about them online.

Now What? Well, you could obviously stop posting photos of your kids or grandkids online. But that may not be fair, since many parents use social media as a way to share what’s happening in their family with friends and extended family members who may live farther away. So if you decide to post things about your kids, be sure not to include private details, such as where they go to school or what neighborhood you live in. Try to be open with your kids about what you’re posting online, too. Show them the photos you plan to post and ask them how it makes them feel. And finally, Dr. Roots (a child psychiatrist and co-founder of Bend Health) says to start teaching them about “the importance of being themselves and not comparing themselves to others online or needing to be perfect.”

The post On the Radar: ‘Magic Mushrooms,’ ‘Chroming’ and  ‘Sharenting’ appeared first on Plugged In.

What? “Legging Legs” has been described as Gen Z’s “thigh gap” or “bikini bridge.” It’s a trend that showcases the “perfect” or “ideal” size and shape that women and girls should have to wear these spandex pants.

So What? Experts have slammed the trend for promoting unrealistic body standards, which might subsequently amplify girls’ body insecurities and undermine their self-esteem. It’s been called “disgusting,” “toxic” and “harmful” by social media users. In response, TikTok now redirects searches for the trend toward resources for eating disorders.

Now What? It’s important for teen girls, especially those who’ve been targets of body shaming, to remember that genetics and bone structure play a bigger role in certain body types than diet or exercise. And as one influencer pointed out, beauty standards change every couple of weeks, if not weekly, so “our sole purpose in life is not to fit into clothes and to fit into whatever beauty standard is in right now.”

AI Can Promote or Stifle a Child’s Creativity

What? Parents and teachers have voiced concerns that implementing AI in the classroom may hinder the learning process—particularly the creative thinking process.

So What? A new study indicates that “allowing students to practice creativity independently first will strengthen their belief in themselves and their abilities. Once they accomplish this, AI can be useful in furthering their learning, much like teaching long division to students before introducing a calculator.”

Now What? While the study found that AI can be beneficial in the brainstorming phase of creativity, “the essential tasks of defining problems and critically evaluating ideas still rely heavily on human input.” And students shouldn’t rely too heavily on AI, since many of the ideas are either repetitive (given that generative AI recycles existing content) or completely unrealistic (because AI can “hallucinate,” yielding inaccurate results).

Asthma Is More Common Among High School Students Who Use Marijuana

What? In 2019, 37% of high school students reported using marijuana. Those numbers dropped in 2020 and 2021. But in 2022, 8.3% of eighth graders, 19.5% of 10^th graders and 30.7% of 12^th graders reported using the drug at least once in the previous year.

So What? Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the City University of New York have now found a connection between asthma and marijuana use. Asthma is more common among teens who use cannabis, and that correlation increases with the frequency of use.

Now What? Parents should know that marijuana usage among adolescents been linked to a range of mental health problems, such as depression and social anxiety, as well as schizophrenia. Approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana-use disorder (and the risk of developing this disorder is stronger in people who start using marijuana during youth or adolescence). And, of course, there’s been a rise in cannabis laced with fentanyl, an even more addictive and potentially lethal drug. So while some advocates try to characterize pot use as benign, the weight of scientific evidence strongly suggests otherwise.

For more resources on marijuana use and its effects, visit Focus on the Family:

• A Parent’s Guide to Marijuana and Marijuana Use
• Talking With Tweens About Marijuana
• Perspectives on the Legalization of Marijuana
• Parents Can’t Control Teen’s Use of Marijuana

The post On the Radar: ‘Legging Legs,’ AI Creativity, and the Connection Between Asthma and Cannabis Use appeared first on Plugged In.