Talk Out of School

Why parents should not buy AI toys for their kids

Episode Summary

Leonie interviews Rachel Franz of the organization Fairplay for Kids, talking about why parents shouldn’t buy their kids AI toys this holiday season. She also discusses the reasons why a growing number of states including NY have banned cell phone ban use, and why Congress needs to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA.

Episode Notes

Network for Public Education, Charter School Reckoning: Disillusionment; https://networkforpubliceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Charter-School-Reckoning-Disillusionment.pdf

FTC takes action against Illuminate for failing to secure student data; https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/ftc-takes-action-against-education-technology-provider-failing-secure-students-personal-data

AG Letitia James Secures $51 million fine from Illuminate; https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-and-multistate-coalition-secure-51-million-education

Fairplay Advisory on AI Toys; https://fairplayforkids.org/pf/aitoyadvisory/

US PIRG, Trouble in Toyland 2025,; https://publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TOYLAND-2025-11-14-7a.pdf has mentions

KPTV, AI toys top list in annual ‘Trouble in Toyland’ report this holiday season; https://www.kptv.com/2025/11/14/ai-toys-top-list-annual-trouble-toyland-report-this-holiday-season/

Ballotpedia, State Policies on cellphone use in schools, https://ballotpedia.org/State_policies_on_cellphone_use_in_K-12_public_schools

Fairplay, Survivor Parents ‘Deeply Disappointed’ in House Version of the Kids Online Safety Act, Urge Congress to Pass Senate Version; https://fairplayforkids.org/survivor-parents-deeply-disappointed-in-house-version-of-the-kids-online-safety-act-urge-congress-to-pass-senate-version/

The Hill, Deep divides plague kids online safety push in House' https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5630434-deep-divides-plague-kids-online-safety-push-in-house/