This week the Pew Research Center published a study about how parents managed screen time for their kids 12 and under. The results were not particularly surprising (or enlightening, if we’re being honest). A full 90 percent of parents said their children watched TV, and 61 percent said their kids interact with smartphones at least on occasion. Somewhat surprisingly, only 50 percent said they let them play a game console of some kind. While 42 percent of respondents said they could do better managing their kids’ screen time, 86 percent did say they had rules around screens, even if they didn’t always stick to them.

What you won’t find in the Pew study, however, are what those rules are. That a certain percentage of parents “ever” let their kids watch TV doesn’t tell us useful information like, how long they watch, what they watch, or how parents are making sure they’re not watching anything inappropriate.

With my eight-year-old we’ve implemented a sort of barter system that I borrowed from Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism. They start each week with 10 tokens, worth a total of $5 or five-hours of screen time. They can earn additional time or money by reading. How they use that time is largely up to them, they can play Minecraft or watch shows on their children’s accounts on Disney+, Netflix, or Paramount+. They also have access to a few music making apps and games on their iPad. But we don’t allow them unfettered access to the iPad.

Lest you think that I rule my kids’ screen time with an iron first, my youngest gets an hour of (mostly educational) TV a day, just so we can help the oldest with their homework in peace. And every Saturday we have family movie night, and we take turns picking what we watch that week.

It also turns out that how much time kids spend in front of a screen isn’t the biggest concern. Time limits were common, but not universal.

That seemed to be parents’ biggest concern, what kids did with their screen time. Social media was a major concern, with 80 percent of respondents to the Pew survey saying it did more harm than good. Somewhat shockingly, 15 percent said their kids used TikTok, though usage of other platforms like Instagram and Facebook were much less common, only 5 percent. 74 percent did say they watched YouTube with their children, while only 15 percent said their kids didn’t watch YouTube at all.

In terms of tools for managing time, good old taking the device away or pressing the power button, was the most popular. Though some use Apple’s Screen Time tool to limit iPad usage specifically.

Phones weren’t common with younger kids. The Pew survey found that only 29 percent of parents allowed their 8 to 10 year-old to have their own smartphone. But, once kids hit their teens, they become more common.

Remember, there’s no right answer for how to raise your kids. What works for one parent, might not for another. We’re all just doing the best we can. Or at least 58 percent of us think we are, according to Pew.

Apple finally decided to pull the plug though, removing Clips from the App Store. The company also updated its support page to state clearly that “the Clips app is no longer being updated, and will no longer be available for download for new users as of October 10, 2025.” If you’ve already downloaded the app you can continue to use it on iOS and iPadOS. But it might also be a good idea to save any videos directly to your Photos library. The support page lays out exactly how to do this, both with and without effects, so that if Clips ever stops working because of an OS update you wont lose your videos.

Cybercriminals are getting sneakier, and one of their latest tricks is using fake invitation emails that look like they’re coming from legitimate services. They promise you an “exclusive invite” or ask you to download and install something before you can see the details. If you’re not careful, that simple click could install malware on your computer.

Recently, I received one of these deceptive emails. It used a Gmail address, which made it look more authentic at first glance. But the red flag was in the language: “Save the invite and install to join the list.” No legitimate service should ever ask you to install software just to see an invite.

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SCAMMERS NOW IMPERSONATE COWORKERS, STEAL EMAIL THREADS IN CONVINCING PHISHING ATTACKS

How the fake invitation scam works

The email looks polished and even mimics well-known event platforms. When you click the link, it sends you to a site that pretends to host the invitation. Instead of showing event details, it pushes you to download an “invitation” file.

That file is likely malware. Once installed, it can:

• Steal your personal information
• Access your email contacts and spread the scam further
• Hijack your system for criminal use

The link in my case pointed to a suspicious domain ending in “.ru.com.” At first glance, it mimicked a legitimate brand name, but the extra suffix is a clue it’s not official. Hackers often use look-alike domains to trick you into thinking the site is real.

Red flags that reveal fake invitation email scams

Here are some warning signs that should make you pause before clicking:

• Unusual instructions like “install” or “save” just to view an invite
• Urgent or exclusive language pushing you to act fast
• Look-alike URLs that swap in extra characters or use different endings
• Download prompts when all you expected was an online invite

If you see any of these, close the email and delete it.

SCAMMERS ARE ABUSING ICLOUD CALENDAR TO SEND PHISHING EMAILS

Scammers mimic legitimate services, urging victims to “install” files that steal data. (Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images)

How to protect yourself from fake invitation email malware

These fake party invite emails are designed to trick you into downloading malware before you even realize what’s happening. Follow these steps to stay safe and keep your inbox secure.

1) Hover over links before clicking

Before you click on any “Download Invitation” button, hover your mouse over the link. Real invites use the company’s official domain. Scams like this often use odd endings such as “.ru.com” instead of “.ru” or “.com.” That small clue can help you avoid a big problem.

2) Use strong antivirus software

If you click by mistake, strong antivirus protection can detect and block malware before it spreads. Think of it as your last line of defense against a fake invite that sneaks into your inbox.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com/LockUpYourTech 

3) Use a personal data removal service

Scammers often spread these emails by stealing contact lists from infected accounts. A personal data removal service reduces the amount of your personal information floating around online, making it harder for cybercriminals to target you in the first place.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy.  These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet.  By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/Delete

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4) Keep your system updated

Hackers love outdated systems because they’re easier to exploit. Keeping your operating system and apps updated patches those holes and makes it much harder for malware to take hold.

5) Report suspicious emails

Don’t just delete a suspicious invite, report it to your email provider. This helps improve their filters, protecting you and others from future fake emails.

6) Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Even if hackers get your password from a phishing attack, MFA adds an extra lock to your accounts. It makes breaking in nearly impossible without your phone or secondary code.

7) Back up your files regularly

If the worst happens and malware damages your computer, backups ensure you don’t lose everything. Use an external hard drive or a trusted cloud service for peace of mind.

NEW EVITE PHISHING SCAM USES EMOTIONAL EVENT INVITATIONS TO TARGET VICTIMS

Hackers send polished emails with malicious links disguised as exclusive invites. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Fake invitation emails are designed to catch you off guard. Hackers count on you being in a hurry and clicking without thinking. Taking a moment to question an unexpected email could save you from installing dangerous malware.

Have you ever received a fake invitation email that looked convincing? How did you handle it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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