It's the Happy Families podcast.

It's the Happy Families podcast.

It's the podcast for the time poor parent who just wants answers.

It's the podcast for the time poor parent who just wants answers.

Now, we're going to have some problems in today's I'll do a Better Tomorrow. We're quibling over whose story Today's I'll do better Tomorrow is, and it's mine. I can tell you that right now. The other thing is if I leave your microphone, if I get it, oh that's unfair. Let me send it on.

Now, we're going to have some problems in today's I'll do a Better Tomorrow. We're quibling over whose story Today's I'll do better Tomorrow is, and it's mine. I can tell you that right now. The other thing is if I leave your microphone, if I get it, oh that's unfair. Let me send it on.

You're so squack.

You're so squack.

This is doctor Justin Wilson. I'm here with my wife and mum. We our six kids. Had a really cool experience the other day. We've gone for our bike ride because you're now getting fit. And following the bike ride, I went and had my swim down at the local pool. Bashed out a couple of kays in the pool, and on the way back, I thought, I'll stop and check the surf, because not that I have time to do everything, but I'm going to have a look at the surf. And it was really good, and I wanted to hang around there for a while, but I had work to do. But I was standing there and somebody said, oh my goodness, I can't believe who I'm standing next to, and I just love it when people know who I am and want to say hi because we've made a difference in their lives. And it was Jess who listened to the podcast visiting the Sunshine Coast from Melbourne with her husband and they had a great chat while we watched the surf and it was it's just beautiful. I love when people say hi. Thanks for saying hi, Jess. All right, I'd about it tomorrow. For those of you who a knew to the pod, this is where we have a look at the week that was, talk about what worked and what didn't and how it can be better parents. It's about intentionality and mindfulness in our parentings so that we can I don't know, raise happy, resilient kids. That's the goal. So I guess we're going to have to share this one.

This is doctor Justin Wilson. I'm here with my wife and mum. We our six kids. Had a really cool experience the other day. We've gone for our bike ride because you're now getting fit. And following the bike ride, I went and had my swim down at the local pool. Bashed out a couple of kays in the pool, and on the way back, I thought, I'll stop and check the surf, because not that I have time to do everything, but I'm going to have a look at the surf. And it was really good, and I wanted to hang around there for a while, but I had work to do. But I was standing there and somebody said, oh my goodness, I can't believe who I'm standing next to, and I just love it when people know who I am and want to say hi because we've made a difference in their lives. And it was Jess who listened to the podcast visiting the Sunshine Coast from Melbourne with her husband and they had a great chat while we watched the surf and it was it's just beautiful. I love when people say hi. Thanks for saying hi, Jess. All right, I'd about it tomorrow. For those of you who a knew to the pod, this is where we have a look at the week that was, talk about what worked and what didn't and how it can be better parents. It's about intentionality and mindfulness in our parentings so that we can I don't know, raise happy, resilient kids. That's the goal. So I guess we're going to have to share this one.

Well, I've got the piece of paper to prove it's my story.

Well, I've got the piece of paper to prove it's my story.

Yeah, the piece of paper was given to me that you didn't read. It's not that I didn't read it. It was about timing. It was timing. So here's the deal. On what day was it? Monday? I think it was Monday. You had to go down to Brizzy because we're homeschooling our youngest two. You took them with you. One of them decided to stay Grandma's for a couple of days. But our ten year old Emily got to hang out with one of her besties in our old neighborhood. While she was there, they played roadblocks. I think did they play roadblocks? No, they talked about roadblocks. They talked about roadblocks and no stop. And that night, I don't know, you'd gone for a walk with Abby, our second eldest, along the beach and Emily came into the office right before I was about to run a webinar for Cherrybrook Technology High School parents. And right at the start of the webinar, just before we pressed go, she walked in and said, Dad, I need to talk to you. Have to talk to you, And I said, not a great time. She handed me a piece of paper. When it comes to homeschool, the one thing you can't get Emily to do is write. She just hates holding the pencil of the pan, hates writing anything, winges, complains, wines, moans, and we'll do anything to get out of writing. Except that on Monday night she had me this list with fourteen perfectly the best handwriting have done fourteen beautifully written statements about why she should have roadblocks and all this week. I mean, we've had tantrums, she's run away from the house. It's been the roadblocks. Wars have begun. That's my story. That's that's my old butt. It's tomorrow.

Yeah, the piece of paper was given to me that you didn't read. It's not that I didn't read it. It was about timing. It was timing. So here's the deal. On what day was it? Monday? I think it was Monday. You had to go down to Brizzy because we're homeschooling our youngest two. You took them with you. One of them decided to stay Grandma's for a couple of days. But our ten year old Emily got to hang out with one of her besties in our old neighborhood. While she was there, they played roadblocks. I think did they play roadblocks? No, they talked about roadblocks. They talked about roadblocks and no stop. And that night, I don't know, you'd gone for a walk with Abby, our second eldest, along the beach and Emily came into the office right before I was about to run a webinar for Cherrybrook Technology High School parents. And right at the start of the webinar, just before we pressed go, she walked in and said, Dad, I need to talk to you. Have to talk to you, And I said, not a great time. She handed me a piece of paper. When it comes to homeschool, the one thing you can't get Emily to do is write. She just hates holding the pencil of the pan, hates writing anything, winges, complains, wines, moans, and we'll do anything to get out of writing. Except that on Monday night she had me this list with fourteen perfectly the best handwriting have done fourteen beautifully written statements about why she should have roadblocks and all this week. I mean, we've had tantrums, she's run away from the house. It's been the roadblocks. Wars have begun. That's my story. That's that's my old butt. It's tomorrow.

How are you going to be better?

How are you going to be better?

Actually, my very simple take home message is that if she had come to us with a list outlining or let's say our fifteen or a sixteen year old, let's our sixteen year old Annie, who sorry, she's seventeen now, she's got a piece a couple of weeks ago. If she'd come to us with a list when she was sixteen and nine months and said, Dad, I can drive. I've done my hours, I've demonstrated confidence in the car. Here's my list of fourteen reasons why I should just be allowed to drive to school on my own. Now, it'd be a great list, but as the parent, I'd say no. In this case, it is actually illegal for you to do that. But outside of that, as a parent, going to say no, why because sometimes his parents just got to say no. Because you're interested in protecting your kids, keeping them safe. That's our job. And when it comes to issues of kids being online. I'm sorry, but I know that I know that Emily's the only kid on the planet who's not on roadblocks. I mean, she's given us the list of every single one of her friends who is on roadblocks, and it's a comprehensive list. And she's also promised us and assured us that she'll only play in public. She'll play with sound off. She's not going to friend anybody that she doesn't know. She's aware of it.

Actually, my very simple take home message is that if she had come to us with a list outlining or let's say our fifteen or a sixteen year old, let's our sixteen year old Annie, who sorry, she's seventeen now, she's got a piece a couple of weeks ago. If she'd come to us with a list when she was sixteen and nine months and said, Dad, I can drive. I've done my hours, I've demonstrated confidence in the car. Here's my list of fourteen reasons why I should just be allowed to drive to school on my own. Now, it'd be a great list, but as the parent, I'd say no. In this case, it is actually illegal for you to do that. But outside of that, as a parent, going to say no, why because sometimes his parents just got to say no. Because you're interested in protecting your kids, keeping them safe. That's our job. And when it comes to issues of kids being online. I'm sorry, but I know that I know that Emily's the only kid on the planet who's not on roadblocks. I mean, she's given us the list of every single one of her friends who is on roadblocks, and it's a comprehensive list. And she's also promised us and assured us that she'll only play in public. She'll play with sound off. She's not going to friend anybody that she doesn't know. She's aware of it.

She watched parental guidance.

She watched parental guidance.

She was pro she's aware of the risks, dangers and concerns that we have. But as a parent, sometimes you just say no. And she's ten and I said no, and so I'm the worst out in the world. She knows that I still love her. We've had cuddles and we've had good talks, but I'm the worst out in the world, and my older better tomorrow is I'm okay with that for now. I mean, it's really sad. Conversations are ongoing, negotiations have not yet ceased, but I'm feeling the lit a bit worn down by it, to be honest, because this is the thing. When parents don't band together, when parents don't form community. See what I'm doing here. I'm blaming every parent that's listening to this podcast right now. Let's their kids beyond roadblocks because I'm struggling with it and I don't want her to be on there. It's just I mentioned this the other day in a podcast. It is literally, by design, a place where people with ill intent, adults with ill intent can access and communicate with a huge number of children at scale. That's what happens. And is it likely that our child will be approached? I don't know, but I don't want to take that risk. To me, it's too big of a risk. Anyway, that's my older tomorrow. I don't know if that was a fun one or an inspiring one, or if I just sound like a big grump kylie, what's your old tomorrow?

She was pro she's aware of the risks, dangers and concerns that we have. But as a parent, sometimes you just say no. And she's ten and I said no, and so I'm the worst out in the world. She knows that I still love her. We've had cuddles and we've had good talks, but I'm the worst out in the world, and my older better tomorrow is I'm okay with that for now. I mean, it's really sad. Conversations are ongoing, negotiations have not yet ceased, but I'm feeling the lit a bit worn down by it, to be honest, because this is the thing. When parents don't band together, when parents don't form community. See what I'm doing here. I'm blaming every parent that's listening to this podcast right now. Let's their kids beyond roadblocks because I'm struggling with it and I don't want her to be on there. It's just I mentioned this the other day in a podcast. It is literally, by design, a place where people with ill intent, adults with ill intent can access and communicate with a huge number of children at scale. That's what happens. And is it likely that our child will be approached? I don't know, but I don't want to take that risk. To me, it's too big of a risk. Anyway, that's my older tomorrow. I don't know if that was a fun one or an inspiring one, or if I just sound like a big grump kylie, what's your old tomorrow?

Well, let me read you the list.

Well, let me read you the list.

Never done one like this before. By the way, I'm usually upbeat. I'm really inspired. I'm trying to help everyone feel like, yeah, you can do this. Let's say the.

Never done one like this before. By the way, I'm usually upbeat. I'm really inspired. I'm trying to help everyone feel like, yeah, you can do this. Let's say the.

List Number one, I'll only play Brookhaven with Patrick and my street friends Jessic, Sasha, Ali Harper and Olivia and some other friends. There's a few in there. There are number two some games don't even give the talking ability. Number three. I'm not going to tell someone my whole life story so that they can kidnap me or say mean things. Number four. If they say inappropriate things, then I will tell you, and I can contact roeblocks and they will be banned forever. Number five. I will ban everyone who I don't know from my house. Number six. No one has the same usernames, so I will memorize all my friends' usernames. Number seven. They have smooth and amazing graphics.

List Number one, I'll only play Brookhaven with Patrick and my street friends Jessic, Sasha, Ali Harper and Olivia and some other friends. There's a few in there. There are number two some games don't even give the talking ability. Number three. I'm not going to tell someone my whole life story so that they can kidnap me or say mean things. Number four. If they say inappropriate things, then I will tell you, and I can contact roeblocks and they will be banned forever. Number five. I will ban everyone who I don't know from my house. Number six. No one has the same usernames, so I will memorize all my friends' usernames. Number seven. They have smooth and amazing graphics.

I love this, smooth and amazing graphics. I've got to be allowed.

I love this, smooth and amazing graphics. I've got to be allowed.

Number eight. I can make my own characters looks and save them, and I can make more. Number nine. There are no inappropriate clothing options, and you can change your face and have children and even pets. Number ten. I won't spend your actual money on roadblocks. Number eleven, it's like living my dream future. And house twelve it'll be perfect for long car drives. Thirteen. Anyone can watch me play, so nothing bad happens. And fourteen everyone has it all right.

Number eight. I can make my own characters looks and save them, and I can make more. Number nine. There are no inappropriate clothing options, and you can change your face and have children and even pets. Number ten. I won't spend your actual money on roadblocks. Number eleven, it's like living my dream future. And house twelve it'll be perfect for long car drives. Thirteen. Anyone can watch me play, so nothing bad happens. And fourteen everyone has it all right.

Well, I've got my own list. Are you ready for this? This is something that I'm taking from Hindenburg Research. I talked about them on the podcast recently. Hindenburg Research is a stock market analyst company, and they basically point to companies that are going to be in trouble soon and they're holding that Roadblocks will be.

Well, I've got my own list. Are you ready for this? This is something that I'm taking from Hindenburg Research. I talked about them on the podcast recently. Hindenburg Research is a stock market analyst company, and they basically point to companies that are going to be in trouble soon and they're holding that Roadblocks will be.

That you've got ninety seconds. You're not hijacking this anymore.

That you've got ninety seconds. You're not hijacking this anymore.

Hindenburg Research dot com slash Roadblocks Beyond inflated key user metrics, Hindenburg's in game research revealed an x rated pedophile healthscape exposing children of grooming, pornography, violent content, extremely abusive speech. Number two. Roadblocks is compromising child safety and order report to investigators per their interview with a former senior product designer who said, and I quote, if you're limiting users engagement, it's hurting your metrics in a lot of cases, the leadership doesn't want that. Number three. For the second quarter of twenty twenty four and a push towards profitability, Roadblocks reported a two percent year over year decline and its trust and safety expenses. Number four. Court of the problem is that Roadblocks's social media features allow pedophiles to efficiently target hundreds of children with no upfront screening to prevent them from joining the platform. Number five. For example, in twenty eighteen. Prior to Roadblocks going public, a twenty nine year old was caught by police with one hundred and seventy five hours of video footage of Hymn grooming and engaging in explicit behavior with one hundred and fifty miners using online platforms, namely Roadblocks. Number six. Media and nonprofit expose as from twenty twenty three to July twenty twenty four revealed digital strip clubs, red light districts, sex parties, and child predators looking on Roadblocks. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation in twenty twenty four labeled Roadblocks quote a tool for sexual predators, a threat for children safety close quote number seven. Numerous criminal indictments from twenty nineteen through to twenty twenty four alleged that sexual predators groomed children in game, ranging from eight to fourteen year olds, then kidnapped, raped, or traded sexual content with them. Next one, following years of scandals, Hindenburg performed their own checks to see if the platform had cleaned up its act. As a test, they attempted to set up an account under the name Jeffrey Epstein, only to see the name was taken along with nine hundred plus variations Let's go again. Many were Jeffrey Epstein fan accounts, including jeff Epstein's Supporter, which had earned multiple badges for spending time in kids games. Other jeff Epstein accounts had the user name I Groom Minors and I'm not even gonna say the other one because it's so offensive. It makes me want to weep. And I can just keep on going and going and going. We'll link to it. Hindenburg Research dot Com slash roadblocks. I'm getting passionate about it. You want and gave me ninety seconds, but I could keep on going. Have a listen to this one. In the game beat Up the Pregnant, users hated pregnant women to death in a Walmart parking lot with machetes, or killed them with frying pans or a selection of guns. What about this one? We played guns Work at Hospital, say the Hindenburg team, where users can go on a hospital shooting rampage. The game has more than one point six million visits and remains on the platform with no age restrictions. The game's thumb nail is a picture of a terrified pregnant woman. Parents have no idea how bad this thing is, and that's why their kids are on there. Now. I know that there's all sorts of restrictions, I know there's all sorts of ways that you can keep your kids safe, and I know that forty million plus kids are on there every single day. I don't care. I'm not letting my daughter on there.

Hindenburg Research dot com slash Roadblocks Beyond inflated key user metrics, Hindenburg's in game research revealed an x rated pedophile healthscape exposing children of grooming, pornography, violent content, extremely abusive speech. Number two. Roadblocks is compromising child safety and order report to investigators per their interview with a former senior product designer who said, and I quote, if you're limiting users engagement, it's hurting your metrics in a lot of cases, the leadership doesn't want that. Number three. For the second quarter of twenty twenty four and a push towards profitability, Roadblocks reported a two percent year over year decline and its trust and safety expenses. Number four. Court of the problem is that Roadblocks's social media features allow pedophiles to efficiently target hundreds of children with no upfront screening to prevent them from joining the platform. Number five. For example, in twenty eighteen. Prior to Roadblocks going public, a twenty nine year old was caught by police with one hundred and seventy five hours of video footage of Hymn grooming and engaging in explicit behavior with one hundred and fifty miners using online platforms, namely Roadblocks. Number six. Media and nonprofit expose as from twenty twenty three to July twenty twenty four revealed digital strip clubs, red light districts, sex parties, and child predators looking on Roadblocks. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation in twenty twenty four labeled Roadblocks quote a tool for sexual predators, a threat for children safety close quote number seven. Numerous criminal indictments from twenty nineteen through to twenty twenty four alleged that sexual predators groomed children in game, ranging from eight to fourteen year olds, then kidnapped, raped, or traded sexual content with them. Next one, following years of scandals, Hindenburg performed their own checks to see if the platform had cleaned up its act. As a test, they attempted to set up an account under the name Jeffrey Epstein, only to see the name was taken along with nine hundred plus variations Let's go again. Many were Jeffrey Epstein fan accounts, including jeff Epstein's Supporter, which had earned multiple badges for spending time in kids games. Other jeff Epstein accounts had the user name I Groom Minors and I'm not even gonna say the other one because it's so offensive. It makes me want to weep. And I can just keep on going and going and going. We'll link to it. Hindenburg Research dot Com slash roadblocks. I'm getting passionate about it. You want and gave me ninety seconds, but I could keep on going. Have a listen to this one. In the game beat Up the Pregnant, users hated pregnant women to death in a Walmart parking lot with machetes, or killed them with frying pans or a selection of guns. What about this one? We played guns Work at Hospital, say the Hindenburg team, where users can go on a hospital shooting rampage. The game has more than one point six million visits and remains on the platform with no age restrictions. The game's thumb nail is a picture of a terrified pregnant woman. Parents have no idea how bad this thing is, and that's why their kids are on there. Now. I know that there's all sorts of restrictions, I know there's all sorts of ways that you can keep your kids safe, and I know that forty million plus kids are on there every single day. I don't care. I'm not letting my daughter on there.

Well, thanks for that comprehensive Liz.

Well, thanks for that comprehensive Liz.

You're welcome. I'll do better tomorrow. Mate, how are you going to be odd?

You're welcome. I'll do better tomorrow. Mate, how are you going to be odd?

Don't even though where to go from.

Don't even though where to go from.

Well, you wanted to talk about the list, and you want to talk about the emotions, and you're right. I have hijackted and I love hijacked because I'm so frustrated with the fact that this product is out there and it is mass marketed to our kids, and parents are blase and apathetic and say, no, we're fine.

Well, you wanted to talk about the list, and you want to talk about the emotions, and you're right. I have hijackted and I love hijacked because I'm so frustrated with the fact that this product is out there and it is mass marketed to our kids, and parents are blase and apathetic and say, no, we're fine.

So the challenge is it's easy to assume, based on the fact that Emily has brought me this big, long list of all the reasons why she should be able to play roadblocks, that this is about a video game, but it's actually not. And that is the challenge as parents. Our children give us stimulus on any given day, and we either accept it for what it appears to be, or we take the time to explore, explain, and empower our kids as we recognize what the core root is. So I sat down with Emily after she had run away from home for half an hour or so. She came back and I said, we need to have a little cuddle, and she came and lay on the bed with me and we started to talk about her list, but she got really really upset and didn't want to and she turned her back to me and I just said, Emily, I said, is this really about roadblocks? Or is this about the fact that you miss your friends? And she pretty much burst into tears. There are so many awesome things about homeschooling, and she recognizes it and loves it, but there are also some really big challenges. She doesn't like being the new kid in the room. She doesn't want to invest in meeting new friends if they're not going to be lifelong friends. There's some really big challenges for her around this, and so starting to infiltrate new homeschool groups and things is a really, really big deal for her. And so we haven't spent a lot of time looking in that space. She spent a lot of time on her own and she's been really happy doing it, but as time has gone on, there is this a deep hole, the big gape in her life where she wants her friends, but she's the only one who's not at school, and it's really really hard to sit there and navigate that space when there's so many other challenges going on. So this started off about roadblocks, but it's actually not about roadblocks. This is about a little girl who is desperate for connection. And I think the power comes when we can sit in those hard places with our kids and have hard conversations and help them to understand why they're so passionate about whatever it is that they're talking about. She thought that this was about roadblocks, but as we explored it together, there was a recognition that this is actually not really about roadblocks.

So the challenge is it's easy to assume, based on the fact that Emily has brought me this big, long list of all the reasons why she should be able to play roadblocks, that this is about a video game, but it's actually not. And that is the challenge as parents. Our children give us stimulus on any given day, and we either accept it for what it appears to be, or we take the time to explore, explain, and empower our kids as we recognize what the core root is. So I sat down with Emily after she had run away from home for half an hour or so. She came back and I said, we need to have a little cuddle, and she came and lay on the bed with me and we started to talk about her list, but she got really really upset and didn't want to and she turned her back to me and I just said, Emily, I said, is this really about roadblocks? Or is this about the fact that you miss your friends? And she pretty much burst into tears. There are so many awesome things about homeschooling, and she recognizes it and loves it, but there are also some really big challenges. She doesn't like being the new kid in the room. She doesn't want to invest in meeting new friends if they're not going to be lifelong friends. There's some really big challenges for her around this, and so starting to infiltrate new homeschool groups and things is a really, really big deal for her. And so we haven't spent a lot of time looking in that space. She spent a lot of time on her own and she's been really happy doing it, but as time has gone on, there is this a deep hole, the big gape in her life where she wants her friends, but she's the only one who's not at school, and it's really really hard to sit there and navigate that space when there's so many other challenges going on. So this started off about roadblocks, but it's actually not about roadblocks. This is about a little girl who is desperate for connection. And I think the power comes when we can sit in those hard places with our kids and have hard conversations and help them to understand why they're so passionate about whatever it is that they're talking about. She thought that this was about roadblocks, but as we explored it together, there was a recognition that this is actually not really about roadblocks.

Yeah, for the record, I just love everything that you've said, and I also know it's not about roadblocks, but roadblocks it's just such a big problem. I want to read more stats to you. That's how fast fred I am. But ultimately my older better tomorrow to come out of that is the answer will be know for her because of that and more, and because roadblocks won't solve the problem you know.

Yeah, for the record, I just love everything that you've said, and I also know it's not about roadblocks, but roadblocks it's just such a big problem. I want to read more stats to you. That's how fast fred I am. But ultimately my older better tomorrow to come out of that is the answer will be know for her because of that and more, and because roadblocks won't solve the problem you know.

One of the things she said to me, she said, I just want to be normal, And I said, what does what does that mean? She said, well, I just want parents who actually don't care what I watch and.

One of the things she said to me, she said, I just want to be normal, And I said, what does what does that mean? She said, well, I just want parents who actually don't care what I watch and.

What I play.

What I play.

Because that's in her mind, that's what she's seeing. She just thinks that her friends are allowed to do whatever they want when they want, which is not the case.

Because that's in her mind, that's what she's seeing. She just thinks that her friends are allowed to do whatever they want when they want, which is not the case.

No, of course not, but from her are saying that their parents don't care.

No, of course not, but from her are saying that their parents don't care.

No, but from her perspective, that's what she sees, because we're putting limitations on her that her other friends don't have. Just to be normal.

No, but from her perspective, that's what she sees, because we're putting limitations on her that her other friends don't have. Just to be normal.

I'll do better tomorrow understanding your kids. By the way, that conversation led to some of the best hugs, and it was beautiful lay on the bed with our little ten year old and just listen to her and have her pour her heart out to us. It was a highlight, a highlight of the week. Just before we wrap up, if you've got autistic kids, our cour for Parenting Autism is on sale until Monday. Early bird closes on Monday at the end of the weekend. If you'd like to join us for what is just a life changing, game changing course about parenting autism. Visit happy families dot com dot IU. The Happy Families podcast is produced by Justin Rowland from Bridge Media. I hope you have a great weekend. We'll be back with you on Monday.

I'll do better tomorrow understanding your kids. By the way, that conversation led to some of the best hugs, and it was beautiful lay on the bed with our little ten year old and just listen to her and have her pour her heart out to us. It was a highlight, a highlight of the week. Just before we wrap up, if you've got autistic kids, our cour for Parenting Autism is on sale until Monday. Early bird closes on Monday at the end of the weekend. If you'd like to join us for what is just a life changing, game changing course about parenting autism. Visit happy families dot com dot IU. The Happy Families podcast is produced by Justin Rowland from Bridge Media. I hope you have a great weekend. We'll be back with you on Monday.