NOWTX

NOW PlaySafe is in the spotlight again! 🎮🛡️

Thank you to Pixelkin for featuring NOW PlaySafe and helping spread the word about a simple, free tool designed to help kids—and the adults who care for them—recognize the red flags predators use online.

In just 10 minutes, NOW PlaySafe puts players inside a simulated online conversation where they learn to spot tactics like gifting, focused attention and requests for personal information as they happen.

As Not On Our Watch (NOW) Co-Founder LisaBeth “LB” Thomas shared with Pixelkin: “Knowledge is power. NOW PlaySafe helps children build the instincts they need to recognize danger before it becomes harm.”

That’s exactly why we created it: not to scare kids, but to prepare them.

🔗 Read the Pixelkin feature: https://pixelkin.org/2026/09/11/now-playsafe-teaches-kids-and-adults-the-red-flags-of-online-predators-with-a-free-10-minute-chat-sim/

🎮 Learn more about NOW PlaySafe and play for free:
https://notonourwatchtx.com/now-playsafe/

A Not On Our Watch milestone—and an important step forward for online-safety education.

NOW PlaySafe has officially launched in Louisiana, where it is now available statewide as PlaySafe Louisiana.

Through a licensing partnership between Not On Our Watch (NOW) and the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention, schools and after-school programs across the state can use this free, interactive experience to help young people recognize the warning signs of online grooming and exploitation.

WAFB 9 captured an exclusive first look as students at Parkview Baptist Middle School worked through realistic online interactions and identified the tactics predators may use—including personal questions, gifts, private conversations, requests for photos and attempts to move a relationship offline.

This is prevention in action: giving young people the opportunity to recognize danger, practice how to respond and understand when to tell a trusted adult—before harm happens.

We are incredibly proud to see a program created by NOW begin its next chapter in Louisiana and reach even more children, families, educators and communities.

Thank you to the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention, Parkview Baptist Middle School and WAFB 9 for helping bring this important resource to Louisiana students.

Watch the WAFB story:
https://www.wafb.com/2026/09/17/first-look-students-get-new-tool-spot-predators-online/

Explore PlaySafe Louisiana:
https://humantrafficking.la.gov/playsafe/

Play It. Share It. Protect a Child.

LisaBeth Thomas Andrea Galliano Sparks Cherie Mathews

The House took an important step by passing the KIDS Act—but this work is not finished.

A coalition of 111 organizations is urging House leadership to work with the Senate to finalize and pass the strongest possible child online safety legislation this year.

Children and teens continue to face preventable harm online. They cannot afford more delays. Congress must work together and act with urgency to establish meaningful protections, hold technology platforms accountable, and create a safer digital environment for every child.

Read the coalition letter, then contact your members of Congress and urge them to reconcile the KIDS Act and KOSA into the strongest possible child online safety legislation this year.

View the letter here: https://bit.ly/4AeQgqS
Then share this post—kids and teens can’t wait.

This is what advocacy in action looks like.

NOW was proud to bring Haiven to Texas this week to join the conversation about making online gaming safer for children.

Yesterday, Haiven Co-Founder & COO Jennifer Richey testified before the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs, bringing the perspective of game developers who believe innovation and child safety can — and should — go hand in hand.

The conversation continues today on the House side as Texas lawmakers examine stronger protections for minors on gaming platforms.

Children spend an enormous amount of time in digital spaces. Protecting them means bringing parents, advocates, policymakers AND technology leaders to the table.

We’re grateful to Haiven for coming to Texas and helping move this important conversation forward.

Read the KXAN coverage:
https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/child-advocates-urge-texas-lawmakers-to-strengthen-protections-for-minors-on-gaming-platforms/

Watch the Senate hearing (Jennifer Richey’s testimony begins around 5:07):
https://senate.texas.gov/videoplayer.php?vid=22783&lang=en

Online safety doesn’t start with fear. It starts with awareness, conversation and a few practical steps. 💙

Rania Mankarious of The Rania Report shares five things parents can do today to help create safer, healthier digital habits with their children — from looking at screen-time data together to checking who can contact them online and setting family boundaries collaboratively.

And one point especially worth remembering:

The most dangerous app isn’t necessarily one particular app. Any platform that allows a child to connect with strangers deserves our attention.

We appreciate the emphasis on working with our kids to build safer digital habits and stronger awareness.

Swipe through, save this one, and share it with another parent. Small conversations and simple actions can make a big difference.

Thank you to The Rania Report with Rania Mankarious for sharing these practical tips for families.

Crime Stoppers of Houston The Rania Report with Rania Mankarious

A new UNICEF report delivers a sobering reminder of why online safety cannot wait:

1 IN 5 CHILDREN across the countries studied reported experiencing technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse.

UNICEF is calling for digital platforms to be designed to maximize children’s safety — not engagement.

But when engagement drives profit, we cannot rely on technology companies to make these changes on their own.

Children need meaningful safeguards that put their safety first.

Congress: It’s time to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

Children deserve an online world designed with their safety at the center.

Read the UNICEF report:
https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/reports/through-childrens-eyes

Austin families—we’ll see you at the Long Center! 💙

NOW PlaySafe is headed to the 4th Annual Teresa Lozano Long Community Day on Saturday, September 19!

Join us for a FREE day of family fun, performances, activities and community—and be sure to stop by Not On Our Watch to experience NOW PlaySafe.

In just 10 minutes, families can play together and start an important conversation about staying safer online.

📍 Long Center | Austin
📅 Saturday, September 19
🎟️ FREE — RSVP today: https://thelongcenter.org/communityday/

Come play. Come learn. Come say hi!

Play It. Share It. Protect a Child.

The conversation around children, screens and online safety continues to grow—and it matters.

The recent “Live Real Life” Symposium brought together experts, educators and leaders to turn the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Harms of Screen Use into action, exploring how we can reduce excessive screen use and help create healthier futures for our children.

At Not on Our Watch (NOW), we believe protecting children in a digital world requires all of us—parents, educators, policymakers, technology leaders and communities—working together.

We’re encouraged to see this conversation gaining national attention and momentum. Our children deserve a digital world designed with their health, safety and well-being in mind.

Learn more: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/screen-use-harms/index.html
s.surgeongeneral

THE REAL WIN? SAFER CHILDHOODS.

The $1 billion settlement with Meta may be making headlines, but the most important outcome is what it could mean for Texas children.

The agreement includes new safeguards for young users on Facebook and Instagram, including stronger age verification, limits on daily use for teens, reduced notifications during school hours, and nighttime restrictions.

For families, these protections matter far beyond the size of the settlement. They represent meaningful steps toward creating safer online spaces for millions of children.

At Not On Our Watch (NOW), we will continue advocating for accountability, stronger protections, and a digital world that puts children's safety first.

Because the real measure of progress isn't the size of the settlement. It's the children it helps protect.

Read more from The Texas Tribune:
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/26/meta-texas-settlement-1-billion-dollars-social-media-child-safety-paxton/