New safety feature flags crisis conversations

Meta announced Thursday that it will now send alerts to parents when their teenager discusses suicide or self-harm with the company’s Meta AI chatbot. The move comes as scrutiny intensifies over how generative AI systems handle vulnerable users — especially minors.

The company says it has built a dedicated AI detection system specifically trained to identify when a teen makes a clear reference to hurting themselves. Every flagged chat gets reviewed by a human moderator before any alert is sent to a parent. If the system can’t determine intent, Meta says it will err on the side of caution and notify the parent anyway.

“We understand how distressing these alerts may be for a parent to receive,” Meta wrote in a blog post. “While that means we may sometimes notify parents when there may not be real cause for concern, we feel this is the right starting point.”

Where the alerts are live now

The new notifications are rolling out first for parents who use Instagram Parental Supervision in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Meta says the feature will expand to all other countries by the end of the year.

These alerts build on an existing system that already notifies parents when their teen repeatedly searches for suicide or self-harm terms on Instagram. Parents can also already see a summary of the topics their teen discussed with Meta AI over the past week.

Emergency services integration

Meta is also working on the ability to contact emergency services directly if a conversation — whether with a teen or an adult — suggests someone may be at imminent risk of suicide. The company already takes this step when someone posts content indicating self-harm risk on Facebook or Instagram. This update extends the same protocol to AI chatbot conversations.

“We’ll continue to monitor to help make sure we’re in the right place,” Meta said, acknowledging the sensitivity and potential for false positives.

Expanded content restrictions for teens

Separately, Meta announced that its “Limited Content” setting — which allows parents to place teens in a more restrictive Instagram experience — now also applies to Meta AI. The AI chatbot was already programmed to avoid sexual, romantic, or alcohol-related discussions with teens. The Limited Content setting goes further, making the chatbot decline a broader range of potentially inappropriate prompts.

These changes arrive as regulators and parent groups push tech companies to clarify how AI chatbots respond to users in crisis. The liability question is increasingly shaping how AI products are designed and marketed, especially when minors are involved.

What this means for teens and parents

For parents already using Instagram’s supervision tools, the new alerts add another layer of visibility into their teen’s digital life. But the system isn’t perfect. Meta acknowledges that some alerts may be sent when there’s no real cause for concern. The trade-off, the company argues, is better than missing a genuine cry for help.

For teens, the changes mean that certain conversations with Meta AI are no longer private. That’s a significant shift in how the company handles user data — and one that could affect how comfortable young users feel confiding in the chatbot.

Meta says all flagged conversations are manually reviewed before any alert reaches a parent. The company also emphasizes that it is still improving detection accuracy. The system will likely evolve as more data comes in.

The bigger picture: AI safety under the microscope

Meta is not alone in facing questions about AI chatbot safety. Rivals including OpenAI and Google have also faced scrutiny over how their models handle sensitive topics with minors. The challenge is acute: chatbots can seem empathetic and nonjudgmental, which may encourage teens to open up — but also raises the stakes if the AI responds poorly to a crisis.

Meta’s approach — human review, cautious alerting, and emergency service contact — mirrors what some mental health hotlines already do. Whether it’s enough to satisfy regulators remains to be seen.

For now, the company is betting that over-alerting is better than under-alerting. “We feel this is the right starting point,” the blog post reads. Time — and real-world use — will tell if parents and teens agree.

The problem that looked like a router or ISP issue

For months, my wired internet connection behaved like a nervous twitch. Every few seconds, the connection would drop for a split second—just long enough to make online gaming lag, video calls glitch, and downloads pause. Speed tests always came back normal. That’s what made it so maddening.

I blamed the router first. Then my ISP. Then the cable itself. I replaced the Cat6 cable. Still the same stutter. I even reset the modem, reconfigured QoS settings, and updated firmware. Nothing worked.

Turns out, the culprit was hiding in plain sight inside the Ethernet adapter’s advanced settings. A power-saving feature called Green Ethernet (or Energy-Efficient Ethernet) was causing the micro-stuttering. Disabling it fixed everything instantly.

What is Green Ethernet and why does it cause stuttering?

Green Ethernet, also known as IEEE 802.3az Energy-Efficient Ethernet, is a standard designed to reduce power consumption when the network link is idle or lightly loaded. It works by putting the Ethernet port into a low-power state when traffic is low, then waking it up when data needs to flow again.

In theory, it saves a few watts of power. In practice, on many consumer adapters, the transition between power-saving and active mode introduces a tiny latency spike. That spike—often just 50 to 200 milliseconds—is enough to cause the micro-stuttering that drives users crazy.

The feature is enabled by default on most modern Ethernet adapters, including those built into laptops and desktop motherboards from Intel, Realtek, and others. It’s also present in many network switches and routers.

How to disable Green Ethernet on Windows

The fix is straightforward. Here’s how to turn off the power-saving setting on a Windows PC:

1. Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it).
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your Ethernet adapter (usually Realtek, Intel, or Killer) and select Properties.
4. Go to the Advanced tab.
5. Look for a setting called Green Ethernet, Energy-Efficient Ethernet, or Power Saving Mode. The exact name varies by manufacturer.
6. Set it to Disabled.
7. Click OK and restart your computer.

If you don’t see that setting, check under Power Management tab and uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” That’s another common culprit.

On macOS and Linux

On macOS, open System Settings → Network → select your Ethernet service → Hardware and toggle off Energy-Efficient Ethernet. On Linux, you can disable it using the ethtool command: sudo ethtool --set-eee eth0 eee off (replace eth0 with your interface name).

Why speed tests won’t catch this issue

Standard speed tests measure average throughput over several seconds. A micro-stutter lasting 100 milliseconds barely registers in the average. That’s why you can get a perfect speed test result while your connection still stutters.

Real-time applications like video calls, online gaming, and streaming are far more sensitive to latency spikes. A single dropped packet can cause a noticeable hiccup. The Green Ethernet feature introduces exactly these tiny, intermittent delays.

If you’re experiencing similar symptoms, don’t waste time replacing cables or calling your ISP. Check your adapter settings first. It’s a 30-second fix that might save you hours of frustration.

Does disabling Green Ethernet increase power consumption?

Yes, slightly. The power savings from Energy-Efficient Ethernet are modest—typically less than 1 watt per port. For a desktop PC that already draws 50–100 watts, the difference is negligible. For a laptop on battery, you might lose 10–15 minutes of runtime over a full charge. Most users won’t notice.

The trade-off is worth it for a stable, stutter-free connection. If you’re concerned about power, you can re-enable the feature later. But for anyone who relies on real-time network performance, disabling Green Ethernet is the smarter choice.

Other common causes of Ethernet micro-stuttering

Before you blame the Green Ethernet feature, rule out these other possibilities:

• Faulty cable: Even a slightly damaged Cat5e or Cat6 cable can cause packet loss. Try a different cable.
• Driver issues: Outdated or corrupted Ethernet drivers can cause intermittent problems. Update them from the manufacturer’s website.
• Router or switch settings: Some routers have their own power-saving modes. Check the admin panel for Energy-Efficient Ethernet settings and disable them.
• Interference: Unlikely with Ethernet, but if you’re using Powerline adapters, they can introduce noise and stuttering.

If you’ve tried all these and the stutter persists, the Green Ethernet setting on your adapter is the most likely suspect. Turn it off and see if the problem disappears. It worked for me, and it’s worked for countless others in forums and Reddit threads.

For more tips on troubleshooting network issues, check out our guide on how to fix slow Wi-Fi and common router problems.

The Real Problem With LinkedIn Posts (It’s Not You)

You’ve been posting consistently on LinkedIn for weeks. Maybe months. The likes trickle in. A comment here, a reaction there. But the kind of traction that actually builds a professional following? It’s not happening.

Here’s the hard truth: the platform is flooded with AI-generated sludge. Generic advice, recycled quotes, and bland observations that all sound like they came from the same bot. Readers can smell it. They scroll past it.

That’s your opening. The gap between what most people post and what actually earns attention is widening. And you don’t need a single AI tool to exploit it.

Why Human-Written LinkedIn Content Wins Right Now

LinkedIn’s algorithm has always favored posts that keep people on the platform. But in 2025, the bar is higher. Users are tired of perfectly polished, soulless content. They want voice. They want a point of view. They want to feel like a real person is on the other side of the screen.

This is where writing LinkedIn content without AI becomes your unfair advantage. A human-written post carries micro-signals that machines can’t fake: a slightly awkward but honest sentence, a surprising personal anecdote, a moment of genuine vulnerability. Those signals stop the scroll.

Let’s break down a three-part framework that works. No templates. No prompts. Just a way to think about your next post.

Part 1: The Hook That Earns the First Glance

Your opening line has one job: make someone stop. Not like. Not comment. Just pause their thumb for one extra second.

Most people start with a question or a stat. Those can work, but they’re overused. A stronger tactic is a specific, concrete observation that challenges a common belief. For example:

• Instead of: “Struggling to get leads on LinkedIn?”
• Try: “I sent 50 cold DMs last week. Exactly 3 people replied. Here’s what I learned.”

The second version works because it’s personal, numerical, and promises a lesson. It also signals that the post was written by someone who actually did something, not a bot generating fluff.

What to Avoid in Your Hook

Don’t open with a generic truth like “In today’s fast-paced business world.” That’s a dead giveaway. Also avoid questions that your reader has heard a hundred times before. If your hook could be swapped into any other post on LinkedIn, rewrite it.

Part 2: The Middle That Holds Attention

You’ve got the click. Now you need to keep them reading. This is where most LinkedIn content falls apart. The middle becomes a list of bullet points or a generic lesson that feels like it was copied from a blog post.

Instead, tell a mini-story. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. A short narrative about a specific client conversation, a mistake you made, or an unexpected result from a small experiment works beautifully. Keep it tight. Three to five sentences max for the story.

Then, extract the lesson. This is the part of your LinkedIn content strategy where you deliver value. Show what you learned and how it applies to the reader’s situation. Be specific. If you can include a number or a timeframe, do it.

For example: “After that call, I changed one thing in my proposal template. My close rate went from 20% to 35% in two months.” That’s concrete. That’s believable. That’s human.

Short Paragraphs Are Your Friend

On LinkedIn, no one reads long blocks of text. Keep paragraphs to two or three sentences max. Use line breaks generously. Make the post scannable. The eye needs rest points, and white space is a cheap way to provide them.

Part 3: The Close That Drives Shares

Shares are the holy grail of LinkedIn engagement. A share puts your post in front of a new audience, often with the sharer’s endorsement attached. To earn that, your ending needs to do one thing: invite the reader to add their own experience.

The best way to do this is a call for participation that feels genuine. Instead of “What do you think?” (which everyone writes), try something like: “If you’ve tried a similar approach and it backfired, I’d genuinely love to hear what happened.” Or: “What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out? Drop it in the comments.”

The key is specificity. A vague ask gets vague responses. A focused ask invites people who actually have something to say. And those engaged commenters are the ones most likely to share your post with their network.

Practical Tips for Writing LinkedIn Content Without AI

You don’t need to be a professional writer to make this work. You just need to be willing to sound like yourself. Here are a few ground rules I use:

• Write like you talk. Read your post out loud. If it sounds stiff, rewrite it. Your natural speaking voice is your best asset.
• Use contractions. “It’s” not “it is.” “Don’t” not “do not.” This alone makes your writing feel warmer.
• Cut every word that doesn’t add value. If a sentence still makes sense without a word, delete it. Short is strong.
• Post at a consistent time. Experiment with morning and lunch slots. Track which times get the most views for your specific audience.

One more thing: don’t worry about going viral. Viral is a lottery. Consistency and genuine connection are a strategy. Write one solid post per week for three months, and you’ll build a following that actually trusts you.

Why This Approach Beats AI-Generated Content

AI tools are useful for many things. Brainstorming ideas. Summarizing long documents. Drafting email templates. But for LinkedIn content that builds relationships? They fall short.

LinkedIn is a professional network, but it’s still a human network. People connect with people, not with output. A post written from personal experience, with a specific voice and a clear point of view, will always outperform generic AI-generated content in the long run.

The algorithm may reward frequency, but it rewards authenticity more. And authenticity is something no machine can replicate.

So next time you sit down to write a human-written LinkedIn post, skip the AI tools. Open a blank document. Think about one thing that happened this week that taught you something. Write it in your own voice. Use the three-part framework. And hit publish.

You might be surprised how far being human can take you.