Kylie Kelce's 'kitchen phone' parenting rule sparks online debate
In a recent episode of her podcast, "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce," Kelce discusses her plans for keeping cellphones under wraps when her children come of age to use them. Kelce, a former hockey team coach who launched the top-ranking podcast last year, shares four daughters ranging between the ages of 4 months and 4 years old with NFL star Jason Kelce.
"I actually believe that we will be doing what I'm calling the 'kitchen phone,'" Kelce told her guest, actress Kelly Ripa, in the podcast episode. "In other words, there will be one or two extra cellphones, besides mom and dad's cellphones, that they will take with them if they have somewhere they're going where there will not be a parent, or if they will need to get a hold of us, or if they're at something sports related."
Kelce said these communal cellphones will only be allowed on the first floor of the house, specifically in the kitchen.
"You can still have your friends have that phone number. You can still use the phone on the first floor of the house, but they live in the kitchen, so they're not going upstairs. They're not going in the basement. They're going nowhere but the first floor."
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Some parents express skepticism about the 'kitchen phone'
Listeners of the podcast and parents who have just heard Kelce's recent clip online are sharing their thoughts on this type of tech usage.
Some parents and social media users are skeptical of how realistic Kelce's plan is, especially as the children are years away from wanting their own smartphone.
"Sounds great, in theory," one TikTok user commented on a video clip of Kelce explaining the "kitchen phone." "Real world? We'll see what the next few years will bring."
Another commented, "I love when toddler moms try to tell teen moms what works. Girl, you ain't ready."
Some parents expressed concerns that children might sneak around with other phones if they are restricted at home.
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"Be careful with them creating secret profiles using their friends' phones when you aren't around," a TikTok user commented. "It's almost best you know about their accounts so you can have the password. There really is no winning. They will figure out a way to get social media."
Others compared Kelce's concept to a traditional landline or home computer, both of which were available in communal areas of the home.
"Sounds like my childhood," another TikToker said. "Our phone hung on the kitchen wall with a 6-foot cord attaching to (the) mouthpiece."
Others say cellphone strategy works
But not all parents and social media users are against the Kelce's concept of a "kitchen phone."
"We did Kylie's exact method and are doing it for our younger kiddos," on TikTok user commented on the podcast clip. "Works amazing."
Another TikToker said: "My teenage cousins have no social media and just have regular phones for calling or texting. They're perfectly fine and happy."
Others shared alternatives, recommending teen-friendly devices like Gabb Phone and Bark. These smartphones can be monitored more closely by adults than regular phones and prohibit access to social media, internet browsing and app stores. The simplicity of these phones is similar to a flip phone, intended solely for communication.
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Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
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Buzz Feed
3 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
Feel Free: Viral TikToks Show Potential Risks Of Tonic
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'One positive that has come from my video is the amount of parents I've seen who said they, like me, had never heard of this product and will be talking to their children about avoiding it.' Feel Free's most well-known variant — the 'Classic' tonic made by the company Botanic Tonics, which also makes a 'Kava Maté' and capsules — is advertised as a 'feel-good tonic that features kava root and other plant ingredients known to help with relaxation, productivity and focus.' A bottle contains two servings, and the website does tell buyers to 'consume responsibly' and not take more than a bottle every 24 hours. Their ingredients label lists kava root extract, a depressant, and ground leaf kratom, a drug that can provide both stimulant and sedative effects depending on the quantity. In the FAQ section of the site, it tells consumers that 'most commonly, you'll feel more social and a calm, focused boost of energy.' If you look at the front of the bottle, you'll notice the words 'consume responsibly near the bottom'; according to the company, that advisory was added to the packaging last year along with a warning that reads, 'This product contains leaf kratom which, like caffeine and alcohol, can become habit-forming and harmful to your health if consumed irresponsibly. Consider avoiding any potentially habit-forming substances if you have a history of substance abuse. If consumed in recommended quantities, feel free CLASSIC has not been shown to cause any serious physical or social harm. Caution: This product is not for consumption by or sale to persons under the age of 21.' Misha isn't the only person who's gone viral for their anecdotes about Feel Free. Jasmine Adeoye, a 30-year-old based in Austin, has had numerous TikToks about her experiences with the tonic pass the million-view mark. She first bought Feel Free in 2022, after hearing it advertised on numerous major podcasts as a safe alternative to alcohol. She told BuzzFeed that she initially used the product occasionally for around a year, until she found herself in an incredibly stressful job. 'At the most, it was 12 [bottles] a day. That was like just taking them to feel normal in any way, shape, or form,' she said. 'It was like, 'Oh, I can't physically get out of bed unless I take this.' At the height of what she says was her addiction, Jasmine claimed that she had 'super, super dry and flaky skin,' adding, 'It was like alligator skin, I would take my clothes off, and flakes of skin would fall off of my body.' She further said that 'chunks of [her] teeth were falling out' as a result of throwing up so often. After telling her mother and now-husband the extent of her use in 2024, Jasmine was able to find sobriety. She began making TikToks shortly afterwards. 'When I got sober, I knew that I wanted to talk about it publicly. I was, like, 'I cannot be the only person going through this,'' she said. 'I expected some people to resonate with it, but not on the level that it actually did, which makes me sad.' So, what does Feel Free have to say about the users' claimed experiences? When asked for comment on these users' alleged experience, Botanic Tonics directed BuzzFeed to a statement that said, 'Botanic Tonics is leading the industry in our commitment to providing consumer education and transparency and we will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our customers above all else." 'Our website features a comprehensive 'Learn' section with detailed resources about our ingredients, including dedicated information about kratom. We believe informed consumers make better choices, and we're committed to providing clear, accurate information. All Botanic Tonics products are manufactured in our FDA-registered, cGMP-certified Oklahoma facility, ensuring uncompromising quality and potency,' they continued. It's not just TikTok where users are claiming negative experiences. There are 5k members in the subreddit R/Quittingfeelfree, where users about their sobriety experiences. Amongst those who spoke to BuzzFeed, some were previous opioid users who found themselves caught up in what they claim was the cycle of addiction again. Justin, a 43-year-old who was previously sober for six years, said he saw a Feel Free ad offering 'energy and calm' in a gas station before work. He quickly bought two, despite having read about kratom addiction previously. 'It did what it said it would do,' he claimed. 'Meth wasn't this hard to quit. This stuff is a special kind of bad.' But some say they had no problems with substance abuse whatsoever. 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It wakes you up,' she claimed. 'But when you try to take it, sometimes you vomit. It's horrific, and for somebody like me, who was a professional and a mom, I can't believe this has happened to me.' Similarly, 30-year-old Detroit resident Anthony said he previously used kratom and kava 'in moderation.' He tried Feel Free after seeing it advertised in a gas station. 'It tasted horrible, but within a matter of minutes, I felt a rush that I've never felt before using regular kratom,' he said. After a few months, he said his use escalated to 10-12 bottles a day. 'Roughly $120 a day addiction. Before I knew it, I was spending my entire paycheck on these blue devils.' But it wasn't just Feel Free that was available to him. 7-hydroxymitragynine, 'a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant' also known as 7-OH, can bind itself to opioid receptors in the brain. It's been found to be more potent than morphine in treating pain. It was during his time on Feel Free that Anthony said he started using 7-OH tablets as well, using cash advance apps and a $2,000 loan to fund his addiction. 'I'm currently in the process of tapering both the 7-OHs and the Feel Free. I'm in a better place mentally and financially, but have a mountain to climb,' he said. 'The withdrawals are unfathomable.' When asked for comment, HHS pointed BuzzFeed to recent news that the FDA is now taking steps to limit the availability of 7-OH. But a product like Feel Free, which claims not to artificially inflate its 7-OH levels, doesn't fall under these proposed regulations. "Our products contain trace amounts of 7-OH that occur naturally during the traditional drying process — levels that are dramatically different from the concentrated synthetic products now under FDA scrutiny,' Botanic Tonics said in a statement after the FDA announced its new plans on 7-OH. "Leaf kratom is different than concentrated 7-OH, a kratom synthetic that the FDA announced that they are moving to ban. Botanic Tonics should not be included when referring to 7-OH products," they further said in a statement to BuzzFeed. Recovery from kratom products can be a challenging road. Mike, a 37-year-old based near Sacramento, found himself in a financial 'disaster' after at times using over 12 bottles a day. 'I've maxed out four credit cards and taken out loans totaling over $50,000. I had to enroll in a debt relief program last year because I couldn't make my minimum payments,' he said. In recent days, he says that he's been trying to quit Feel Free, but relapsed before a big work day after only getting a handful of hours of sleep the previous few nights. He's found that some people in 12-step programs don't take kratom addiction seriously and has had difficulties abusing Suboxone and Feel Free simultaneously. He's considered rehab, but he works for a 'cutthroat' major company that he says can look down on taking leave. As he put it, 'I'm not sure if I'm at the point yet where I'm willing to lose my job because I don't want to screw things up for my kid.'
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tapology's new system ranks every single UFC fighter — which may be welcome news for some, but not others
Tapology has removed vibes from the UFC rankings. Those little numbers next to a fighter's name? At least on Tapology, long a trusted online record-keeper in the sport of MMA, human beings and their fickle feelings will no longer have a say in the hierarchy. Instead, Tapology's new system uses a proprietary algorithm to rank every active UFC fighter — which in some weight classes means tracking more than 70 fighters through the ups and downs of in-cage competition. 'We want the system to be consistent and unemotional,' Tapology founder Gregory Saks told Uncrowned. 'That sounds a little bit boring and robotic, but it is, we think, the best thing when you're talking about rankings. You wouldn't want vibes to control which NFL teams make the playoffs and which one has home-team advantage. It has to be a robotic system that says, 'These are the rules and we don't care how excited the Eagles fans are by how they looked last weekend.'' These new algorithm-based rankings have been roughly five years in the making, according to Saks. The goal was to create an automated system that would focus only on the important data to create a ranking for every single fighter in the UFC. But that's more challenging that it might initially seem, especially in a sport like MMA. Other such systems used to rank chess players, for instance, had the benefit of large sample sizes to draw from. A typical UFC career might span only a few fights, or it might include 20 bouts spread out over the course of a decade. And then there's the question of what weight to give to each outing. Does a quick knockout win over a lower-ranked fighter count for more than a close decision victory over an established opponent? What about wins that come against once-great fighters now on the decline? And what's it worth to beat an opponent who took the fight on short notice? The many intangibles of the fight game have long proved to be an impediment to any automatic or computer-based rankings systems. At the same time, if the MMA world agrees on nothing else, it's a disdain for the current 'media rankings' system employed by the UFC. Even UFC CEO Dana White seems to hate the rankings produced by a small body of little-known media members that includes local radio stations and obscure websites. White has even discussed coming up with AI rankings system with the help of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Anything to replace the current system. But according to Saks, artificial intelligence won't solve the problem, in part because it doesn't know what matters and what doesn't in this sport. Tapology's system looks at each UFC fighter's last six fights in the promotion. It also measures strength of schedule, the quality of each win or loss, as well as various other factors such as short-notice opponent changes. The exact way it balances these variables is Tapology's own 'secret sauce,' Saks said, making it a proprietary company secret that he declined to reveal. But after much tinkering over the course of several years, including some experiments with the kind of rating system developed by chess master and physics professor Arpad Elo, Saks believes the system is now capable of producing rankings that are accurate and fair. 'The early versions were unsuccessful and not very good,' Saks said. 'Like many people out there, both sort of hobbyists who like stats and playing around with data, as well as more serious people who are running websites about this kind of thing, we started with an Elo rating system because this is kind of the go-to mathematical approach for how you might rank competitors in competitions. These are used in chess and tennis. These used to be used for college football. The Elo ratings are kind of the default place to start. We tried that and we were not getting results that were acceptable. I mean, lots of it would look good, but then you'd have way too many things that were just ludicrous, where a fighter that nobody would think was a top-15 fighter, not even close, would appear as number three for some strange reason.' Ultimately, Saks said, his team decided that they needed to build their own system that was specific to MMA and its many quirks. The result is interesting for a couple different reasons. For one thing, unlike the UFC's media-generated rankings system that only concerns itself with the top 16 fighters in each weight class (one champion, followed by a numbered list of 15 ranked contenders), the Tapology rankings track every single UFC fighter. This means that each fighter on the roster can now see exactly how far he or she has to go, at least according to Tapology. Someone like Michael Chiesa might previously have only known that he was lurking somewhere outside the top 15. Now he can look and see that Tapology currently has him as the promotion's No. 17 welterweight, which isn't too shabby. Conversely, a fighter like Jeremy Stephens can look at Tapology's lightweight rankings and see himself at No. 83 (out of 94 total lightweights on the list), which is bound to sting a bit more for someone who might otherwise have only known that they were hovering somewhere in the vague outer darkness of the division. Now they (and everyone else) can see just how far from the top they are, which might be unwelcome news for many fighters. The flip side, Saks pointed out, is that it also gives fighters a way of determining which matchups make sense for them. If you're the 36th featherweight on the list and you were thinking of calling out a fellow 145-pounder you dislike or just think you could beat, you might change your mind if you knew he was ranked somewhere north of the No. 50 spot. 'We believe that the new Tapology system, with rankings for the entire division, can give new exposure and ammunition to athletes who are not in the top 15 of the media rankings,' Saks said. 'Now they can say, 'Hey, I'm No. 17 or No. 22 in Tapology, so I'm right on the cusp.' And maybe they can use that as far as their PR campaign to justify why they think they need a bigger fight or a more compelling fight. We also think it can play hopefully a useful role for fans who are trying to just put meaning behind what they're watching. Now they'll understand why each fight means something, because the winner might move up in these rankings. But then also the fighters and their teams [can use it] in justifying why perhaps they should be lined up for a bigger fight next.' But there's another side to that coin. Once they can look at exact numbers, it might occur to some fighters that their scheduled bouts do very little for them in terms of rankings. Take Saturday night's win for UFC flyweight contender Tatsuro Taira, for example. Headed into that main-event bout, Taira was ranked sixth in the 125-pound division by the Tapology rankings — the same spot he held in the UFC's own internal rankings. Hyun Sung Park, his opponent, was unranked by the UFC, but ranked at No. 23 by Tapology. The dominant submission win for Taira didn't move him up at all in Tapology's rankings, Saks said, mostly because he was facing a much lower-ranked opponent who was serving as a late-notice replacement. According to the Tapology rankings algorithm, there was basically nothing Taira could have done in this fight in order to change his ranking and move closer to the top of the list. 'It is kind of like treading water, essentially, is how the Tapology system saw that [fight],' Saks said. 'To move ahead of elite contender top-10 fighters, you need to demonstrate that you are performing better than them. And our system did not think that Saturday night's performance, as awesome as it was, proved that he deserves a higher position in the ranking.' It's not hard to imagine how this, too, could rankle some fighters. Obviously, fighting for money is about more than the number next to your name, and the UFC has never been all that constrained even by its own rankings once it sees a fight it would like to put together, so maybe Taira is unconcerned with where the Tapology algorithm puts him. Then again, some fighters may not love knowing that they're headed into matchups that offer no possibility of positional advancement. Some might even conceivably decline certain fights on that basis. But then don't rankings always exist, at least in part, to give us something to argue about? It's why sports websites love them so much. They foster engagement by giving readers something to get angry and bicker about in the comments section. They are a springboard to discussion and debate. Tapology's system provides more date to argue about, but also substitutes a faceless computer algorithm for the human rankings panels, which might make spewing online vitriol a little less fun for users. For his part, Saks isn't terribly concerned that the rankings will mean either too much or too little to those who view them. Receiving angry emails over all aspects of its record-keeping has been part of the job at Tapology, Saks said, and he doesn't expect that to change any time soon. But now, at least, there's more information for readers to sort through. 'What's good about it for fans is having a reliable ranking system that now not only talks about the top 15, but allows you to understand the context of every fight that's happening on the card,' Saks said. 'Hopefully they'll get more enjoyment out of watching the fights and knowing that there's more at stake than just whether or not these fighters will maybe appear in the top 15 soon. So for fans, I think the best-case scenario is that this adds some enjoyment and fun and debate. For Tapology as a business, if it's driving more eyeballs and users to the site, then that helps our business grow and allows us to put money into doing other stuff, whether it's a new ranking system or something totally different. These features that we add take time and effort, so we have to fund them somehow.' As for how UFC fighters and officials might react? That's a trickier question. It's possible both will choose to ignore this new system, at least at first. But, Saks pointed out, with enough time and chatter from the fans, that could change. After all, if you were a fighter swirling somewhere among the unranked masses of the UFC roster, wouldn't you at least pull those rankings up to see where you stand? Wouldn't you be just a little bit curious?
Eater
33 minutes ago
- Eater
The Tire Shop Food Stand Serving Unique-to-Seattle Venezuelan Hot Dogs
is a freelance journalist living in Seattle. A contributor to Eater since 2023, his work has also appeared in Outside Magazine, The Stranger, and Seattle Met. In Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, where Mexican food and people are the most visible representatives of Latin American culture, Latin American cuisine often gets oversimplified to Mexican food, which in turn gets over-over simplified to tacos, burritos, and $5 margaritas. But if you look beyond Mexico's southern border, there's a literal world of food in Central and South America that deserves appreciation and recognition. Fortunately for North Seattleites, taking the first step toward something new is easy. Just walk across the street from the Wallingford Chipotle into the parking lot of Omar's Tires, and you'll find Fido Hot Dogs, a new Venezuelan hot dog stand that has emerged as the neighborhood's most wonderful surprise. 'I heard about it through TikTok,' said Jonathan, a customer making his first visit on a busy Saturday night. 'This guy I always see on my feed lives in Venezuela, but somehow was doing promotion for a place in Seattle! My friend went before me, and now here I am.' (Eater Seattle conducted the interviews for this story in Spanish.) For just over two months, Fido Hot Dogs has been bringing a street food vibe to North 45th Street, a slightly dingy strip of Fremont dotted with ice cream shops and Thai restaurants. Fido has no website, no Instagram — just a TikTok mixed with guest creators promoting Fido Hot Dog's locations in Seattle and Tacoma — and only accepts cash and Zelle. The owner Fido (pronounced fee-dough), declined to provide his last name, but says that he is friends with the Omar's Tires owner. A hot dog at Fido Hot Dog. Charlie Lahud-Zahner But what even is a Venezuelan hot dog? Basically, it's a regular steamed dog in a split-top brioche bun like those typically used for lobster rolls that is then heaped with toppings that might impress even the most ardent Seattle dog supporter. The menu options range from a regular hot dog to one with sliced hard-boiled egg to mechipan, a dog with egg and a rich shredded stewed beef (carne mechada), distinct to South America. A full toppings package includes egg, diced onion, shredded cabbage with carrots, crunchy small fried potato strands (papas al hilo), carne mechada, shredded cheese, mustard, ketchup, and mayo. It's humongous and even if you think you're an adult, use two hands and take small steps. Despite the presence of dairy, egg, and two different types of meat, the varying textures get along well and are relatively light on the stomach. The fried potato bits and onions add crunch, the egg yolk and the cheese blend well with the carne mechada, and the cabbage makes the whole thing a meal. The only downside is the slightly undercooked dog — the meat is often barely larger than how it came out of the package and would definitely benefit from grilling. However, without a doubt it's the carne mechada that sets Fido Hot Dog apart. The beef is super savory, juicy, and easily worth the extra two dollars. For drinks there's Frescolito, a Venezuelan soft drink with an almost bubble gum-esque flavor, Coke, or Maltín, a soda best described as a malted cola. A scene one recent night at Fido Hot Dog. Charlie Lahud-Zahner 'This is the food I ate growing up in Venezuela, the same way you'd have tacos in Mexico or McDonalds here,' says one patron named Uriel. 'The food is different, but the feeling is similar.' With that being said, most customers are of Venezuelan descent and/or Spanish-speaking. Non-Spanish-speaking Wallingfordians seem simultaneously intrigued and intimidated by the bilingual scene. Jokes, jeers, and jibes in a distinctive fast-paced Venezuelan Spanish fill the air and the cling cling of Doordash notifications is a constant background refrain. According to Michel, the second half of the two-man stand, the majority of the patrons are delivery drivers, and it's not uncommon to see hot dogs eaten at Joey Chestnut speeds as they maintain quick turnaround times. English speakers do their best to ask clarifying questions while Fido and Michel do their best to give clarifying answers, but small miscommunications regularly occur. Fido and Michel hope that the new printed English menu will help attract even more locals. With this in mind, any curious diners should make their best Spanish effort if they have the ability to do so. If not, an order of uno con todo will give you the most bang for your buck. Fido Hot Dog's is located at 2221 N 45th Street in the parking lot of Omar's Tires in Wallingford; open from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Sunday; the Tacoma stand is located at 11111 Pacific Avenue South, in the parking lot of another Omar's Tires. Eater Seattle All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
