The Monday brief · October 20, 2026
This week: 5 to join in on, 1 good to know and 1 you can relax about.
Mistlift checks what kids are into online and tells you which trends are real, which aren’t, and what to say. What kids are into this week, and a way to join in.
Order: Worry first · Join in first
The first brief hasn’t gone out yet. This is what it would hold if it went out today.
Join in 5
Harmless, and a way into their world.
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Connect
Fortnite
Fortnite is a hugely popular game with a Halloween update and ranked play going on right now, and it is a good way to connect with your kid, as long as you know how its chat and in-game spending work.
Fortnite is a free-to-play online game where players team up or compete, and it keeps changing with seasonal updates, including a Halloween one right now.
Try saying
“I heard there's a new Halloween update in Fortnite. Can you show me what's different? I'd love to watch a round, or even try one with you, even if I'm terrible.”
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Connect
The Backrooms
The Backrooms is a popular internet horror fiction about endless empty, eerie rooms, told through videos, games and Roblox worlds; it is made-up and mostly harmless, though it can scare younger kids.
The Backrooms started as a creepy internet story about wandering through endless yellow-lit office-like rooms with no way out.
Try saying
“I keep hearing about the Backrooms. Can you show me what it is? I'm curious what makes it creepy. And if something ever stays in your head at night, you can tell me, and nobody's in trouble.”
If you’re worried If your child's fears are lasting, they are sleeping badly or avoiding normal activities, talk with your family doctor or a school counsellor. Kids Help Phone is there for young people at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. If anyone is in danger or talking about self-harm, call 911 or 988.
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Connect
Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF)
Five Nights at Freddy's is a long-running horror game series whose jumpscare videos are hugely popular on YouTube; it's harmless fun for most kids, but the sudden scares can rattle younger ones.
FNAF is a horror series where you play a night guard watching over animatronic characters that come alive.
Try saying
“I saw FNAF is really popular right now. Can you tell me what it's about? And if a video ever scares you more than you expected, you can always tell me or turn it off, no big deal.”
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Connect
Roblox games
Roblox is a platform full of user-made games that most kids play daily and that top creators on YouTube keep turning into videos, so it is an easy way to start a conversation about what your child plays.
Roblox is a huge collection of games made by other players, from obstacle courses and role-play worlds to spoofs of TV shows and restaurant jobs.
Try saying
“Hey, I'd love to see what you're playing on Roblox. Can you show me your favourite game and tell me who you play it with? And if anyone ever asks you for something weird or wants to chat somewhere else, I'd want to know, and you won't be in trouble.”
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Connect
6-7 ("six-seven")
"6-7" is a nonsense chant that tweens shout as an in-group joke, tied to a rap song and basketball clips, and Dictionary.com named it its 2025 word of the year; it's harmless.
Kids shout "6-7" (sometimes with a hands-bobbing gesture) because it's nonsense and everyone their age gets the joke while adults don't.
Try saying
“I keep hearing "6-7" and I have no clue what it means. Can you explain it to me? I promise I'll be bad at it.”
Good to know 1
Neutral, but worth understanding.
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Context
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
A new mature-rated military shooter is getting heavy coverage from teen-popular YouTube creators, so many younger players and viewers will want it; it is mostly a content-fit and online-chat question, not a danger.
Call of Duty is one of the biggest shooter series around, and a new release means friends are playing it together and creators are posting walkthroughs, story recaps and 'is it good?' reviews.
Try saying
“I saw the new Call of Duty is out and everyone's talking about it. What's the appeal for you? I want to know who you play with and how the chat is, and we can figure out together what works for our house.”
Relax, it’s not real 1
Scares going round that don’t hold up.
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Debunked
School explosive device email hoax
A generic emailed bomb threat sent to hundreds of schools in the UK from outside the country has been treated by police as a hoax with low risk to the public, though some schools closed or sent kids home as a precaution.
This is not a teen trend, and kids are not behind it.
Try saying
“Did you hear about those fake bomb emails sent to schools overseas? Police checked and say it was a hoax, so there's no reason to be scared. If you ever see a scary message like that, show it to me or a teacher instead of passing it on, okay?”
If you’re worried If there is ever an immediate danger at a school, call 911. If your child is anxious or frightened after news like this, Kids Help Phone is there at 1-800-668-6868, or text 686868.
New cards, every Monday.
The Mistlift brief sums up what kids are into online this week, rated from harmless to serious, with what to say.