It’s a lovely Tuesday, friend! Ever wonder why Gen Alpha’s slang changes daily? It’s no cap their talk is 100% influenced by memes and viral videos. These are the kiddos in your circle up to age 14. Boys pick up their slang from friends, but girls? They’re getting their vocab directly from their FYP. Not sure what a FYP is? The answer’s at the end.

Keep this free newsletter free. Check out our sponsor, RYSE. They’re bringing smart shades to the masses. More info about them below! — Kim

🆕 Today's podcast: The fight that broke Netflix

⏱️ Daily Tech Update: AI making life-and-death decisions

💡 Digital Life Hack: Spend less on your Uber rides

One of the three largest credit bureaus, Equifax, is collecting data that could screw you out of thousands of dollars — or a job.

I dug up everything you need to know about a new database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. Why? Because I want you to always be tech-ahead and never tech‑behind.

It’s called ‘The Work Number’

Employers can use this massive employee verification database from Equifax (yep, the same folks who leaked 147 million people’s data in 2017) to make sure you are who you say you are.

Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where you’ve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.

Great for employers, bad for you

Trying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. Your current employer could also see if you have a side hustle and use that info to fire you.

And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone who’s buying, including debt collectors. No bueno.

How to stop it

You can freeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see who’s tried to access it within the past two years.

Unfortunately, you’ll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it. Ironic, I know.

• Search for your current or former employer(s) using their name or employer code (the nine-digit number on your W‑2).
• Click their name, followed by Register Now. Heads-up: It’ll ask for your Social Security number.

Once you register, look over your report and make sure it’s accurate. Fill out this data dispute form if you find anything fishy.

Then, head back to the dashboard and click Freeze Your Data. Fill out the Data Freeze Placement Form and submit it.

The Work Number will send you a freeze confirmation letter, along with a PIN. Save your PIN in your password manager. You’ll need it if you ever want to unfreeze your report.

If you can’t find your employer: They may not be registered with The Work Number. Call the freeze helpline at 1‑800‑367‑2884 to double‑check.

🛑 Whatever you do, don’t send your form or ID docs over email!

Yeah, it’s an annoying process …

But I guarantee it’ll take you less time than it takes to scour LinkedIn for a new job. You can always log into The Work Number or call them to unfreeze your report. Remember, you’ll need your PIN, too.

My take: Unless you’re actively applying for a loan or government benefits, or unless an employer actively requests your EDR, it’s a no-brainer to freeze it. And if a potential employer insists on checking your EDR to hire you, let’s just say they might not be a “culture fit.”

😂 Speaking of jobs … Proctology can be a rewarding career, but you have to start at the bottom. (Remember this as you read the “By the numbers” section below. Let me tell you, I’m on a roll!)

Ever had one of those "aha" moments where you’re convinced an idea could be worth a million bucks — or even more? The hit show “Shark Tank” has proven time and again that world-changing brands often start with simple ideas, just like yours. Big names like Bombas, Scrub Daddy and Ring all started this way.

Canada’s version of Shark Tank, “Dragon’s Den,” is another launchpad for promising brands. And RYSE Smart Shades secured two offers from the Dragons. For a limited time, you have the chance to invest, too.

With their breakthrough smart shade technology and distribution already in 127 Best Buy stores, RYSE is on the fast track to becoming the next household name.

This is your chance to invest early in a smart home company with big momentum.

🛑 Big Tech, big trouble: President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brendan Carr to lead the Federal Communications Commission. His first order of business? Cracking down on tech companies like Google and Meta for censorship and content moderation. What’s standing in his way? The FCC needs Congress’ permission to make changes.

Porch pirates are smarter than ever: Across the U.S., they’re stealing AT&T iPhones delivered by FedEx. They’re using tracking numbers to get real-time updates and swipe packages in seconds. Even worse? The info might be coming from rogue AT&T employees. Get a lockable porch box and a video doorbell.

Another “godfather”: There seems to be at least a dozen people claiming to be the “godfather” of AI. The newest says OpenAI’s latest o1 model can scheme and deceive us. Yoshua Bengio is calling for better testing and regulatory oversight before things spiral out of control. Researchers have already found o1 is better at lying than previous models. OpenAI’s response? It’s safe. Uh‑huh.

Have you seen these missing robots? In China, 12 robots were “kidnapped” from a robotics showroom by … another robot. CCTV video shows the robot thief breaking in and convincing the other machines to quit their jobs. The viral moment was just a test but still gives me the willies.

Take AI for a spin: If you run a business, there’s no better time to embrace AI. Stay ahead of the curve while the experts handle the heavy lifting. Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim.*

📨 You’ve hit the scan-pot! Cybercriminals are sending paper letters to launch new phishing attacks. They’re including QR codes to download a weather app that — you guessed it — unleashes malware to steal sensitive data, like banking info. PSA: Don’t scan random QR codes.

“I took it personally”: When cybersecurity expert Grant Smith’s wife was tricked by a phony U.S. Postal Service text, he made it his mission to get justice. A few months later, he’d cracked the case, recovering over 390,000 stolen credit cards. He handed the info over to authorities. And they say chivalry is dead!

🐻 Wild bear chase: Drones (hit this link for the video) are chasing grizzly bears and other predators from ranches in Montana. They’re proving a safer and more humane option than firing rubber bullets, which require you to get too close for comfort. I know this firsthand. A huge bear was right behind me on the Snake River years ago. People were screaming, “Bear! Bear! Bear!” I grabbed my son, Ian, like a football and ran up the hill. Only when I reached the top did I turn around. It scared the crap out of me! Well, not really, but you get my drift.

🫡 I’m a good gifter, here to help you check those hard-to-please folks off your list all week long.

• Cook: They have fancy salts, pans and oil. What about a nice chef-style apron? Great colors and works for guys and gals.
• Health nut: The Oura ring (22% off) tracks sleep, movement and workouts. If you want fall detection, get an Apple Watch instead.
• Camper: Make their backyard way more fun with a Solo Stove firepit (20% off).
• Scatterbrain: AirTags are amazing. I have at least a dozen. A four-pack is on sale (26% off), which doesn’t happen often.
• Gen Zer: Cameras are back in. This retro Kodak for around $40 is easy to use and takes way better pics than a disposable.

✅ Hit my Amazon storefront for more gift ideas. I’m adding new ones every day!

Print a webpage without the ads: Go to PrintFriendly⁠.⁠com and paste in the URL to turn that page into a fully print-ready version. Click the yellow Preview button and that’s it. Nice!

Before you text asking for a second date: Use Apple Intelligence’s new proofreading tool to catch embarrassing mistakes on an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model. Highlight your message, then press Writing Tools > Proofread. This works in any text-based app, like your email, Notes or social media.

Good vibrations: It’s so much easier in Android 15 to adjust your keyboard vibrations. Before, you had to dig into the settings for each app. Now, go to Settings > Sound and vibration > Vibration and haptics. Use the sliders to adjust the buzzing to your liking, all in one place.

🎧 It’s all in the fit: If your earbuds came with multiple tip sizes, experiment to see which fits best. It’s not just about comfort; a snug fit means better sound. Raycons* come with six differently sized gel tips so there’s a match for every ear. They’re also having an early Black Friday sale — everything sitewide is 20% to 40% off!

🎶 I’m B-side myself: Make a playlist with your fam so you’re not bickering over the music. For Spotify, open the app, then head to Your Library and select the playlist. Tap the three dots in the top right > Share to send it. In Apple Music, go to Library > Playlists > three dots (upper right) > Share Playlist. Jingle all the way!

🔢 Undo it: You’re doing math on your calculator app and one wrong tap ruins everything. Not anymore. On a touchscreen device, swipe right or left to delete the last character. How do you make a seven even? Subtract the ‑s.

A new traffic light lets a bus jump the light. What did one traffic light say to another? "Don’t look now — I’m changing!"

FYP stands for For You Page on TikTok. For Gen Alpha, it’s the go-to spot to discover trends, slang and viral content. So, if a kid says, “It’s all over my FYP,” they mean it’s trending or popular on TikTok!

Here’s more Gen Alpha slang you can use to sound hip:

• GOAT: “Greatest Of All Time”
• Rizz: Someone has charisma (i.e., Cha‑rizz‑ma … Get it?)
• Brain rot: Watching too much crappy content that “rots” the brain
• Mog: To be way more attractive than someone else
• Yapping: Talking … a lot
• Opp: Someone who’s out to get you
• Sigma: A popular, dominant person

Try this line at your upcoming holiday gathering: “Gyat, this food is bussin’. It's giving mad Thanksgiving vibes, bruh.” I can see the eye rolls now!

Help me help you. Checking out our sponsors helps us pay the bills. Click this link to take a look at RYSE. I don’t get any kickbacks or residuals if you invest. See you back here tomorrow with another issue of the best free tech newsletter in the USA! Until then, I hope you see one thing today that makes you smile. — Kim