Natalie Gibson
Founder
Content by Natalie Gibson
Blog Posts
HeyOtto Named Best Kid-Friendly AI in the 2026 SafeWise Kids Safety Awards
HeyOtto was named Best Kid-Friendly AI in the 2026 SafeWise Kids Safety Awards — the first year kids AI was recognized as a formal safety category.
Vibe Coding for Kids: Build Real Apps, Games, and Stories With AI — No Coding Experience Needed
Vibe coding lets kids describe apps, games, and stories in plain English — and AI builds them. A parent's guide to getting started safely on HeyOtto.
Kids Aren't Just Using AI Anymore — They're Building With It
Vibe coding is turning kids into creators — not just AI consumers. Here's why that matters and how the HeyOtto Marketplace gives them a safe place to build and share.
What 134 New Laws Tell Us About AI and Kids in 2026
134 AI bills across 31 states in 2026 — what parents need to know about student data privacy, classroom AI rules, and the parent awareness gap.
Why AI Companions Are Exploding: The Behavioral Shift in How Teens Use Chatbots
Teens are folding AI chatbots into daily emotional life. Pew data, the loneliness lens, and a practical guide for parents on the companion boom.
Emy BFF Is Shutting Down. Here's What Parents Need to Know & an Alternative
Emy BFF is shutting down. This parent guide covers safer alternatives, AI dependency risks, and practical steps to support children with anxiety.
Introducing HeyOtto for Schools
HeyOtto for Schools brings COPPA-compliant AI to schools and student AI clubs. See how kids are using it - from Socratic homework help to coding and study guides - with full educator visibility.
Can Kids Roleplay with AI? What Parents Need to Know (And Why It Matters)
Kids are asking AI chatbots to roleplay every day - but most platforms were not built with children in mind. Here's the research, the risks, and how Otto makes roleplay AI for kids actually safe.
I Built the AI App I Couldn't Find for My Own Kid
HeyOtto founder Natalie Gibson on why she built safe AI for her kids: adult-first tools, weak kid apps, and real safety architecture—not decorative filters—for her own family.
Teens Are Getting Addicted to AI Companions — Here’s What That Means for Parents
A parent guide to teen AI companion overreliance: what CHI 2026 research found, why emotional attachment happens, warning signs, and practical family safeguards.
Resources & Articles
Introducing the HeyOtto Marketplace: The App Store Where Kids Are the Creators
The HeyOtto Marketplace is a curated library of apps, games, tools and more—vetted for safety, age-appropriateness, and family values. Build it. Share it. Own it.
The CHATBOT Act: What the New Bipartisan Bill on AI and Children Actually Requires
Summary of the 2026 CHATBOT Act: family accounts, default safeguards for kids, teen rules, verifiable parental consent, ad targeting ban for minors, and federal studies — plus what it does not cover.
What Is Emotional AI Dependency — And Why HeyOtto Is Designed Differently
AI companion apps are engineered to make children emotionally dependent through constant validation, simulated friendship, and always-on availability. Here's what the research says: