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DeepSeek makes waves with its innovative AI, teens are using Life360 to track each other, and one ninth grade teacher hits a nerve with a TikTok about boys wanting to be billionaires. But first:

“DtMF” by Bad Bunny

Despite being known for his catchy dance music, Bad Bunny’s newest smash hit is a quiet, introspective ballad about appreciating your loves and friends before they exit your life. Apparently the (Spanish) lyrics of “DtMF” are connecting with people; a big trend on TikTok is listening to the song’s chorus and crying, something Bad Bunny himself has done. The song features some iconic Latin rhythms, but also shows Bad Bunny’s range as a musician, as his typically bombastic instrumentation is pulled back in favor of a simpler arrangement. Here are the full Spanish lyrics, and the translated English lyrics (language).

And now for our three conversations…

1. DeepSeeking

What it is: A new, Chinese-based AI app called DeepSeek became the #1 most-downloaded app in Apple’s app store this week, surpassing ChatGPT and Gemini.

Why it matters: DeepSeek works a lot like a free, text-only version of ChatGPT. It also reportedly cost way less to create than other AI models. Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT’s parent company OpenAI, responded to the release of DeepSeek by saying that they now intend to release some of their new tools sooner than they had initially planned. But as the Center for Humane Technology points out, every time more AI tools get rush-launched into the world, that means less time gets spent making sure they won’t be used in harmful ways. While tech companies around the world compete for global dominance, young people’s hearts and minds are being formed by interactions with their products.

Continue the conversation: Why do you think so many people are downloading DeepSeek?

2. How Teens are Rewriting the Rules of Life360

What it is: An app designed for family safety has turned into a tool for teens to track each other.

Why it’s more than just tracking: Life360 started as a tool to help parents keep track of their kids’ locations, monitor their driving habits, and even detect emergencies like car accidents. But now, some teens are turning Life360 into something more like social media. When someone agrees to share their location, their icon appears on an interactive map—which theoretically could allow friends to check up on each other after a date or to ensure they make it home safely. The messaging feature can also be used to plan hangouts within the app. But the constant connectivity of apps like this can also create new opportunities to feel left out—like if someone logged in to find all their friends’ bubbles congregated somewhere without them.

Continue the conversation: How do you feel about your friends tracking your location?

3. Do 9th Graders Dream of Ten-Digit Wealth?

What it is: A teacher on TikTok commented on the trend of freshman boys wanting to simply be “billionaires” when they grow up.

Why it’s an opportunity for discipleship: While their experiences and observations can’t be inferred to all students around the world, teachers on TikTok often provide a valuable peek into teen life for parents and caring adults. This shift in who 15-year-old boys look up to makes sense when we consider how many billionaires in the United States have gained celebrity status and a kind of public prestige. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos are three such billionaires who were all front and center at President Trump’s inauguration. It’s not hard to understand why young adults might see the influence, power, and wealth of these men and feel some desire to have those things as well. To them, money appears to promise cultural significance and freedom. But does it really offer these things?

Let’s translate this one further…

As we parent and disciple the rising generation, we can’t avoid conversations about money and wealth. Luckily, the Bible has a lot to say about money, and Jesus himself seemed to revel in discussing the topic.

However, maybe to the dismay of some of our 9th graders, Jesus didn’t seem to think money was worth centering a life around. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His disciples not to focus on acquiring material wealth, or “stuff,” but instead to focus on “treasures in heaven.” He argues that instead of building up their own earthly kingdom, His disciples should focus on building up the Kingdom of Heaven.

But He goes beyond just that. In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is most concerned with His followers’ hearts, and the ways that wealth can steal their attention. Over 2,000 years later, the warning remains the same: where our hearts go, we go. Even more than that, the things we desire slowly shape us into their image, whether good or bad. It’s why Jesus concludes by saying “no one can serve two masters.” Jesus is encouraging us to serve, follow, and embody the better thing.

If we spend our time focusing on material wealth and earthly success, we may very well get it, but Jesus argues that in all that striving and all that effort, we can miss out on the thing that really matters.

This isn’t meant to be a gotcha moment for 9th graders who dream of wealth and prosperity—and let’s be honest, us adults in the 25th grade still wrestle with keeping those things in their proper places. Rather, it’s a chance for adults and teens alike to be reminded of the constant work of realigning our hearts and desires with God’s—to continually choose to be more like Jesus.

For more context and nuance, check out our Roundtable podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, check out our Conversation Kit on Money. In the meantime, here are three questions to spark conversation with your teens:

  • What would you do if you had a billion dollars?
  • Do you think having a bunch of money makes people happy? Why or why not?
  • What do you think Jesus thinks about our world in 2025?

Parenting together,
The Axis Team