In his extensive NBA journey spanning over four seasons, Anthony Edwards has always been unafraid to express his thoughts openly. His candor reached new heights during a recent game against the Sacramento Kings. After a 115 - 104 loss, Edwards delivered a profanity-laced explanation of the team's struggles. He bluntly stated, "I think it’s we soft as (heck) as a team, internally. Not to the other team, but internally, we soft. We can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids. Just like we playing with a bunch of little kids. Everybody, the whole team. We just can’t talk to each other. And we’ve got to figure it out, because we can’t go down this road."

The Impact of Offseason Shakeup

Minnesota had reached the 2024 Western Conference finals, but the Timberwolves have now lost four in a row and seven out of nine after starting 6 - 3 this season. The significant lineup shakeup with the Karl - Anthony Towns trade still shows signs of disjointedness. This was evident when they blew a 12 - point fourth - quarter lead against Sacramento just a day after losing 117 - 111 in overtime at home. Edwards further emphasized, "We look like frontrunners for sure tonight. We was down, nobody wanted to say nothing. We got up and everybody (was) cheering and (hyped up). We get down again and don’t nobody say nothing. That’s the definition of a frontrunner. We as a team, including myself, we all was frontrunners tonight."

Player Dynamics and Challenges

Edwards, who led the team with 29 points on 9 - of - 24 shooting, didn't hold back in admonishing his teammates after the game. He could be seen communicating demonstratively in the huddle with Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, and others. Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo were key acquisitions in the October trade that sent Karl - Anthony Towns to New York three weeks before the season started. Both have had up - and - down starts in their Twin Cities tenures. Meanwhile, Towns has settled in comfortably with the Knicks. Edwards made it clear that this isn't just about the new guys. "I’m talking about the whole team. However many of us it is, all 15, we go into our own shell and we’re just growing away from each other. It’s obvious. We can see it. I can see it, the team can see it, the coaches can see it."

The Fans' Reaction

The fans also voiced their displeasure, as Edwards mentioned. "The fans (are) booing us. That (stuff) is crazy, man. We’re getting booed in our home arena. That’s so (freaking) disrespectful, it’s crazy." The team is now 8 - 10 heading into Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. This situation presents a significant challenge for the Timberwolves as they strive to overcome their internal issues and regain their form.

A 27-year-old graduate student was recently discovered using pictures of real children on the internet to create artificial intelligence child porn, which was intended for pedophiles. This disturbing incident has left me with a sense of unease and has led me to address a question that I am increasingly being asked:

"Kim, I don't want pictures of my kids on social media. How do I tell friends and family without coming across as preachy?"

Your Kids, Your Rules

It is completely reasonable for you to want to keep your kids' faces off the web. The fact is that creeps often scan public accounts in search of potential victims to prey on. Moreover, it has become easier than ever for pedophiles to pose as children and groom your child on platforms like Snapchat and Roblox. Additionally, when you post your kids on Facebook or Instagram, you are essentially giving Meta the green light to use those images for training their AI models. Unfortunately, the law is lagging behind in this regard. As parents, it is our responsibility to safeguard our children.

Stop Facebook from Using Your Data to Train AI

To avoid an awkward situation, it is advisable to inform people before a gathering. Most people have good intentions, but they may not be aware of the risks associated with sharing kids' photos online, especially if they are not parents themselves. Remember, this is about you and your kids. Use "I" and "we" statements and avoid telling others how to parent. Share your reasoning or simply send them a link to this story. Be clear and firm, and leave no room for ambiguity when it comes to public posting. If possible, have a one-on-one conversation via email or text rather than in a group message.For example, you could write: "Hey, I wanted to let you know ahead of time that we prefer to keep photos of the kids off the internet for privacy and safety reasons. (We came across some stories that really worried us!) If you could refrain from posting pictures of them on social media, we would greatly appreciate it!"

If It's Already Posted...

Don't panic if your kids' photos have already been posted. Reach out to the person as soon as possible and ask them to remove the post by providing a link to the specific post. I would recommend using text rather than leaving a comment on a public post as it may seem confrontational. You could say: "Hey, I completely forgot to mention this earlier, but we are keeping pictures of the kids offline for now. Could you please take this post down or repost it with their faces hidden? An emoji would be great! Here's what Mark Zuckerberg does."

The Safest Way to Share Pics with Friends

Not sharing photos of your kids publicly does not mean that you can't share them at all. My suggestion is to create an invite-only album for close family and friends.In Google Photos:You can easily do this on your phone or computer. Open the Google Photos app or website. On a computer, click Photos and select the photo you want to share. At the top, click the + icon > Shared album > New shared album. Add a title and then hit Share. You can choose to create a link, search for contacts, or share on social media. On mobile, tap the + icon > Album. Name your album and add the photos you want to share. Select Get Link to generate a private link, add specific email addresses, or share through a messaging app or social media. Make sure the Link Sharing toggle is off for maximum privacy, so only invited users can view the album.In Apple Photos:You can create and share on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac using the Photos app. First, enable Shared Albums. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > Photos and turn on Shared Albums. On a Mac, open the Photos app. From the menu bar at the top, choose Photos > Settings. (In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Photos > Preferences.) Select the iCloud tab, then Shared Albums. Now create and share your album. On Mac or iPhone/iPad running iOS 18, in Photos, scroll down to Shared Albums > Shared Albums > Create. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address, or add an iMessage phone number. Tap Done. On iOS 17 or earlier, go to Albums > + (add button) > New Shared Album. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address, or add an iMessage phone number.The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. For more information on all the latest technology, listen to the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and provides advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. Visit her website for daily tips and free newsletters.