Parent Tips
February 1st, 2023
Even our government is making money off of your personal data. Sure, it’s legal, but is it right?
You likely know that mega businesses, such as Amazon, social media and search engine companies, collect vast amounts of data about us. That’s so they can target their goods and services more precisely to customers. It’s all in the name of helping advertisers reach specific audiences and demographics.
And…... Continue reading >
December 22nd, 2022
Heroes might be a strong word, but hats off to the young, self-proclaimed Luddites recently featured in the New York Times. They’re experimenting with living without smartphones or social media and exploring the world without an every-present digital sidekick. “Social media and phones are not real life,” says one of them. Flip phones, books, and in-the-flesh friends, these Luddites say, are. We’re not trying to convince anyone to ditch their iPhones altogether, but it’s refreshing to read…... Continue reading >
December 8th, 2022
The state of Indiana is suing TikTok, claiming the social media platform puts inappropriate content in front of kids and shares personal data with the Chinese government. There are plenty of reasons to be wary of TikTok. This latest development shows officials in at least one state agree: TikTok is no good for kids.
... Continue reading >
December 2nd, 2022
Here’s a quick tip on how NOT to make your wish list this holiday season. Don’t send links. If you’ve got a bunch of gift ideas to share with someone, write them down. Type them out. Talk about it. But don’t send an email or text full of links. Here’s why.
You scour the internet for the things you want to buy for the holidays. Your partner does the same. Your kids, online natives…... Continue reading >
November 4th, 2022
Is Messenger Kids OK for your kids? Sort of. Here’s what you should know.
Messenger Kids is an app designed for children for messaging and video calls that runs on Fire tablets and iOS and Android phones and tablets. This free app is from Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), which designed Messenger Kids so parents can control its settings.
The target audience is kids, which Meta wants to bring into its platform…... Continue reading >
October 21st, 2022
Video games can be fun, entertaining, and educational. But gaming also has its problems, exposing young players to health risks and introducing them to bad habits that can be difficult to break. Taken to excess, they can become the Danger Games.
Parents of kids who like to play video games—either on a console or on their phones—should be aware of those risks. At the top of the list: addiction. The founder of a company…... Continue reading >
October 14th, 2022
Here’s one smart and easy move to bolster your privacy that you can make right now. On your phone, go into your settings and look for Privacy. On iPhones, you’ll find a Tracking button. Tap it. And then you’ll find a toggle and the phrase “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Switch that toggle to the off position. As in “No.” Tracking doesn’t benefit you. On Android phones, you should find the option to “Delete advertising…... Continue reading >
October 7th, 2022
That headline says it all, really. The New York Times recently published an essay by William Siu, founder of company that develops online games, in which he says he won’t let his own children play the video games he helped create. Citing concerns about addiction, he writes, “as a gaming entrepreneur in the United States for 13 years and a father of two young daughters, I don’t think parents are doing enough to protect kids from the…... Continue reading >
September 28th, 2022
Be honest, parents. You’ve heard of Twitch, but you have no idea what it is. That’s OK. You’re hardly alone. Here’s a primer.
The basics
Put simply, Twitch is a gaming platform that allows users to livestream the video games they’re playing. According to Windstream, Twitch hosts at least 15 million visitors on average every day, with more than 3 million of those being creators sharing their gameplay.
... Continue reading >
August 18th, 2022
In a welcome bit of news, Snapchat is letting parents in the proverbial room. The company announced recently the launch of Family Center, an in-app tool that allows parents to see who their kids are chatting with and to more easily report suspicious accounts. In a statement, the company said, “Family Center is designed to reflect the way that parents engage with their teens in the real world, where parents usually know who their teens are…... Continue reading >