AI Makes Mistakes But Could It Destroy Us?
Before I get to the potentially deadly serious part of today’s column, I’d like to start on the lighter side.
Parent’s Guide to Teen Sextortion Scams
The FBI has reported a “huge increase” in sextortion scams targeting teens.
Voice Cloning Makes Virtual Kidnapping More Convincing
Criminals are using AI to clone the voice of a supposed kidnapping victim to make the call even more convincing ...
How I Nearly Fell for a Frightening ‘Virtual Kidnapping’ Scam
I was impacted by a scam this week that didn’t cost me money or expose my data, but did take an enormous emotional toll, including 20 minutes of terror ...
Meta Opens Horizon Worlds Metaverse App to Teens; Exec Explains Move and Safety
A Meta exec explains social VR app Horizon Worlds and how teens and everyone can use it safely. ...
Parent and Guardian Guide to Meta Horizon Worlds
Meta Horizon Worlds is now open to teens ages 13 to 17. Here's what parents and teens need to know about navigating the social VR app safely ...
Parent and Guardian Guide to Meta Horizon Worlds
Meta Horizon Worlds is now open to teens ages 13 to 17. Here’s what parents and teens need to know about navigating the social VR app safely.
Parent’s Guide to Twitch
You may not have heard of Twitch but your teen probably has. Here’s what you need to know about the popular live-streaming platform and how you can help your teen use it safely.
Parent’s Guide to Discord
If you’ve got a teen in your house, there’s a good chance you have Discord. We don’t mean bickering—we’re talking Discord with a capital D, the chat app that’s especially popular with teens.
Quick-Guide to Cybersecurity
Download Quick-Guide (PDF) Why should we care about security? Insecure devices and accounts can jeopardize your privacy, financial well-being and even personal safety. And it can affect others because insecure ...
Parent’s and Educator’s Quick-Guide to Hate Speech
Download Quick Guide (PDF) What is hate speech? Hate speech is more than just harsh words. It can be any form of expression intended to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred ...
Parent’s Quick-Guide to Instagram
The main things parents worry about are typical of all social media: mean behavior among peers, encountering -- or creating -- inappropriate or dangerous content, overuse, and of course, privacy ...
Parent’s & Educator’s Guide to Media Literacy & False Information
We hear a lot about misinformation, disinformation and “fake news,” but whatever you call it, it’s a symptom of much larger problems, including the lack of media literacy ...
Parent’s Quick-Guide to TikTok
TikTok is an app that allows people to view, create and share short videos with friends, family, or the entire world. Although used by lots of adults of all ages, ...
Guide to Ray-Ban Stories: Bystander Privacy in a World of Wearable Cameras
Facebook Reality Labs and Ray-Ban have partnered Ray-Ban Stories, the companies’ first generation of smart glasses. This relatively new product category brings up questions regarding safety for the user and ...
Quick-Guide to Secure Passwords
The FBI along with other security experts are now recommending a “pass phrase” rather than simply a password. Such a phrase should be relatively long – at least 15 characters ...
Tips for Dealing with Teen Sexting
Also see: Teen Sexting: Quick-Guide for Parents and Teens “Sexting” usually refers to the sharing of sexually explicit images via mobile phones, but it can happen on other devices, too ...
Tips to Help Stop Cyberbullying
Guidance for parents and young people on cyberbullying, including advice for ending (or preventing) the cycle of aggression. For a more comprehensive look, see A Parents' Guide to Cyberbullying. For ...
Advice on Sexting, Sextortion and Revenge Porn
The safest way to avoid a picture getting into the wrong hands is to never take it, allow it to be taken, or share it. Sadly, there are cases (sometimes ...
Tips for Smart Cellphone Use
Some 95% of Americans own cellphones of some kind, according to Pew Research Center - among 18- to 29-year-olds, the number is a whopping 100%. But no matter your age, ...
Tips for Safe and Civil Use of Anonymous Apps
A growing number of apps allow people to post anonymously. There are some very positive aspects to anonymous apps, including the ability to reach out for help and post with ...
Strengthening Resilience During Tough Times
We spoke with Rabbi Kevin Bemel, a former US Navy chaplain, about resilience, relationships and thriving during difficult times. Bemel hosts "The Way to Wow" on YouTube. "The personal mantra ...
New Dangers Facing Kids Online
Our interview with Internet Watch Foundation CEO Susie Hargreaves on rise of 'self-generated child sex abuse images and videos' and what can be done about it ...
Do Passwords Really Protect Us?
Online security expert Andrew Shikiar of FIDO Alliance talked to us about phishing, vishing, social engineering, and what's wrong with passwords. "Simply put, passwords aren't up to the task." ...
Creating Inclusive Play Spaces
Jill Asher, co-founder of Magical Bridge, talks about creating inclusive playgrounds across the US ...
How Empathy Helps Kids Succeed
Michele Borba, author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed In Our All About Me World, explains why empathic kids enjoy better mental health and overall resiliency. The good news is ...
Australia eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant
We spoke with US-born Julie Inman Grant about her role as Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, the country's national independent regulator for online safety. Julie talked about her unique government role and ...
Parenting for a Digital Future
When it comes to understanding how young people and their families are coping with today's technology, there are no better experts than Sonia Livingstone and Alicia Blum-Ross. Both have been
Teaching Kids Empathy & Kindness with Children’s Author Trudy Ludwig
Children's author Trudy Ludwig's books are not only delightfully written and illustrated but also teach and model empathy, caring and kindness. She joined us on ConnectSafely Live to talk about
Media in the Middle Ep. 10: Cancel Culture
Learn how young people feel about cancel culture, a practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.
Spirituality, Faith & Compassion During a Time of Crisis with Father Robert Ballecer, aka the “Digital Jesuit” (Webcast)
Larry Magid and Kerry Gallagher speak with Father Robert Ballecer, a Jesuit priest currently at Jesuit Curia in Rome where he is spearheading an effort to use new media for
Cybersecurity During COVID-19 (Webcast)
Larry Magid and Kerry Gallagher spoke with McAfee's Baker Nanduru, who had some excellent advice for all of us who are at a higher security risk due to all the
Internet Ethics Amid Covid-19
Larry Magid and Kerry Gallagher speak with Irina Raicu, Director, Internet Ethics Program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics/Santa Clara University, about ethics and Covid-19 contact-tracing apps.
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