How to Avoid or Recover from a Ransomware Attack
Ransomware is one of numerous online crimes designed to separate people, businesses and government agencies from their money.
Parent’s Guide to TikTok
TikTok tips for parents, plus advice for talking with teens about healthy social media use.
Social Media and Youth Mental Health — It’s Nuanced
The past 14 years have seen a sharp increase in mental illness, self-harm, and suicide among young people in the United States. Some have looked to an obvious culprit – technology – as a cause. As both policymakers and parents consider this debate, we outline some opposing views, critically evaluate their arguments and suggest some paths forward.
Social Media and Youth Mental Health — It’s Nuanced
The past 14 years have seen a sharp increase in mental illness, self-harm, and suicide among young people in the United States. Some have looked to an obvious culprit – technology – as a cause. As both policymakers and parents consider this debate, we outline some opposing views, critically evaluate their arguments and suggest some paths forward.
Featured Guides
Parent’s Guide to Twitch
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Parent’s and Educator’s Quick-Guide to Hate Speech
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Parent’s Guide to Snapchat
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Parent Guides
Parent’s Guide to Amazon Parent Dashboard
Download the Guide (PDF) Amazon Parent Dashboard is the free hub where parents and guardians manage and customize their kids’ experiences across Amazon devices and the Amazon Kids + subscription. Parents use Parent Dashboard to configure age-appropriate settings, set...
Parent’s Guide to Amazon Parent Dashboard
Download the Guide (PDF) Amazon Parent Dashboard is the free hub where parents and guardians manage and customize their kids’ experiences across Amazon devices and the Amazon Kids + subscription. Parents use Parent Dashboard to configure age-appropriate settings, set...
Parent’s Guide to Amazon Fire TV
Download Free Guide (PDF) What is Fire TV, and how much does it cost? Amazon Fire TV is a media player that streams video, music, and games to your TV. It plugs into the HDMI port of your television and turns any modern TV into a smart TV. There are several models,...
Parent’s Guide to Snapchat
Download Free Guide (PDF) Snapchat is all about fun and spontaneity. By default, the text, photos and videos you share delete automatically after being viewed by the recipient. Users love that they can share a moment that’s digital footprint-free — they don’t have to...
Family Guide to Messenger by Facebook
Download Free Guide (PDF) Messenger, which is both a mobile and desktop messaging app from Facebook and a feature built-into Facebook’s desktop (web) platform, allows you to exchange messages, watch videos with friends, and engage in group video or text chats complete...
Parent’s Guide to Tech for Tots
By Kerry Gallagher, JD and Larry Magid Ed.D Download Free Guide (PDF) Sixty-one percent of parents say that parenting is more difficult than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technology as the reason why, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey. Teaching...
Wellness and Safety
Configuring your Phone to Enhance Well-Being
by Larry Magid This post first appeared in the Mercury News We live in stressful times, and unfortunately, that phone in your pocket or hand can make things worse. But if you're willing to use them, both iPhone and Android phones have tools to help manage your or your...
Ask Trish: Setting a Secure Password
By Trisha Prabhu I’m wondering how do u set the best password? Like what to keep in mind?” Hi there, and welcome back to another week of Ask Trish! I hope you’re all well and having a great April. (For folks in the Northern Hemisphere, wherever you might be, I hope...
Podcast: Youth Mental Health in the Age of Cancel Culture and Online Conflict
In this episode, we shift our focus to young adults and college students. We talk to Jessie Quintero Johnson, associate professor for health and social change at Emerson College. Jessie is also a psychotherapist and a licensed clinical social worker. Jessie discusses...
How to Protect Your Online Security
by Larry Magid When it comes to online security, you don’t have to be paranoid to worry about people who want to harm you. Sadly, there are such people, and although they have nothing against you personally, they do want your money, and because the internet is...
Podcasts
Podcast: Detecting Disinformation and Spin
Today Larry talks to Peter Adams, Senior Vice President of Research and Design for the News Literacy Project. They discuss the upcoming election, mis- and disinformation, as well as some surprising information on how media literacy is taught in classrooms. You can...
Podcast: How to Dodge Techno and Moral Panics
In this second episode with Jeff Jarvis, Larry and Jeff discuss regulation, encryption, the dangers of techno-moral panics, and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which has been quite controversial in the United States. Find out more in this follow-up with...
Podcast: Youth Mental Health in the Age of Cancel Culture and Online Conflict
In this episode, we shift our focus to young adults and college students. We talk to Jessie Quintero Johnson, associate professor for health and social change at Emerson College. Jessie is also a psychotherapist and a licensed clinical social worker. Jessie discusses...
Podcast: A Conversation with ‘Mediatrician’ & Author Dr. Michael Rich
ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid speaks with Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrician, head of Boston Children's Hospital Digital Wellness Lab and author of the brand-new book The Mediatrician's Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated...
Videos
1. Generative AI for Families
2. Smart Digital Parenting: Navigating Screens with Children & Teens |
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3. Parent’s Guide to ZEPETO World |
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4. Safer Internet Day & Smart Digital Parenting |
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5. 4 Minutes with Snapchat: Understanding the New Family Center |
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