News & Analysis
Meta, Ray-Ban Release Second-Generation Smart Glasses
I was riding my bicycle the other day taking pictures, talking on the phone and sending and receiving texts without ever taking my hands off the handle bars.
Shop Safely this Holiday Season
There are indeed some real bargains out there, but beware of any that are “too good to be true.”
Surveys Shed Light on Teen and Parent Feelings about Social Media
It’s relatively rare to get new research on teens, parents and social media but three surveys dropped this week.
Ask Trish: What The Heck Just Happened At OpenAI?
“Hi Trish…I saw a bunch of stuff go down at OpenAI with Sam Altman. Can u explain what happened?”
Survey Sheds Light on Parent, Teen Feelings about Generative AI
A recent study conducted by Kantar on behalf of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found that both parents and teens are not only aware of generative AI like ChatGPT but also mostly optimistic about its impact.
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Russian Cyberattacks are Possible. Be Prepared But Not Panicked.
Although it’s very unlikely that average Americans will be directly targeted by a Russian cyberattack, it is quite possible to become an indirect victim of an attack against a company, health care organization or government agency we rely on.
Real-Time Location Sharing Can Enhance, Jeopardize Safety
Snapchat is the latest app to add real-time location sharing, which means you can use it to inform friends and family of your exact location even if the app is closed.
Metaverse: What’s the Risk?
You’ve probably heard the term “metaverse,” which is being embraced by numerous tech companies. The company formerly known as Facebook is so committed to the idea, that it’s renamed itself “Meta” to symbolize its deep dive into this new online world.
Generosity is Great, But Be Cautious When Giving to Charity
“Giving Tuesday,” which is now behind us, is really the start of the end-of-the-year holiday giving period. Unfortunately, this season of generosity also brings out online scammers.
Computing Has Gone Full Circle, and It’s Time to Go Back a Bit
My very first computer was a Cyber 70. I didn’t own it nor did I ever get within a few feet of it. It was a giant mainframe housed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate Research Center.
Facebook Not Alone in Embrace of ‘Metaverse’
As you’ve undoubtedly heard, Facebook has renamed itself Meta. Some people thought that was in response to the company’s recent troubles, but a company the size of Facebook doesn’t go through a major rebranding in a matter of weeks. It’s clearly been on the drawing board for months, if not longer.
Facebook Offers Tools to ‘Slow Down’ Toxic Conversations
Facebook has new tools to help moderate conversations and potential conflict within a group.
Tips for Preventing ‘Ransomware’ Attacks
A ransomware attack can encrypt data or lock you completely out of your device. It can also be used as a form of blackmail or extortion if the hacker finds something that they think may embarrass or incriminate you. Although victims are often large companies or public agencies, it can affect small businesses or people at home.
New Research & Resources for Online Wellness
It’s been a big week when it comes to resources for promoting wellness and helping protect children online. with new resources from Google and Instagram and a study from Common Sense Media.
Battening Down your Facebook Hatches
Controlling who can see your friends list is only one of many optional privacy settings.
Managing Tech for Tots
Over the past several years we’ve seen an explosion in the use of tablets and other devices by children who are barely out of diapers.
How We Got Here
Because they’ve been written about extensively, there’s no need for me to repeat how the internet – Facebook, Twitter and lesser-known sites like Gab and the now-suspended Parler have contributed to the division, vitriol and violence that has shaken our country.
Misinformation Amplified by Social Media
As Daniel Patrick Moynihan once wrote, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
Getting Ready for ‘Virtual School’
Fortunately, most families already have a broadband connection and either a computer or tablet, but there is still a digital divide as was evidenced by that now-famous photo of two young girls sitting in a parking lot of a Salinas Taco Bell to access the restaurant’s WiFi because they didn’t have internet at home.
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Media Literacy for Educators and Families with Young Children
ConnectSafely’s CEO Larry Magid and K-12 Education Director Kerry Gallagher talk about media literacy aimed at young children and teens. Kerry talks about approaching media literacy in the classroom as an educator while Larry approaches it as a journalist.
How to Avoid Succumbing to Fake Websites — Political or Otherwise
Microsoft’s revelation that websites controlled by a group with ties to the Russian government is not only a warning to political operatives from both parties, but to everyone.
Facebook Slips, Snapchat Grows Among Teens — Nearly Half Online “Almost Constantly”
A new survey from Pew Research found that Snapchat is now the social media app that teens use most often, followed closely by YouTube.
Europe’s New Privacy Law Shakes Up Entire Tech Industry and Impacts European Teens
Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) kicked in on Friday, May 25th, and its impact will be felt not just in Europe but around the world — especially in Silicon Valley, where many tech companies are based. That’s because the GDPR’s rules affect any company that touches data from European citizens, which is pretty much every tech company. It could also have a negative impact on some European teenagers.
Facebook is Cleaning Up Inappropriate Content But You Still Need to be Vigilant
by Larry Magid I’m about to report on some interesting numbers from Facebook regarding inappropriate material it...
Google Reining in Too Much of a Good Thing
The common expression “too much of a good thing” can apply to almost everything that we enjoy, including the internet and mobile devices. My grandparents understood that, but apparently, many of my contemporaries don’t when it comes to tech. I’m guilty as well.
Facebook Begins Notifying Users if their Data Was Accessed by Cambridge Analytica
Facebook is in the process of notifying users whether their personal information may have been accessed by Cambridge...
US Safer Internet Day 2018: Passionate Speakers & Students are a Recipe for Success
More than 200 students from Austin Independent School District were on hand February 6th for the official U.S....
The Connection Between Online Safety and those Amazing Kids from Parkland, Florida
Like many, I have been deeply moved by the actions of student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shootings on Valentine’s Day.