Parent’s Quick-Guide to Tech for Tots
Consistency, balance, and structure are key for screen time management.
Parent’s Guide to Google Search
Parental involvement and productive conversations are crucial for ensuring safe and appropriate experiences.
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.
Ask Trish: Phone Bans in Schools
“I’ve been hearing a lot about banning phones in schools. What do u think about it?”
Ask Trish: Phone Bans in Schools
“I’ve been hearing a lot about banning phones in schools. What do u think about it?”
Parent Guides
Parent and Guardian Guide to Meta Horizon Worlds
Download Full Guide (PDF) Download Quick Guide (PDF) Watch Larry's Interview (Video) Meta Horizon Worlds is now available for teens ages 13 to 17. The app, created by Meta (formerly Facebook) for their virtual reality headsets, enables people to explore and socialize...
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...
Parent’s Guide to Amazon Alexa
Download Free Guide (PDF) Amazon’s Alexa is the cloud service behind voice-enabled devices from Amazon and other companies. Some, like the Amazon Echo smart speakers, are voice only. You talk to them and they respond in-kind. Others, like the Amazon Echo Show and Fire...
Parent, Educator & Youth Guide to LGBTQ Cyberbullying
By Warren J. Blumenfeld, Ed.D. Download Free Guide (PDF) All young people deserve to grow up in a world where they are accepted, loved and treated with compassion, but sadly, that’s not the case for everyone. Some young people are vulnerable to bullying,...
Wellness and Safety
Ask Trish: Mental Health Awareness Month
By Trisha PrabhuMe, thinking to myself late last week, “It’s May…which means it’s Mental Health Awareness Month!” This is definitely something I have to cover on Ask Trish. Hi there, and welcome back to another week of Ask Trish! I hope you’re all well and having a...
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...
Resolutions for a Safe and Secure 2024
by Larry Magid This post is adapted from one that first appeared in the Mercury News I’m well aware that New Year's resolutions are often abandoned by the end of January, but that’s no reason to avoid thinking about how we can improve our lives in the year to come. ...
Podcasts
Podcast: Navigating the Future of Self-Driving Cars
This week, we speak with Brad Templeton, who started his career as a software developer and, after writing about a dozen software packages, founded the world's first .com. Brad entered the self-driving car space in 2007, and his website and blog, robocars.com, are the...
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...
Videos
1. Generative AI for Families
2. Smart Digital Parenting: Navigating Screens with Children & Teens
3. New Gaming Research
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