Social Media — News & Popular Guides
Treating Social Media as Windows into the Lives of Others
It’s important to remember that they are only snapshots into their lives.
Time to Think about Back-to-School Devices and Policies
If buying a device, consider school recommendations, education discounts, and specific needs for different grades.
Ask Trish: What is X?
So Twitter is now X? What does that actually mean? What’s going on?
New Report: Designing Digital Safety with Youth in Mind
A thoughtful and much-needed framework for reimagining what it means to protect kids online.
Parent’s Guide to Instagram
Instagram offers special protections with teen accounts.
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Seniors Flocking to TikTok
When you think about TikTok, it’s easy to conjure up images of young teens lip-synching and horsing around in short videos they share with their peers.
Family Guide to Parental Controls
How do I know when to use them, and should I tell my kids?
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.
Ask Trish: The Pressure to Be Perfect
“I sometimes feel like the pressure to be perfect on social media can be so overwhelming. Do you have tips for...
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...
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.
ReThink Founder on How App Promotes Kindness & Decency
Rethink founder Trisha Prabhu is on a mission to help cultivate the next generation of responsible digital citizens.
Battening Down your Facebook Hatches
Controlling who can see your friends list is only one of many optional privacy settings.
Family Guide to Messenger by Facebook
Features include blocking, vanish mode, and enhanced protections for teens.
Parent, Educator & Youth Guide to LGBTQ Cyberbullying
64% of LGBTQ+ respondents have been harassed online.
Strengthening Resilience During Tough Times
We spoke with Rabbi Kevin Bemel, a former US Navy chaplain, about resilience, relationships and thriving during...
Online Conspiracy Theories Could Hurt Kids
Conspiracy theories have been circulating on social media and getting ever more convoluted. Facebook, Twitter and other companies have taken some actions to reduce their visibility, but they are still present in one form or another.
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.”
One Person’s Internet Junk is Another Person’s Treasure
That expression, “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure” could certainly be applied to the internet. But when it comes to some controversial content, I’d go a step further to say “one person’s sewer is another person’s rose garden.”
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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...
Stop Thinking About Screen Time
Few things stoke anxiety and confusion among parents like the topic of screen time. But experts are increasingly...
How to Control your Facebook Privacy and Apps
There have been a lot of news stories about Facebook privacy, including personal information being collected and provided to political campaigns. Some people are angry and there is now a movement to #DeleteFacebook.
Teens and Social Media — It’s a Mixed Bag
The recent school shooting in Florida and the example of the remarkable teens who are responding through activism have caused me to revisit an Atlantic article from September 2017 by San Diego state psychology professor Jean Twenge, whose title asks “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” The article went on to pretty much say “yes.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 2018 Challenge: Fix Facebook’s Important Issues
Every year Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes on a challenge. One year it was to learn Mandarin. Another it was to...
Educator’s Guide to Social Media
Teach students to think before posting, be kind, and evaluate sources.
Internet Governance Forum tackles fake news, artificial intelligence and blockchain
For the past 12 years, the United Nations has sponsored the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a “multi-stakeholder” event that brings together people from governments around the world along with tech executives, nonprofits and academics.
What parents need to know about Facebook Messenger Kids
Messenger Kids, announced Monday, isn’t exactly an education app, but it’s tailored to give kids 6 to 12 the ability to engage in conversations as well as exchange messages, videos and images with parent-approved friends and family.
Tips for Safe Social Networking for Teens
These tips, based on the latest research, will help teens' socializing stay fun and safe. Be your own person. Don't...