Social Media — News & Popular Guides
Parent’s Guide to TikTok
Parents don’t need to be tech experts to help teens use TikTok safely.
What You Need to Know about Instagram Map
Instagram’s new map lets you share locations with friends—useful, but raises privacy concerns parents and users must manage.
Treating Social Media as Windows into the Lives of Others
It’s important to remember that they are only snapshots into their lives.
Guide to Taking Control of Your Instagram Feed
How to control what you see (and don’t see) on Instagram.
Beyond the Verdict: Holding Big Tech Accountable Isn’t as Simple as It Seems
We must protect children, but we must also respect them and safeguard their rights.
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Parent’s Guide to Snapchat
Snapchat is for fun and spontaneity, with text, photos, and videos deleting after viewing.
Fine-Tuning Social Media to Make It Work for Me
In the end, it’s not about escaping the digital world but about mastering it, one mindful scroll at a time.
Parent and Guardian Guide to Meta Horizon Worlds
Meta Horizon Worlds is now available to teens ages 13-17 and preteens ages 10-12.
Mixed Feelings About Bill to Limit Smartphones in School
The bipartisan bill would require school districts to develop and adopt a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones.
Anxiety, Social Media, and the News
“The more we seek certainty over what will happen in the future, the more anxious we will feel.”
Why Surgeon General’s Social Media Warning Label is a Bad Idea
The Surgeon General called for a warning label on social media platforms, but it’s not a good idea
China Ownership Grabs Headlines, but TikTok has Reasonable Teen Safety Policies
President Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok within a year or face a U.S. ban.
Parent’s Guide to ZEPETO
ZEPETO is popular among teens for designing content, fashion, items, and virtual environments.
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.
Fine-Tuning Social Media to Make It Work for Me
In the end, it’s not about escaping the digital world but about mastering it, one mindful scroll at a time.
Parent and Guardian Guide to Meta Horizon Worlds
Meta Horizon Worlds is now available to teens ages 13-17 and preteens ages 10-12.
Mixed Feelings About Bill to Limit Smartphones in School
The bipartisan bill would require school districts to develop and adopt a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones.
Anxiety, Social Media, and the News
“The more we seek certainty over what will happen in the future, the more anxious we will feel.”
Why Surgeon General’s Social Media Warning Label is a Bad Idea
The Surgeon General called for a warning label on social media platforms, but it’s not a good idea
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Protecting Mental Health on Instagram
I’m grateful to the Wall Street Journal for shedding light on some of the ways social media can contribute to a sense of inadequacy and other mental health issues. But what the article didn’t include is tips on how parents and teens can deal with these issues for a healthier online experience.
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.