Social Media — News & Popular Guides
Weighing In on Tech’s Biggest Questions
A Youth Advisory Council perspective on social media bans, AI’s impact on jobs and the growing push for balance in a digital world
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.”
Instagram Adopts “PG-13” Defaults for Teen Accounts: What Parents & Teens Should Know
Instagram will automatically places users under 18 into “13+” mode.
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.
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FBI Issues Warning About Sextortion After Arrest in Teen Death
The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) issued a joint national public safety alert on financial sextortion schemes.
Parent’s Guide to Twitch
Community is key on Twitch; viewers interact through live chat with reactions, emotes, and comments.
Parent’s Guide to Teen Sextortion Scams
Huge increase in sextortion scams targeting teens, especially boys aged 14 to 17.
Ask Trish: Stressing About Social Media
I’m always so stressed about social media, like who’s viewing my stories, how my pictures look, and if I “measure up” to everyone else. How do I let go?
Ask Trish: Social Media and Mental Health
Dear Trish: Maybe it’s just me but I just feel really bad about myself when I’m on social media. Like literally everyone seems to be living their best life and it reminds me how much is wrong with mine. How can I feel better?
Parent’s & Educator’s Guide to Media Literacy & False Information
Two-thirds of students can’t identify sponsored content.
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.
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5 Tips for Keeping Your Teen Safe Online this Summer
By Kerry Gallagher Your teens will probably be around the house and have more downtime this summer than they do during...
Parent’s Guide to Education Technology
Education technology enhances learning by integrating digital tools, preparing students for future careers and responsible digital citizenship.
YouTube Cutting Hateful and Extremist Videos
YouTube is pulling the plug on thousands of videos that promote bigoted views, including “videos that promote or glorify Nazi ideology, which is inherently discriminatory,”
Safety and Privacy of Smart Displays and Speakers at Home and in the Classroom
We discuss our use of the Facebook Portal as well as other smart displays and speakers that they have tested. There are privacy and safety implications, but they can be managed.
Despite Free-Speech Concerns, Banning Hate a Good Thing
by Larry Magid There was big news from Paris this week where 18 countries and numerous companies, including Facebook,...
Helping Kids Survive Bullying and Other Trauma
ConnectSafley CEO Larry Magid and K-12 Education Director Kerry Gallagher talk about how adults can support youth who...
Why Facebook Instituted its Policy to Ban Support for White Nationalism and White Supremacy
ConnectSafely CEO and CBS News Technology Analyst, Larry Magid speaks with human rights expert Brittan Heller on why Facebook instituted its new policy to ban support for white nationalism and white supremacy.
Online Romance Scam Losses on the Rise. How to Protect Yourself
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Federal Trade Commission published a post saying that in 2018, there were more than 21,000 reports “about romance scams with reported losses of $143 million,
Facebook Cracking Down on Misbehaving Page Operators
One of Facebook’s main sources of fake news and other inauthentic activity are pages operated by unscrupulous or simply careless operators that post poor quality content.