Wellness & Safety — News & Popular Guides
Ask Trish: U.S. Surgeon General’s Social Media Advisory
What you should know about this week’s report on social media and youth from the U.S. Surgeon General and why it’s a big deal.
Is There a Relationship Between Tech Use and Gun Violence?
It was bullets, not bytes — that took the lives of 10 people in Buffalo and 21 people, including 19 elementary school students, in Uvalde, Texas. Still, some are blaming video games and social media, along with mental illness.
Ask Trish: My Debut Book, ReThink the Internet
My debut book, ReThink the Internet, the world’s first-ever by-youth, for-youth guide to safely navigating the digital world, is coming out at the end of this month, on May 31st.
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?
What is Catfishing and Why It’s Dangerous
Catfishing can result in disappointment and broken hearts, but — as in the case in Riverside — it can also end in tragedy.
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Digital Wellness is Physical Wellness
Physical wellness is often associated with sleep, nutrition, and exercise but your technology habits are also having an influence.
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.
Avoiding ‘Zoom Fatigue’
Over the past couple of years there has been an increased focus on screen time. Much of this has to do with the pandemic that has forced both adults and children into video meetings and learning during times when it was considered unsafe to gather in person.
Facebook News: It’s Complicated
One of my favorite phrases is “it’s complicated,” because it expresses the fact that many things in life are not as simple as they seem.
What is Digital Wellness?
Educators are surely familiar with the term “digital citizenship.” We are familiar with coaching and modeling for our students the ways toward acting as an upstander, blocking and reporting bullies and bad actors, and making the internet a more positive and truthful place.
Parent’s Guide to Amazon Fire TV
Manage what, when and how long kids watch through mobile, tablets and the web.
Like Fictional Killer Robots, Even Well-Intentioned Algorithms Can Do Harm
Algorithms – software that figures out what users want to see on social media – help sell us not just products, but ideas that affect our behavior.
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.
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 Guide to Snapchat
Snapchat is for fun and spontaneity, with text, photos, and videos deleting after viewing.
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.
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.
Every Day Can Be ‘Safer Internet Day’
Officially, Safer Internet Day was Tuesday, February 9th, recognized in more than 100 countries around the...
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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,...
Balancing Tech and Low-Tech During Kids’ Summer Break
Summer is almost here, which means that kids will be out of school. While that means that they do have more time to use their devices, it’s also time for fresh air, exercise, and — for many — family vacations.
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...
Helping Students Cope with Flood of Presidential Election News
The Presidential election campaign is heating up. And with it will come lots of claims, counterclaims and, likely, plenty of inaccuracies.
Podcast: Helping Students — and Ourselves — Manage Time Spent on Devices
Listen for tips and advice on how to work with kids to make sure they’re not using too much of a good thing.
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.
Vaccines, Autism and the First Amendment
The messy thing about our First Amendment is that it protects nearly all speech, not just pleasant speech or even accurate speech.
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,