According to scholars and psychologist, the smartphone devices are causing a heist of the apparent preoccupation, not only in adults but also in the kids. Especially when the matter of the availability of the internet over the smartphones is concerned, the hike certainly makes it clear that the extensive users of this technology are addicted to it.
A comparison between the addicting drugs and the smartphone was drawn by a psychologist analyzing that alcohol makes a person addict of it as the consumption of the first sip makes it more enchanting in the next. Similarly, the smartphone usage has been analyzed with the study of over 1,500 users, majorly including teens, that the initial usage raises the urge for the next usage.
Extensible Teens:
Common Sense Media (CSM) surveyed more than 1,200 people including parents and teens which resulted that 50% of the teens accept that they are addicted to the smartphones; while around 60% parents say that their children are addicted to their devices.
The smartphones sale comparison could definitely tell that 50% of the sale of smartphones has grown up in the present year since 2013.
Availability of internet, social media networks, attractive games, handy apps and vast data storage capability has raised the bar of the smartphone usage and so it the mercury of the smartphone obsession rising.
Smartphone Addiction:
Presently in the world, some states argue that extensive smartphone usage is a disorder and is an addiction but some of the developed states including United States have no view over the smartphone addiction. They take it as just an extensive use, not an addiction as they don’t have any solid base to determine it as a disorder.
Going through some general examples, the roads and streets are the best examples in telling that how much the teens are addicted of the smartphones. A number of accidents happen every day in routine, caused by the teens, as they were busy in using their smartphone and smashed their car into the others or a pole or a pedestrian.
Consequences of Smartphone Addiction:
Almost 80% teens are surveyed who at least check their phone every hour, amid 70 – 72% of teens is found responding to the SMS and the instant feeds instantly. Parents stay worried for their children and the smartphone distraction has increased the ratio of worry in parents. Parents find their children:
- Distracted from studies because of the excessive smartphone use
- Getting physically and biologically weak because of lack of outdoor sports
- Becoming irritating and itchy because of lack of actual social life with friends
- Paying less attention to the family sit downs for the night meal
These situations are particularly an alarm for the parents that ring the bell of danger that their child is getting to a highly distracted venture by paying much heed to their corky device instead of the actual requirements of living.
Preliminary Measures:
Some essential preliminary steps are required on the part of the parents to ensure safety and prosperity of their children. It’s initially quite hard for the parents to properly analyze in what ways and how much time is their child giving to his or her smartphone.
Precisely the direct questionnaire would certainly sound like a direct assault to the children which could bring up any of the unexpected results upon parents. Or if the parents inspect the smartphones of their children or restrict them directly to use it, could create a wave of defiance in the homes.
The most preferable and highly recommended solution, and one of handpicks of the experts, are the spy apps. They help the parents to be with their children when they are using their smartphones, virtually.
Contributor: Angela Smith fills in as tech and digital parenting expert. She is managing technical content at cell phone spy software, listen live phone calls, and monitor social instant messaging logs. Follow her on twitter @LatestTechBlog
(Please note, apps should never replace offline parenting. Your communication with your child is crucial in helping them make better online decisions when you’re not there. Experts have also agreed that your child should know if you have installed these apps. Breaking down a trust factor with your child is never a good idea unless there is a good reason or you fear your child is in danger).
The modern technology and rain of contemporary devices such as smartphones, tablets and IPAD’s playing a positive role in spreading information among the general public. But these tech gadgets when connected with the internet often play a negative part and may cause some serious issues especially in the lives of young kids who use to of using these tech gadgets and perform internet activities and ultimately become addicted to it. They might be cyber bullied, blackmailed by stalkers and lose their health doing activities all day long which may cause them physical as well as psychological issues. So, in short, online activities by using the contemporary tech devices generate horrible issues to young kids.
What precautions should parents keep their child safe online?
Parents should follow following six ways in order to protect their young kids while doing online activities, here are following ways.
- Be a role model:
The first education institutes where young kids learn all their basic activities are their parents, so it is the parents who should look after their own activities in front their young kids. Parents should be the role model for their kids; if parents do healthy activities in their lives then kids automatically follow their parents and take an interest in their parent’s activities. So, parents need to perform positive things online in the presence of their kids such as using instant messaging applications, searching appropriate sites and use of tech creatures within the limitations. So teach your kids positive things when they are online. They will definitely follow your footsteps.
- Set some house rules:
Parents need to set some house rules, if their young kids have habits of doing online activities at extreme, tell your kid’s if they don’t follow the house rules they should face some serious consequences such as they will have to face a week ban on their online activities. If any of your kid doesn’t follow your instruction, make an example out of it to warn your other kids. So, you will see your young kids will follow all the rules and regulations which you have set for online activities.
- Educate your kids: be a tech-savvy
The best way to educate your young kids is that parents should be tech-savvy first, and then parents can easily manage to educate their kids about how they can perform online activities such for getting information, for the little entertainment, for school assignments and socializing with the online world for making their communication sharper and stronger. Guide your kids, for how much time online activities are enough, don’t become addicted to it, and don’t visit inappropriate social messaging sites until they become legible for it.
- Take control on internet activities:
Whenever you see your kids are tending towards online activities, make use of parental controls on your home internet services. Always keep in mind to make a check on your mobile phone devices, desktop computers, gaming gadgets and your smart TV as well. Tell your friend to send you a friend request from their all social media platforms like Facebook, snap chat, WhatsApp, vine, Tinder and many others. Tell them if they are going to publish their pictures and videos which they don’t want you to see then the stuff should not be in public domain.
- Make a friendly environment with your kids:
The best part is to keep your child safe online is to make a friendly relationship with your young kids, it is necessary because having a friendly environment your kids will not hide anything from you. So, be a best friend of your child in order to prevent other best friends whom they share everything. Encourage them being a friend and stop them from any bad online stuff in a friendly way. This will help parents building a positive trustworthy relationship with your kids, and they follow your instructions even in your absence.
- Use monitoring applications:
If you have applied all best possible ways to protect your kids and even then that you are not able to stop your child to prevent them from their online obsession. In short, they follow your instructions in your presence and start doing whatever they want in your absence. Then don’t worry use the TheOneSpy monitoring application in order to monitor all of the activities of your kids online. TheOneSpy is the powerful and best applications to track online activities with the exact time stamp. It will allow you to monitor all social messaging app with its IM social media feature. Parents can record calls, spy on messages, bug their kid’s phone, view multimedia files and track GPS location with the help of Track GPS location feature.
Author Bio:
Nicki is a working mum writing blogs to help fellow mums use technological apparatus to make parenting easier in today’s era. Her work on tracking spy app for android devices has received great appreciation from a reader. To know more about her follow on twitter @nickimarie222
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 1 in 3 students say they have been bullied at school. The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey found that nationwide, 19 percent of students had been bullied on school property during the 12 months before the survey, while nearly 15 percent had been bullied electronically in that same time period.
While face-to-face bullying is still common, cyber-bullying – bullying via email, text messages, instant messaging, chat rooms, social media sites, videos, and pictures – is on the rise, according to BullyStatistics.org. With most kids today carrying a mobile device, kids who are cyberbullied have a harder time getting away from the behavior because:
- Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night.
- Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source.
- Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.
In light of Pink Shirt Day (Feb. 22), a national observance to encourage people to take a stand against bullying, AT&T has compiled a list of apps, tips and tools that can help parents protect their children from bullying and create awareness around the problem.
Anti-Bullying Apps
- BullyBlock – (Android – FREE) – This app captures and block bullies that are causing you and your family harm. The Bully Block app allows users to covertly record verbal threats and harassment, block inappropriate texts and pictures (e.g. sexting), and utilize auto respond features. Bully Block blocks bullies that utilize private or unknown numbers to engage in cyberbullying. Bully Block also has instant reporting features that allow the user to email or text abusive behavior to parents, teachers, HR departments, and law enforcement. All audio, messages, and calls are stored on the phone SD card.
- TipSubmitMobile – ( Apple iOS, Android – FREE) – TipSubmit Mobile allows tipsters to submit secure and anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers, law enforcement agencies or school safety officers and administrators. Thousands of communities, schools and government agencies are covered by this application since it connects directly with TipSoft, the world’s largest and North America’s only, truly anonymous tip reporting system. Tipsters could receive rewards of up to $1,000 in the U.S. and up to $2,000 in Canada for information submitted to Crime Stoppers and nobody will ever know your identity.
- Bully Stop (Android – FREE) – This app helps protect your children from bully calls, texts and picture messages. The app gives your children the ability to block calls and messages from people they don’t want to hear from. Bully Stop uses a Block List to block unwanted callers and texters. The app maintains a password-protected call log of all attempted contact with your child so you can approach the relevant people, parents, teachers or police and show proof of the bullying communication.
- Bully Free Zone – (Android – FREE) – An app for younger kids, the Bully Free Zone app features Captain McFinn and encourages kids to join him in helping to put an end to bullying. The app includes a bully free pledge, a cartoon that shows how Captain McFinn stopped his bullying ways, a kindness calendar that tracks the child’s kind actions.
- Bully Button – (Apple iOS – $0.99) – This application is for helping when the user is in trouble. It lets them record and send an email with audio attachment with text by tapping “Record and Send” button. Children can call a parent, friend or school by selecting appropriate options.
Anti-Bullying Tips and Tools
- Take advantage of parental controls. Ask your provider about parental controls available to you. For example, AT&T has Smart Limits which allows parents to block unwanted calls and texts from up to 30 numbers and restrict texting and data usage during specified times of the day.
- Be aware of what your kids are doing online. Talk with your kids about cyberbullying and other online issues regularly.
o Know the sites your kids visit and their online activities. Ask where they’re going, what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with.
o Tell your kids that as a responsible parent, you may review their online communications if you think there is a reason for concern.
o Ask for their passwords, but tell them you’ll only use them in case of emergency
o Ask to “friend” or “follow” your kids on social media sites or ask another trusted adult to do so.
o Encourage your kids to tell you immediately if they, or someone they know, is being cyberbullied. Let them know you will not take away their device if they confide in you about a problem.
- Establish rules about appropriate use of computers, cell phones and other technology.
o Be clear about what sites they can visit and what they are permitted to do when they’re online. Show them how to be safe online.
o Help them be smart about what they post or say. Tell them not to share anything that could hurt or embarrass themselves or others.
o Encourage kids to think about who they want to see the information and pictures they post online. Think about how people who aren’t friends could use the information.
o Remind them to keep their passwords safe and not to share them with friends because sharing that information could compromise their control over their online identities and activities.
Courtesy of AT&T.
Opening doors, holding hands, going steady. When it comes to love, tech isn’t a replacement for in-person chemistry. But sometimes it can help move the relationship along. This Valentine’s Day, AT&T conducted a survey to learn more about technology and relationships and found:
- 36% of respondents agree long-term relationships can start on dating apps.
- Only 7% of respondents are most likely to ask someone on a date via text compared to 27% who are more likely to ask in person.
- 64% of respondents first said “I love you” to their current or most recent significant other in person vs. only about 3% through text or social media.
- 77% of respondents have never broken up with someone via text.
To help you use your smartphone to keep romance in the day and potential pitfalls out, AT&T is offering these Valentine’s Day tech dos and don’ts:
- DO text sweet nothings. Nothing can put a smile on your Valentine’s face quicker than an unexpected, romantic text from out of the blue. A short text like “I LUV U” or “MISS U” can make your significant other suddenly happier to see you when you get home. But remember, don’t over-abbreviate and stick with terms and symbols that most people know and use.
- DO share love notes. Rekindle memories of the ‘old-fashioned’ paper love notes once exchanged in school by sending your Valentine a love quote or saying through one of the free apps in your smartphone’s app store, like Love Quotes and Sayings or Love Notes.
- DO take advantage of free apps to plan your romantic evening. Want to find the perfect bottle of wine, order flowers, buy chocolates or make dinner reservations quickly and on-the-go? There are lots of apps for that, and many are free! For example, 1800Flowers features a selection of best-selling flowers. Find Chocolate helps you locate the nearest chocolate shops, and OpenTable allows you to book a table at more than 20,000 restaurants, browse menus and search by cuisine, price or location.
- DON’T check your texts and emails at the table. You’ve gone to the trouble of planning a romatic dinner for your sweetheart, so why risk ruining it by checking your device for messages while at the dinner table? Give your Valentine the gift she likely values the most: your undivided attention.
- DON’T text it if it’s better said face-to-face. Plan to pop the question on the most romantic day of the year? Think through your approach before you do. You know your Valentine better than anyone else. Would a face-to-face proposal have greater meaning for her or would she find a proposal via text more romantic? On the flip side, if something doesn’t go as planned on the special day, avoid texting while frustrated or angry. Instead, pick up the phone to hash things out.
Courtesy of AT&T.
Guest Post by Brenda Barron
Year after year, we watch as media consumption rises — in our homes, our professional workspaces, and even while we’re out and about. According to Nielsen’s Total Audience Report from the first quarter of 2016, our consumption of media has increased by a whole hour since the same time period in 2015.
The reason for this is obvious. With greater technology adoption comes more avenues through which we have access to media.
It’s not surprising then that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) compiled a thorough analysis this October on the effects of media on children. In addition, they included a revision to their recommended usage guidelines along with the report.
In sum, the AAP expects parents, educators, and physicians to work with children in maintaining a “healthy media diet” based on the following breakdown:
- 18 months and younger: no screen time except video-chatting.
- 18 to 24 months: parents should guide children through their interactions with high-quality media programming.
- 2 to 5 years: parents should allow up to an hour each day of supervised high-quality media viewing.
- 6 years and older: parents should establish limits on media consumption each day, including when, where, and how much.
The AAP’s recommended healthy media diet isn’t groundbreaking news. As children become exposed to more media and have greater access to technology, this question “Should there be limitations?” comes up frequently. What’s interesting to note, however, is the correlation between what the AAP now recommends with what the tech elite already do with their own children.
In the following infographic, we discuss what your children’s current media “diet” looks like, how tech leaders weigh the risk and reward of technology in their own children’s lives, and the major lessons high-tech parents have to offer about striking a balance between media consumption and unplugged time.
Source: WhoIsHostingThis.com
High-Tech Parents and Their Low-Tech Kids
New technologies present parents with unique challenges. Smartphones and tablets have become an easy babysitter for many stressed out parents. But that’s not usually the best thing for the children. Here we will look at how the world’s leading tech execs — people whose lives revolve around these gadgets — deal with these problems.
Tech and Today’s American Children
- Even very young children are using technology
- Children use the internet daily
- 25% of children by age 3
- 50% of children by age 5
- 27% of digital media is screen-based for children age 8 and under
- 30% of apps on parents’ devices are due to their children downloading them
- Children use the internet daily
- Very early online presence
- 33% of US children have an online presence before birth
- Ultrasound images
- 92% of US children have an online presence by age 2
- Photos uploaded by parents
- Full online profile
- 33% of US children have an online presence before birth
- A large part of the digital world is geared toward children
- 72% of children have a computer accessible at home
- 22% of children ages 6-9 own a cell phone
- 61% of digital users are between ages 3-11
- It’s not just computers
- 67% of children have a video gaming system
- 42% of children have a TV in their bedrooms
How the Tech Elite Do It
- Bill Gates
- Co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft
- “None of these new technologies come without some real issues that have to be thought through.”
- Supervises kids’ Facebook accounts
- Limited his young children’s screen time
- 45 minutes daily during the week
- 1 hour daily on weekends
- Not including homework time
- Co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft
- Chris Anderson
- Former editor of Wired and CEO of 3D Robotics
- Time limits for using devices
- Sets parental controls on devices
- Former editor of Wired and CEO of 3D Robotics
- Dick Costolo
- CEO of Twitter
- No time constraints on devices
- Children must use devices in the living room for supervision
- CEO of Twitter
- Ali Partovi
- Founder of iLike and advisor for Facebook, Zappos, and Dropbox
- Makes distinction between “consuming” and “creating”
- Watching videos is very different from creating them
- No time limits set for creative tech use
- Makes distinction between “consuming” and “creating”
- Founder of iLike and advisor for Facebook, Zappos, and Dropbox
- Steve Jobs
- Co-founder and former CEO of Apple
- Kids didn’t use the iPad
- Family focused on real-world activities
- Cooking
- Face-to-face conversation
- Family ate dinner together
- No tech at the table
- Talk of books, history, and other topics
- Co-founder and former CEO of Apple
- Waldorf School of the Peninsula
- Serves students in Silicon Valley
- One of 160 Waldorf schools nationwide
- Children of execs from Apple, Google, Yahoo, eBay, and Hewlett-Packard
- ¾ of students are connected to high-tech parents
- Bans screens from use in classrooms
- Frowns on tech use at home
- Uses pen and paper, knitting, and mud to teach lessons instead of electronics
- Focuses on physical, creative tasks rather than technological competency
- Alan Eagle, a Google exec, has a 5th grader at Waldorf who doesn’t know how to use Google
- Serves students in Silicon Valley
Tech Limit Guidelines for Kids
Every parent needs to decide what works for their children, here are some options:
- There are two things that unite all these techie parents:
- Setting tech usage boundaries
- Supervising tech use
- Usage Boundaries
- Setting tech usage limits is important
- This is similar to limiting television watching
- Common reasonings for tech boundaries
- Promotes
- Hands-on creativity in areas outside of tech
- Interpersonal interaction
- Expressive movement
- Limits protect children from dangers of tech
- Harmful online content
- Pornography
- Violence
- Bullying
- Addiction to devices
- Cognitive and physical issues
- Interacting with devices near bedtime can cause:
- Poor sleep
- Interacting with digital screens ignite hormones in the brain that keep people from sleeping
- Poor mental functioning
- Lower overall health
- Poor sleep
- Interacting with devices near bedtime can cause:
- Harmful online content
- Promotes
- Setting tech usage limits is important
- Supervision
- Another thing that unites most tech elites is their supervision of tech usage — both by the parents themselves and via software
- Direct parental supervision
- A family computer in a common room in the house where others can see the screen at all times
- Devices only allowed to be used when and where parents are present
- Living room or dining room, for example
- No devices in the bedroom
- Monitoring software
- Software is available to help parents track their children’s activity online, even if they are not able to be present all the time
- A family computer in a common room in the house where others can see the screen at all times
Though high tech is marketed as a boon for the world, the tech elites who create it also have a good understanding of its dangers. It might be convenient to hand an iPad to a squirming toddler. But it is usually better to follow the lead of these tech elites and manage the situation in a more old fashioned way. Sources: parenting.com, edudemic.com, techaddiction.ca, nytimes.com, breitbart.com, thewire.com, reuters.com, webmd.com, mashable.com
Sources
- How Texting Changes the Way Kids Communicate
- Children and Technology – Stats for Technology in the Home
- 92% of U.S. Toddlers Have Online Presence [STUDY]
- A One-Eyed Invader in the Bedroom
- Power Down for Better Sleep
- 18 Good Reasons to Get the TV Out of Your Bedroom
- Steve Jobs Was a Low-Tech Parent
- Steve Jobs Banned His Children from Using an iPad
- Mick Jagger, Bill Gates Give Parenting Tips
- Bill Gates keeps close eye on kids’ computer time
- A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute
I don’t have to tell anyone how online abuse has become part of the landscape of social media. Whether it’s a child being told to drink bleach and die, or a celebrity hearing their movie is so bad that “it’s not rape worthy,” or the former First Lady being called an ape in heels, the current culture of online cruelty seems to know no bounds.
Actress and activist Ashley Judd brilliantly articulated what it’s like to be a celebrity, an activist, and a woman on the Internet today in her TEDTalk last October, “How Online Abuse of Women Has Spiraled Out of Control.”
In an interview with TIME.com, Judd shared that her abuse started the minute she went online. She joined Twitter six years ago, in 2011, and was subjected to unrelenting harassment and abuse on a daily basis. But it wasn’t until 2015 that she discovered just how sadistic the dark-web could be.
An avid sports fan, she tweeted out a comment about her feelings when a rival basketball team was playing dirty.
This tweet invoked a malicious cyber-mob attack that took a on a life of its own. From hate speech, to rape and death threats, Judd became the victim of the kind of cyber-violence that no one deserves.
Let’s pretend for a moment that Judd wasn’t a celebrity, or that she wasn’t even a woman. Would that have made a difference? Being a sports enthusiast isn’t, and shouldn’t be, reserved only for those who fit a narrow stereotype.
Thankfully There Are Good Guys Online Too
Last summer after reading an article in the Charlotte Observer about online trolls and fighting back, I met (virtually) @SupportiveDude. He loves his sports and will go to bat for anyoe being abused online! (No pun intended).
He happened to check Twitter during a Hornet’s game and had had enough of the bashing a sports media star was getting. As he told Cristina Bolling of the Observer, “I saw someone I follow dealing with an Internet troll. This person was just coming at him with this angry and unprovoked vitriol,” he said. “I wondered to myself what the counterpoint to this kind of online behavior would be. I started the account in that moment on a whim.… I like simplicity, so I just named it “Supportive Guy.” (The handle @supportiveguy was already taken, he said, so he went with @supportivedude.)
I’ve been following @SupportiveDude, and fortunately for him, he’s never been subjected to the blow-back that Judd has had to contend with. I would venture to say that he would be one of the first to come to her digital rescue or anyone else who might be in need.
Online Gender Violence
When it comes to cyber-thrashing, women have largely been the receivers. When Judd talks about her experience, she ignites the stage with her colorful description of the foul language she is confronted with online on a regular basis—four-letter words that should be banned from our vocabulary and that no one should have to be subjected to.
Sadly, as we have learned in Judd’s case, one tweet can set off the cyber-mob. But we have see this gang-like mentality get sparked by other digital interchanges too. Remember when Suey Park tweeted #CancelColbert? Like Judd, she found herself on the receiving end of volatile comments, including death threats, and she eventually became a victim of doxxing. Park’s world was turned upside down from just one tweet that was taken out-of-context.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The fact is, hate is hate, online or off. Whether it’s targeted at women or men, it’s never okay. The reality that a simple tweet can spark an explosion of vicious and contemptuous comments online or threats towards a person’s life is unacceptable.
As Judd reminds us in her TEDTalk, “there are solutions.”
“Number one: we have to start with digital media literacy, and clearly it must have a gendered lens. Kids, schools, caregivers, parents: it’s essential. Two… shall we talk about our friends in tech? Said with dignity and respect, the sexism in your workplaces must end.”
Digital media literacy is to the key to curbing online abuse — no matter what your age, you are never too young or old to learn about cyber civics.
Many schools are now incorporating this into their curriculum and I believe should be mandated (so do some states, with new media literacy legislation being introduced every year). Cyber Civics is the three-year comprehensive curriculum that teaches all aspects digital literacy to middle schoolers—from digital citizenship, to information literacy, to how to spot fake news. This educational program was created by Diana Graber, co-founder of Cyberwise, and it is now being taught in 24 U.S. states and internationally.
When kids get these classes in school, the lessons trickle up to their parents. These are life skills that we all need today.
Being a Voice.
Judd also recognizes she has the ability and platform with her celebrity, to make a difference in this violent cyber-world.
“So, I have all these resources that I’m keenly aware so many people in the world do not.”
But this doesn’t meant that the average person can’t speak-up too! I applaud Judd as she discusses that she will be meeting with tech giants to continue this dialogue to end online abuse, but we must all do our part too.
Takeaway Tips:
· Meet with your school board and PTA: Be sure digital literacy is taught in your district.
· Organize Kindness and Upstander Clubs in schools and communities.
· Demand digital Literacy for all ages: Encourage your local school or college to give classes for young adults and seniors too.
Article was originally posted on Huffington Post by Sue Scheff.
At first glance it appears not much. However, one thing we can all agree on is that our kids and technology both grow and evolve at incredibly fast rates.Take for example, the perplexity of how one day our kids are playing contently with Legos or dolls on the living room floor, but overnight it feels as if they have morphed into teenagers obsessed with technology, cars, clothes, the opposite sex, and more. Suddenly, the little kids we used to know have been replaced with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.
Granted, technology doesn’t rely on biology or hormones to spur changes, but our devices and gadgets can evolve quickly. Often these changes, upgrades, and updates leave us wondering where we got left behind or straining to play catch-up with our kids’ digital know-how. Especially, in a world that often seems driven by social media and smart technology. It’s inevitable that our children and devices will change, but this revolving process makes it vital for us, as parents, to stay up-to-date on the trending and dangerous apps our kids frequently download and use.
It’s no secret that we already have a lot on our plates as we help our children navigate their way to adulthood. For those reasons alone, it can feel like we are waging in an uphill battle when we add the valuable amount of time and effort we spend worrying if our boys or girls are victims of sexting, cyberbullying, extorting, or oversharing via technology. So, as we exchange the old year for a fresh beginning, we should make it a point to spend a few minutes educating ourselves on the apps our sons and daughters might be utilizing.
Afterall, knowledge is power.
To help us sift through the unending lists of apps and make sense of this daunting quest, the creators at TeenSafe have compiled the following infographic to help us keep our kids safe this new year:
January 28th is Data Privacy Day.
The Internet gives everyone a voice, but we need people to protect those voices.
Online harassment and cyber bullying are real. And, some groups, such as women, are targeted more than others. Sadly, who you are affects how you are treated by others online, as well as offline.
The Internet Society offers 10 tips to keep you safer online.
| A powerful way to counter online abuse, threats and violence is to share knowledge with each other. So, to mark this year’s International Data Privacy Day, the Internet Society would like to share with you 10 tips to protect yourself and others online:
Know the terrain. The Internet is a powerful tool for communication. Learn how to use the Internet, keep your eyes open for good and bad actors, and make the most of what the Internet offers. Keep your private life private. Keep your personal information separate from your professional role. Use different personas for different roles. Protect communications. Use end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication for confidential communications. Obscure your location. Remove location data from images and videos before posting. Turn off application access to location. Don’t disclose your location in public posts. Guard your devices. They’re more precious than any jewels. Protect them from both physical and digital tampering. Use encryption and strong access credentials. Prepare for an attack. Find allies and prepare a plan for dealing with online harassment, doxing and other forms of abuse. Don’t feed the trolls! They don’t deserve your attention. Stand firm. Don’t let cyber bullies undermine what you are doing. Show them you are not afraid. Others will stand with you. Be willing to ask for help. Beware of Trojan horses. Look out for spear-phishers. Check before connecting with someone new. If something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t! Lead. Share your experience with others. Let people know that you are there to help. Protect others. If you host user-generated content, prevent users from posting derogatory or other abusive messages. Help remove personal information that has been exposed to hurt someone. Report offenders Share these tips with someone close to you! |
 Source |
The internet is a modern marvel. This simple invention has revolutionized our lives in ways we never could have expected. We can order food and products straight to our door. We can video chat with people on the other side of the globe. We can talk to almost anyone in a matter of seconds. We can play games, watch movies and TV, and keep ourselves entertained for hours on end. We can learn new things and explore new places without ever leaving the comfort of our homes.
But too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Children of the modern age are inundated with data. They’re growing up in a world where tablets, smartphones, and smart watches are readily available. In fact, kids between eight and eighteen years old spend an average of almost eight hours per day using the internet.
The internet can also be a scary place, particularly for young kids. For teens, the internet can be even more intimidating. Many people on the internet feel as though they are anonymous, which means that bullying has become rampant on social platforms. People may feel as though their keyboard is a separate entity, which makes them think they can say whatever they want without consequence. In reality, hurtful comments and messages can have long-lasting, real-life consequences.
Parental restriction locks can help protect your kids from accessing the darker corners of the web, but children should also bear personal responsibility for their internet use. Kids and teens should be taught from an early age how to use these technologies safely and responsibly.
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Basic Tips for Internet Safety
These tips may seem like common sense, but a little review never hurt anyone.
- Never give out any personal information. This includes full names, home addresses, work addresses, school addresses, phone numbers, credit and debit card information, and other security details. You never know who’s on the other side of the screen, and giving out personal information can put your child and your family in danger. Teach your kids the importance of keeping their personal information private.
- Never send or respond to messages that are mean or hurtful. Your kids should know to come to you right away if they receive a message that is meant to bully or insult them. Responding to messages like these can only make matters worse, and puts your child on the same level as the person who sent them in the first place.
- Never give out passwords to anyone. Not even to their best friend. All a hacker needs is your password to access your accounts and use your personal information for nefarious purposes. In addition, passwords should always be strong and difficult to guess easily.
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How to Teach Your Child or Teen to Stay Safe Online
Everyone’s parenting style is different, and every parent will have different ways of teaching their children internet safety. All too often, those basic safety tips you try to instill in your child can go in one ear and out the other. Here are some approaches to teaching your kids internet safety lessons that will stick.
- Communication is key. Your child should feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns they have regarding their internet use. Establishing an open line of communication can help resolve problems and prevent them from encountering dangerous sites or people.
- Your kids should consult you if they have any doubts. The internet can be unpredictable. Even with parental locks and thorough education on the dangers of the internet, there’s still a chance your child can encounter something potentially dangerous. Encourage your child to consult you if they come across something that’s unsafe or makes them uncomfortable.
- Supervise your kids’ internet use. Internet use, particularly for younger kids, should always be supervised. Not supervising your kids’ internet use may lead to them accessing inappropriate material, or may result in them breaking an expensive device.
- Educate your children on the dangers of becoming addicted to the Internet. Children under five should not exceed one hour of internet usage per day. Older children and teens should have a maximum of two hours of screen time per day. Excess internet usage can have negative effects on mental health, sleep, educational development, and eyesight. Your kids should know this information and heed it when using the internet.
- Let your kids know that using the Internet is a privilege, not a right. If your child or teen breaks any of your internet safety rules, there should be consequences in place for dealing with it. The least of these should include restricted or no internet access for a predetermined period of time. In the event that this does happen, you should keep all devices secured safely so your child can’t access them.
- Talk to them about malware and phishing scams. Kids may not know what malware looks like. You should teach them to recognize phishing scams and to avoid them when they pop up. All your devices should have antivirus software installed, and your child should know how to use these programs in case they accidentally download malware.
- Teach them how to use privacy settings on social networking sites. This tip may be more useful for older children or teens who have social media profiles like Facebook or Twitter. Your children’s profiles should never be accessible to the public until they are 18 or older. Make sure your child or teen knows how to enable privacy settings so their updates and photos aren’t accessed by anyone they don’t want to see them.
- Be honest. Tell your kids exactly what they may encounter while surfing the internet. What you choose to disclose may vary based on their age and maturity level as well as your parenting preferences. Either way, honesty is important when teaching your kids internet safety.
- Address online sexual encounters. This one is especially important for teens. In the past year alone, 25% of teenagers younger than seventeen encountered unwanted sexual content. You should teach them what to do in case this happens to them.
Teaching your children about internet use is a relatively new realm for parents, and it can be scary no matter what age your kids are. The most important thing is to be open and honest, and to teach your kids and teens accountability for their internet use.
Contributor: Jim Shaw
So, your teenager is about to earn their driver’s license. How do you feel? Worried? Confused? Relieved? On one hand, a driver’s license means freedom from your duties as a chauffeur. On the other, teenage drivers can be a tremendous source of anxiety. In fact, one survey of 638 parents lists “driving without supervision,” as more worrisome than “using drugs/alcohol” or “having sex.” The worry, it turns out, is not completely unwarranted as automobile accidents kill more people each year on average than alcohol, AIDS, drug use, murder, suicide, airplanes, and even sharks. As if these facts weren’t enough, driving is even more dangerous for teenagers than it is for adults. In 2015, teen drivers were involved in 4,689 fatal accidents, up from 4,272 in the previous year.
Teenage drivers are also more vulnerable than adults when it comes to drinking and driving. According to the CDC, teenagers are 17 times more likely to die from an accident when they have a blood alcohol concentration of .08% (the legal limit for adults). And, while the number of teens who admit to drinking and driving has decreased by 51% since 1991, the number of teens who admit to texting and driving is on the rise.
If drinking and driving doesn’t worry you, distracted driving should. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, drivers under the age of 25 are three times more likely than older drivers to text while driving. This is likely due to the fact that only 60% of drivers under the age of 25 consider texting and driving to be “highly dangerous.” In contrast, 95% of drivers over the age of 45 consider texting and driving to be highly dangerous.
Knowing this, parents should prepare their child for the road as best they can. Begin by communicating with him or her, sharing experiences and research to show the importance of staying off their device while behind the wheel. While I understand that it may not align with every family’s parenting method, appealing to your child’s desire for digital media and showing them this terrifying video about texting and driving could really help hammer the message home. He or she may hate every minute of it, but the lasting impact could end up being a decisive factor down the road.
Getting your child behind the wheel of a “safe car” does not mean what it did when you went through the same process with your parents. There are plenty of resources at your disposal when it comes to researching the safest cars for teenagers or budgeting for a used car, but try not to deprive your child of high-tech options just because they may not have been around when you were getting your license. Providing your new driver with a vehicle equipped with features like Bluetooth connectivity will teach them how to safely interact with available technologies while keeping their hands on the steering wheel. Honda Accords, for example, have been widely considered among the most dependable vehicles for young adults for years, but now many come wired for Bluetooth.
If you are wary of your driver using any technology that may distract him or her from the road initially, you could practice by separating the two experiences altogether. Enact a new family rule by teaching your child that before the key enters the ignition, the driver’s phone must be locked in the glove compartment (that includes parent drivers). This exercise might also teach experienced drivers to improve our habits as well as our kids.
When ready, hand over the keys and let your new driver experience all the wonderful benefits of freedom that driving has to offer. It’s ok to worry, that’s what parents do. But by taking the necessary steps in making sure your child is well-prepared you will help ease the transition into this next phase of your family dynamic.
Contributor: Jayson Goetz is a young writer whose work primarily focuses on educating readers about the effects of science and technology on today’s society.