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Jun 07, 2018
By Larry Magid This post first appeared in the Mercury News As the founder of SafeKids.com and co-founder of ConnectSafely.org, I've written volumes about parental controls that help parents limit what their kids can do online or with mobile devices. Apple already offers optional parental controls for iPhones and iPads, but with the upcoming release of its new mobile operating system, iOS 12, the company is enhancing those controls and — more interesting — extending them to adult users. Don't worry grown-ups, you still have control over what you can do with your devices, but with a new feature called Screen Time along with updates to notifications and Do Not Disturb, the company is doing a lot more to encourage breaks and help users understand how much they are using their devices and apps. Google also offers parental controls on its Android phones and, in May, introduced its own set of "wind down" features for adults. What sets Apple apart is that the tools for parents and children are similar to the ones for adults. The main difference is that the parental version allows parents to monitor and limit their kids' usage. I applaud Google and Apple for helping us put a [...]
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Jun 01, 2018
By Maureen Kochan and Larry Magid, Ed.D. Click Here For Full Guide (PDF) If your kids love to play online games, one of the names you may be hearing about a lot lately is Roblox. Launched in 2006, Roblox's popularity among gamers 8-years-old and up has exploded, and it is now one of the top online entertainment platforms for kids and teens, according to comScore. But Roblox isn't actually a game. It's a platform that allows anyone to create their own online games by using its game design tool known as Roblox Studio. In a way, Roblox is similar to YouTube - it gives people the tools to create digital content and a place to share and enjoy content from others. Creators have published millions of games on the platform, which is available on Xbox One, personal computers, iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, as well as virtual reality headsets. The most popular games attract hundreds of thousands of players each day. Top games like Jailbreak can attract more than 100,000 concurrent players at peak times. Entertainment Platform for Play Roblox games are social, multiplayer experiences. In fact, Roblox could be your child's first experience with digital socializing. Players can [...]
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May 31, 2018
This post first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News by Larry Magid A new survey from Pew Research found that Snapchat is now the social media app that teens use most often, followed closely by YouTube. A slight majority (51 percent) still uses Facebook, but that's down from 71 percent compared with Pew's 2014-2015 survey. The report, Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018 is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,058 parents and 743 teens. Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, is growing among teens. It's now used by 72 percent, up from 52 percent in 2015. Nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) of teens use Snapchat, up from 41 percent in 2015. But the more interesting statistics aren't so much the number of users of each service but the number of teens who use them most often. Facebook was once the dominant platform for young Americans, but that honor now goes to Snapchat, which 32 percent of teens say they use most often. It's followed by YouTube, which is the most commonly used app by 32 percent of teens followed by Instagram (15 percent) with Facebook at 10 percent and Twitter a distant 3 percent. Although many teens [...]
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May 31, 2018
By Larry Magid This post first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News Listen to Larry Magid's CBS News Radio interview with the study's lead author, Monica Anderson A new survey from Pew Research found that Snapchat is now the social media app that teens use most often, followed closely by YouTube. A slight majority (51 percent) still uses Facebook, but that's down from 71 percent compared with Pew's 2014-2015 survey. That's probably no surprise but what I find amazing is that nearly half (45 percent) of teens say they are online "almost constantly." When you add in the 24 percent that say they go online "several times a day," the survey reveals that 89 percent are heavy users. Girls are more likely (50 percent) to be online constantly compared with boys (39 percent) and the report said "Hispanic teens are more likely than whites to report using the internet almost constantly (54 percent vs. 41 percent). The report, Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018 is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,058 parents and 743 teens. Instagram growing Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, is growing among teens. It's now used by 72 percent, up from 52 percent in 2015. [...]
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May 28, 2018
The FBI recommends "any owner of small office and home office routers power cycle (reboot) the devices." It's in response to a malware threat called VPNFiler that can render routers inoperable and potentially steal information, according to the bureau. There is also the risk of your home or business network infecting other networks.
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May 27, 2018
Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) kicked in on Friday, May 25th, and its impact will be felt not just in Europe but around the world — especially in Silicon Valley, where many tech companies are based. That's because the GDPR's rules affect any company that touches data from European citizens, which is pretty much every tech company. It could also have a negative impact on some European teenagers.
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May 17, 2018
by Larry Magid This post first appeared in the Mercury News I'm about to report on some interesting numbers from Facebook regarding inappropriate material it deleted from its service, but first I'd like to warn users about the types of materials you may be providing not just to Facebook but to third-party developers. Beware of apps bearing ‘insight' You have undoubtedly heard about the scandal where data from tens of millions of Facebook users were collected by a researcher, via a personal quiz called "thisisyourdigitallife" and turned over to Cambridge Analytica for the benefit of the Trump campaign. And now, according to New Scientist, another personality quiz app called myPersonality exposed personal data of 3 million Facebook users, including "the results of psychological tests." I'll give you the same advice that I give my friends and family. Don't take these tests and quizzes, regardless of whether you find them on Facebook, in the Apple or Android app store or on the web. It may be fun to find out what type of animal you resemble or who among your friends is a true soulmate, but there is a reason that developers of these apps have invested in something they're letting people use [...]
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May 10, 2018
By Larry Magid This article first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. The common expression "too much of a good thing" can apply to almost everything that we enjoy, including the internet and mobile devices. My grandparents understood that, but apparently, many of my contemporaries don't when it comes to tech. I'm guilty as well. I can think of many occasions when I've sat down at my computer or started gazing at my mobile phone, only to realize hours later that I've just wasted the better part of an evening. Of course, the companies that make those "good things," want you to use them as much as possible, but — whether because of pressure or because of a newfound awareness, Google has gotten the message and soon will offer Android users tools to check how much time they're spending in apps, how often they're unlocking their phones and how many notifications they receive. Android users will also get a more robust "do not disturb" feature, including a "shush" gesture that automatically puts the phone into do-not-disturb mode when you turn it over. Android also gets a "wind down" feature that "gets the phone ready for bed," by either activating [...]
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May 07, 2018
Guidance for parents and young people on cyberbullying, including advice for ending (or preventing) the cycle of aggression. For a more comprehensive look, see A Parents' Guide to Cyberbullying. For kids and teens Know that it's not your fault. What people call "bullying" is sometimes an argument between two people. But if someone is repeatedly cruel to you, that's bullying and you mustn't blame yourself. No one deserves to be treated cruelly. Don't respond or retaliate. Sometimes a reaction is exactly what aggressors are looking for because they think it gives them power over you, and you don't want to empower a bully. As for retaliating, getting back at a bully turns you into one - and can turn one mean act into a chain reaction. If you can, remove yourself from the situation. If you can't, sometimes humor disarms or distracts a person from bullying. Save the evidence. The only good news about bullying online or on phones is that it can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help. You can save that evidence in case things escalate. Tell the person to stop. This is completely up to you - don't do it if you [...]
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May 07, 2018
"Sexting" usually refers to the sharing of nude or semi-nude and sexually provocative photos via mobile phones, but it can happen on other devices and the Web too. First of all, research shows most teens don't "sext." And most of those who do experience no negative consequences. But for teens who do sext, there are both psychological and legal risks, especially if coercion is involved and the images wind up being distributed beyond their intended audience. Sexting is certainly not just a teen issue, but these tips are specifically for teens and parents of teens. Scroll down for tips for both parents and teens. Various causes: The reasons teens "sext" vary widely. In some cases it's a form of flirting or a way of showing affection for a boyfriend or girlfriend or someone the teen is interested in dating. Sometimes it's impulsive behavior, perhaps at a party or when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There are also cases where the teen is responding to peer pressure, bullying or even threats. In rarer cases, adults solicit images from teens. Some teens view sexting as a form of "safe sex" because, unlike physical sex, there is no risk of pregnancy or [...]
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May 07, 2018
Some 95% of Americans own cellphones of some kind, according to Pew Research Center - among 18- to 29-year-olds, the number is a whopping 100%. But no matter your age, there are some basic ideas for keeping mobile phone use safe and constructive: Share with care. Use the same good sense about what you post from your phone as from a computer. Once they're posted, text, photos, and video are tough to take back, can be copied and pasted elsewhere, and are up there pretty much forever. Think about the people in them (including you!). Reputations are at stake. Phones are personal. Letting other people use your phone when you're not around is like letting them have the password to your social network profile. They can impersonate you, which gives them the power to mess with your reputation and relationships. Lock your phone when you're not using it, and use strong and unique passwords for all your apps. Keep it kind. Because people socialize on cellphones as much as online, cyberbullying can be mobile too. Treat people on phones and the web the way you would in person, and the risk of being bullied goes down. Be aware, too, of people [...]
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May 06, 2018
Interacting with old and new friends Be kind online. It's OK to disagree, but don't be disagreeable. Be cautious about sarcasm and humor. Something that may be funny in person, could be misinterpreted online If you get together with someone you first met online, have the first meeting is in a public place. Know how to report abuse or block anyone who bothers you and others on social media Be weary of anyone who says you or a family member owes them money, unless you are sure they are legitimate. Security Use strong and unique passwords (more at connectsafely.org/passwords) Don't click on links in emails. They can be fake and lead you to malicious sites. Type in the web address yourself. When in doubt call the bank or other company that sent you the email. Make sure your phone is locked. Secure your smartphone with a PIN (4 digit number), password, fingerprint or other method. Don't respond to anyone who tells you your computer is infected with a virus even if they claim they're with Microsoft, Apple or your internet provider. Shopping, banking, donating and contests If it sounds too good to be true, it's too good to be true. [...]
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May 06, 2018
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May 04, 2018
The safest way to avoid a picture getting into the wrong hands is to never take it, allow it to be taken, or share it. Sadly, there are cases (sometimes called "revenge porn") where someone shares pictures meant only for them — sometimes after a breakup. Never take and send an image of yourself because you were pressured, even from someone you care about. If there is an inappropriate sexual image of you online, see if you can get it taken down. Many apps and services will remove such images upon request If someone sends you a sexual image, do not share, post or forward it. It's a violation of trust and you could be breaking the law. If it's an image of a minor, you could be committing a very serious crime. If the image isn't meant for you or you feel it's inappropriate or possibly illegal, delete it from your devices and any online storage. If a stranger (or possibly even someone you know) asks you to take a revealing picture, it could be a scam that could lead to further demands and threats ("sextortion"). Do not respond and consider reporting it to the police and, if it [...]
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May 04, 2018
A strong password is your first line of defense against intruders and imposters. Scroll down for a video based on these tips. Never give out your password to anyone.* Never give it to friends, even if they're really good friends. A friend can - maybe even accidentally - pass your password along to others or even become an ex-friend and abuse it. Don't just use one password. It's possible that someone working at a site where you use that password could pass it on or use it to break into your accounts at other sites. Newest advice: Use a pass phrase. Security experts are now recommending a "pass phrase" rather than simply a password. Such a phrase should be relatively long - perhaps 20 characters or so and consist of seemingly random words strung together along with numbers, symbols and upper and lower case letters. Think of something that you can remember but others couldn't guess such as YellowChocolate#56CadillacFi$h. that's relatively long - perhaps 20 characters or so — using seemingly random words strung together along with numbers, symbols and upper and lower case letters. Think of something that you can remember but others couldn't guess such as YellowChocolate#56CadillacFi$h. Avoid using famous quotations that might [...]
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May 03, 2018
In a statement, Twitter urged users to change their passwords after disclosing "Due to a bug, passwords were written to an internal log before completing the hashing process." Hashing replaces the actual password with a version that can't be read by a human being. The company said that it has "fixed the bug, and our investigation shows no indication of breach or misuse by anyone." The company offers the following password advice Change your password on Twitter and on any other service where you may have used the same password. Use a strong password that you don't reuse on other websites. Enable login verification, also known as two factor authentication. This is the single best action you can take to increase your account security. Use a password manager to make sure you're using strong, unique passwords everywhere. You'll find more advice at ConnectSafely's Tips for Strong, Secure Passwords & Other Authentication Tools
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Apr 26, 2018
by Larry Magid This post first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News Amazon is going after the little-kids' market, and I think that's just fine. The company has long offered a children's version of its popular Fire Tablet and now offers Alexa content aimed at young users. Amazon recently beefed up its parental controls for its FreeTime children's content service giving parents access to activity reports on their kids' internet use. It also allows parents to set time limits and educational goals and shares tips on how to talk to children about the content they access. On Wednesday, Amazon announced that it's bringing its FreeTime service to Alexa and will soon start selling an Echo Dot Kids Edition, which combines an Echo Dot voice activated speaker, FreeTime features and a year's subscription to FreeTime Unlimited. The Unlimited service offers premium content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, PBS Kids and Cartoon Network. Amazon calls Alexa "a kid-friendly DJ, comedian, and storyteller." I know several parents whose kids love Alexa not only for her ability to play music but to tell jokes (often pretty bad ones) and stories and turn lights and devices on and off. Someday kids might think of light switches the [...]
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Apr 21, 2018
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Apr 09, 2018
Facebook is in the process of notifying users whether their personal information may have been accessed by Cambridge Analytica. Starting today, users will see one of two notices. The one on the right will go to people if one or more of their friends used the app This is Your Digital Life," which passed the information on. The notice on the left will go to other users to help them determine what apps they've used and what information those apps may know about them.
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Mar 30, 2018
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Mar 29, 2018
Few things stoke anxiety and confusion among parents like the topic of screen time. But experts are increasingly urging parents - and the people who work with kids - to relax, and focus not just on how much they're using screens, but how they're using them. High school digital learning specialist and ConnectSafely K-12 director of education Kerry Gallagher took this message to a group of educators recently at the ASCD Empower18 conference. Kerry focused on the changing research and education around screen time. Watch her presentation:
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Mar 29, 2018
by Larry Magid This post first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News Last week I wrote about Facebook's rather complicated privacy settings and, as I said at the time, "I wish it weren't necessary for me to write this column." I actually had two reasons for saying that. One is because I believe that Facebook should turn on more privacy features by default and second, because Facebook makes it too complicated to find and configure your privacy settings. I'm not sure if Facebook plans to address my first issue but, based on a statement posted Wednesday by Facebook Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan and Ashlie Beringer, vice president and deputy general counsel, the company apparently agrees that "It's time to make our privacy tools easier to find." Egan and Beringer acknowledged that privacy controls are now "spread across nearly 20 different screens," and pledged to make things a lot easier going forward by making them accessible on a single page. Perhaps the most important part of their announcement is making it easier to "review what you've shared and delete it if you want to." It's always been possible to delete your posts, but there is a significant difference between possible and [...]
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Mar 26, 2018
Fake contests are almost as bad as fake news, but this one is real. It's called What's Your Story? and the Grand Prize is $10,000. Here's how to enter.
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Mar 21, 2018
There have been a lot of news stories about Facebook privacy, including personal information being collected and provided to political campaigns. Fortunately, there are ways to control your privacy on Facebook but it doesn't happen automatically. You have to take steps to make it happen. Unless otherwise noted, these instructions apply to the web. All of these controls are also available on mobile but the actual instructions may be a little different Controlling audience for your posts The first thing you need to do is to be sure that your posts are reaching only your desired audience. You do that on a post-by-post basis through the audience setting on the bottom of each post, just to the left of the Post button. On mobile it will be above your post and just below your name. If you click on button (it might say Friends or something else) you'll see several options including Public, Friends, Friends except (you can specify who shouldn't see it), Only me, specific friends or custom. This gives you an enormous amount of granular control. You could, for example create a list of friends or family members and send a specific post just to them. Note that [...]
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Mar 21, 2018
There have been a lot of news stories about Facebook privacy, including personal information being collected and provided to political campaigns. Fortunately, there are ways to control your privacy on Facebook but it doesn't happen automatically. You have to take steps to make it happen.
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Mar 21, 2018
There have been a lot of news stories about Facebook privacy, including personal information being collected and provided to political campaigns. Fortunately, there are ways to control your privacy on Facebook but it doesn't happen automatically. You have to take steps to make it happen.
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Mar 19, 2018
As you may have heard, Facebook has acknowledged that data from Facebook users wound up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica and then to the Trump campaign. Controlling data accessible to apps In this case, the culprit was a Facebook app which, like many apps on the service, gathers personal data as a matter of course. And while Facebook may be in the process of tightening its controls over how these apps operate, it remains essential for users to be aware of what apps they're using and what information they collect. You can view and control the data apps collect by going to the App Settings page that can can access as follows: Web: Click on down arrow to the right of your Facebook home page, select settings and select Apps from the left column. That brings up a page for your installed apps. Click on an app to see and edit permissions Mobile: Click on the 3 horizontal lines (upper right Android and bottom of iOS screen) to bring up the menu and scroll down and click Account Settings and then Apps. Tap on an app to view and edit its privacy settings.
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Mar 01, 2018
More than 200 students from Austin Independent School District were on hand February 6th for the official U.S. celebration of Safer Internet Day. The day began with welcome addresses from ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid and National PTA President James Accomando followed by remarks by Austin Independent School District superintendent Paul Cruz. Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn was the keynote speaker. Another highlight was the "Youth & Tech Industry Issues in Perspective" panel, with representatives of Google, Facebook and After School along with two student leaders from Austin. Students and industry discuss social media privacy. Another session, "A Teen Who Doesn't Just Play Games - He Builds Them," featured Austin American-Statesman reporter Omar Gallega interviewing 19-year-old college student and Roblox developer Andrew Bereza, who — beginning at age 15 — has been earning substantial income and sharing his enthusiasm as a Roblox game developer. But the event was more than students listening to speakers. After lunch, everyone rolled up their sleeves for "You Are An Internet Activist," where students, in small groups, created their own media campaigns to spread awareness on the importance of media literacy. See the results of the students' efforts here. Students working on awareness materials about the importance [...]
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