We know—it is not our job to clip cupid’s wings or douse the Valentine vibe—but it is our job to help keep things safe for you and your family online. That said, McAfee recently released the study, Love, Relationships, and Technology:When Private Data Gets Stuck in the Middle of a Breakup. The study examines the downside Read more…
It’s natural to assume our kids understand words and concepts that are commonplace to us. But when it comes to online safety—it’s best not to make assumptions. With the explosion of texting, sharing, and the 24/7 digital banter, any day is a good day for a primer on words that daily intersect with our kids’ Read more…
You have gone over the basics of online safety and even posted a Family Game Plan next to the computer. You are doing fantastic. However, there are still some critical rules (some even laws) your kids could be breaking online that have ethical, even legal, consequences. (We know—just when you thought you could relax right?) Read more…
I will be the first to confess that sometimes when I look at my kids, my eyes do not work. Seriously. They recalibrate to another version of reality; the comfortable one. Sometimes when I look at my kids, a soft focus frames the picture and butterflies and sunshine fill in around their little faces. Nope, Read more…
Few people understand the power of the ‘location services’ option on their smart phones. The service, which uses GPS to pin point your location, is impressive when it comes to many of the downloadable apps that require your “location” to bring up things such as nearby coffee spots, restaurants, coupons, or check-in options. Often the Read more…
If you are a parent you are likely familiar with the 24/7 critic that silently (and relentlessly) loops in your head. You know the one: Its intensity varies depending on the day. It accuses you of not doing enough for your kids, of doing too much for them, and then it convinces your overwhelmed self Read more…
Okay, let’s just say it: The topic of Internet safety is not exactly glamorous. It rarely makes headlines until after a safety breech rattles your family. Moreover, the topic is loaded with ever-evolving tech terms that can leave your head spinning. Still the fact remains that understanding Internet safety in today’s wired world is just Read more…
Simple words such as “like,” “comment,” and “in a relationship,” have taken on new—and arguably more powerful meanings—with the explosion of social networking in the past several years. Have you stopped to teach your kids the value and power of their digital clicks? The “Like” Button In the past, if you “liked” pepperoni pizza or Read more…
The task of parenting a digital native isn’t for the faint of heart. Not only are kids texting and posting in a mysterious, abbreviated code, they are also peppering such code into everyday conversation so that to anyone outside of the “circle” can sound pretty garbled. Demystifying the slang can be a full time job, Read more…
While the Internet is ripe with incredible opportunities for learning and connection, most activities considered to be “entertaining,” can also be abused to the point—some argue—of addiction. Online addictions such as gambling, pornography, shopping, and living in “alternate” or “virtual worlds” have increasingly hit the headlines as the world becomes increasingly wired. In addition, recent research Read more…