Apps

A NY Times article about Uber and its founder has revealed that the Uber app marks iPhones with persistent digital ID tags that remain even after users delete the app and wipe the phone. Although Uber claims the information collected has not been used for anything, there is still the question of whether or not apps can continue collecting information about you after it is deleted from the phone. The answer , according to an article on USA Today is neither yes nor no. The app downloads a “tag”, leaving behind a unique ID on an iPhone so the developer can recall the apps that were on it and the last Wi-Fi network the phone was logged onto. These marks are used to help a company prove that the phone belonged to an individual, says Joseph Jerome, privacy & data policy counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology. Apple plans to take up the issue in developer conferences in May and June and will work on setting new security policies.

No one says the risks of using social media are not real, but with millions of kids using these kinds of apps every day, only a tiny fraction of them misusing it. Is it okay to stop worrying about your kids and social media just a bit? Common Sense Media takes up the topic in a new article entitled 5 Reasons You Don't Need to Worry About Kids and Social Media, reminding us that social media strengthens friendships, offers a sense of belonging, and offers support to those who feel marginalized. Social media can even help kids do good by providing chances to participate in community service or raising awareness for people in need. Check out this collection of sites that awaken a sense of social responsibility in kids.

No one says the risks of using social media are not real, but with millions of kids using these kinds of apps every day, only a tiny fraction of them misusing it. Is it okay to stop worrying about your kids and social media just a bit? Common Sense Media takes up the topic in a new article entitled 5 Reasons You Don't Need to Worry About Kids and Social Media, reminding us that social media strengthens friendships, offers a sense of belonging, and offers support to those who feel marginalized. Social media can even help kids do good by providing chances to participate in community service or raising awareness for people in need. Check out this collection of sites that awaken a sense of social responsibility in kids.

Goggle Maps recently included a location sharing feature as an update to the Google Maps app for your phone and personal computer. While this kind of location sharing is already available on other apps, privacy experts are worried about adding this feature to one of the world’s most popular apps when so many are concerned about digital safety and privacy. When location sharing is turned on, your teen can be tracked when out with friends, and if you are not careful to limit access to only friends and family, burglars can even find out when you are out of the house for the day. On a more positive note, the app can be set up to let someone know where you are, or that you’ve arrived to your location safely, but then the tracking will turn off when you arrive. Google will also send you emails to remind you have the feature on if you forget to turn it off. Take a look at this article for help with turning the location sharing on and off and for more information about the feature.

Goggle Maps recently included a location sharing feature as an update to the Google Maps app for your phone and personal computer. While this kind of location sharing is already available on other apps, privacy experts are worried about adding this feature to one of the world’s most popular apps when so many are concerned about digital safety and privacy. When location sharing is turned on, your teen can be tracked when out with friends, and if you are not careful to limit access to only friends and family, burglars can even find out when you are out of the house for the day. On a more positive note, the app can be set up to let someone know where you are, or that you’ve arrived to your location safely, but then the tracking will turn off when you arrive. Google will also send you emails to remind you have the feature on if you forget to turn it off. Take a look at this article for help with turning the location sharing on and off and for more information about the feature.

If you are a parent, you probably have hundreds (if not thousands) of photos of your kids stored on your phone. If you have issues with storage space on your device, you know that photos are one of biggest storage hogs. While you can always transfer your pictures to your computer, there are other solutions to save your photos without ever having to plug in. USA Today featured a recent article on various apps that can help you store you pictures safely and for free, or very inexpensively. Some of the best options are Google Photos (free) and Amazon Prime (free if you are a subscriber) for both iPhone and Android users.

If you are a parent, you probably have hundreds (if not thousands) of photos of your kids stored on your phone. If you have issues with storage space on your device, you know that photos are one of biggest storage hogs. While you can always transfer your pictures to your computer, there are other solutions to save your photos without ever having to plug in. USA Today featured a recent article on various apps that can help you store you pictures safely and for free, or very inexpensively. Some of the best options are Google Photos (free) and Amazon Prime (free if you are a subscriber) for both iPhone and Android users.

Have your kids been talking about Uptime? YouTube is experimenting with the idea of social viewing of videos – whether all at the same time or asynchronously – and Uptime is the platform (app) they have launched. The app allows users to react with comments or emojis while watching videos, and those reactions are then seen by anyone else who watches the same video—even if they’re watching at a later time. Although YouTubeSocial, WeMesh, LiveLead, and AirTime have taken similar approaches to co-watching, Uptime has captured the teenage market with the capability to see reactions to the videos after posting. As with any new app, parents should be diligent in watching out for the potential for it to be used as a tool for cyberbullying as well.

Have your kids been talking about Uptime? YouTube is experimenting with the idea of social viewing of videos – whether all at the same time or asynchronously – and Uptime is the platform (app) they have launched. The app allows users to react with comments or emojis while watching videos, and those reactions are then seen by anyone else who watches the same video—even if they’re watching at a later time. Although YouTubeSocial, WeMesh, LiveLead, and AirTime have taken similar approaches to co-watching, Uptime has captured the teenage market with the capability to see reactions to the videos after posting. As with any new app, parents should be diligent in watching out for the potential for it to be used as a tool for cyberbullying as well.

The mobile app Science Journal, ideal for ages 10 and up, is a tool that uses the different sensors on your Android phone to conduct experiments and record findings. Parents and teachers can check out the Making & Science website for activity ideas that go along with the app, such as building musical instruments that respond to light.