Digital Smarts Blog

The National Association of Independent Schools online magazine recently posted an extremely well done and frank article on what it is like for the current generation of teenage students to walk the tightrope of living both online and offline lives. The article is a must read, even if you think your kids are smart enough to be careful with what they say and do online. Based on some of the most current research and the author’s own experiences, the article discusses how technology has made students’ online and offline lives converge, especially at school, and details the added stress it places on the current generation. The author, Catherine Steiner-Adair, urges schools and parents to be proactive in helping kids bridge the ever widening gap between the two worlds of online and offline living.

The National Association of Independent Schools online magazine recently posted an extremely well done and frank article on what it is like for the current generation of teenage students to walk the tightrope of living both online and offline lives. The article is a must read, even if you think your kids are smart enough to be careful with what they say and do online. Based on some of the most current research and the author’s own experiences, the article discusses how technology has made students’ online and offline lives converge, especially at school, and details the added stress it places on the current generation. The author, Catherine Steiner-Adair, urges schools and parents to be proactive in helping kids bridge the ever widening gap between the two worlds of online and offline living.

Nearly every social network we are on is “free,” but only in the sense that we are not charged to use them. The price that networks like Facebook, Google Plus, and Instagram extract from us is our personal information, which is sold to advertisers. Although in reality Facebook only makes 20 cents per user per month in profits, the valuable personal information they get from us is sold off in the aggregate. Sites like Facebook also use a proprietary, ever-changing algorithm that shapes what newsfeed we see and more, manipulating our attention in favor of advertisers instead of letting us connect with who we want to (although it is interesting to note  a new Pew Research survey revealed that 61% of Millennials get their political news from Facebook).

Would you be willing to pay a little bit every month to use these networks and not have your information collected? Some experts are proposing such a solution. It might be interesting to be treated like a customer whose preferences and privacy matter for once and not worry about being tracked.  Maybe that’s something to hope for in hypothetical Internet 5.0?

Nearly every social network we are on is “free,” but only in the sense that we are not charged to use them. The price that networks like Facebook, Google Plus, and Instagram extract from us is our personal information, which is sold to advertisers. Although in reality Facebook only makes 20 cents per user per month in profits, the valuable personal information they get from us is sold off in the aggregate. Sites like Facebook also use a proprietary, ever-changing algorithm that shapes what newsfeed we see and more, manipulating our attention in favor of advertisers instead of letting us connect with who we want to (although it is interesting to note  a new Pew Research survey revealed that 61% of Millennials get their political news from Facebook).

Would you be willing to pay a little bit every month to use these networks and not have your information collected? Some experts are proposing such a solution. It might be interesting to be treated like a customer whose preferences and privacy matter for once and not worry about being tracked.  Maybe that’s something to hope for in hypothetical Internet 5.0?

The amount and types of information that can unknowingly be shared from our smartphones is startling for many people. Mike Feibus points out in a recent column for USA Today that most people would like “express written consent” when it comes to sharing information from our phones and other digital devices. Most people have standards for privacy and expect that anyone with access to personal data will respect those standards, including the government. As the Patriot Act expires, it will be interesting to see what those standards evolve into.

The amount and types of information that can unknowingly be shared from our smartphones is startling for many people. Mike Feibus points out in a recent column for USA Today that most people would like “express written consent” when it comes to sharing information from our phones and other digital devices. Most people have standards for privacy and expect that anyone with access to personal data will respect those standards, including the government. As the Patriot Act expires, it will be interesting to see what those standards evolve into.

A new survey from AT&T has revealed some startling facts about smartphones and driving. Sixty percent of smartphone users admitted to texting while driving, and 40% have used social media while behind the wheel. The excuses are endless. How can you break the habit, which for many borders on addiction? Take a look at Steven Petrow’s thoughts on the problem in his column in USA Today. His solutions range from keeping your phone out of easy access when driving and turning off alerts to apps that help you stay safe and off the phone. It is worth a look before the summer driving season kicks off big time!

A new survey from AT&T has revealed some startling facts about smartphones and driving. Sixty percent of smartphone users admitted to texting while driving, and 40% have used social media while behind the wheel. The excuses are endless. How can you break the habit, which for many borders on addiction? Take a look at Steven Petrow’s thoughts on the problem in his column in USA Today. His solutions range from keeping your phone out of easy access when driving and turning off alerts to apps that help you stay safe and off the phone. It is worth a look before the summer driving season kicks off big time!

There has been a recent rash of fake or imposter Facebook accounts. If someone creates an account pretending to be you, take a look at the Facebook Help Center for help in reporting such an account, which can help you even if you don’t have a Facebook profile yourself.

There has been a recent rash of fake or imposter Facebook accounts. If someone creates an account pretending to be you, take a look at the Facebook Help Center for help in reporting such an account, which can help you even if you don’t have a Facebook profile yourself.

Technology is powerful and can do many things thought impossible not so long ago, but can it address inequality? “No” says Kentaro Toyama, an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan. After working in the field and attempting over the last decade to use digital devices to help the world’s poorest communities, Toyoma writes in USA Today that “what people get out of technology depends on what wealth, education, and social ties they already have. Technology is powerful, but its power depends on its human users.”

This is as true here in the United States as it is across the world, Toyoma maintains. Online courses, thought to help those without educational access, are most often taken by those who already have college degrees trying to get ahead and not by jobless high school dropouts. Crowdfunding can work, but the more star power you have the more donors you get. Furthermore, despite being in an era of digital innovation, the poverty rate in the US has increased, social mobility has stagnated and inequality has not improved.

It is an interesting viewpoint and runs counter to the claims of many tech enthusiasts. Toyoma’s solution? Politics, not technology, can shrink the social divide. If you are interested, Toyama has also written a book called “Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology (Public Affairs)”.

Technology is powerful and can do many things thought impossible not so long ago, but can it address inequality? “No” says Kentaro Toyama, an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan. After working in the field and attempting over the last decade to use digital devices to help the world’s poorest communities, Toyoma writes in USA Today that “what people get out of technology depends on what wealth, education, and social ties they already have. Technology is powerful, but its power depends on its human users.”

This is as true here in the United States as it is across the world, Toyoma maintains. Online courses, thought to help those without educational access, are most often taken by those who already have college degrees trying to get ahead and not by jobless high school dropouts. Crowdfunding can work, but the more star power you have the more donors you get. Furthermore, despite being in an era of digital innovation, the poverty rate in the US has increased, social mobility has stagnated and inequality has not improved.

It is an interesting viewpoint and runs counter to the claims of many tech enthusiasts. Toyoma’s solution? Politics, not technology, can shrink the social divide. If you are interested, Toyama has also written a book called “Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology (Public Affairs)”.

Google researchers have found that many common security questions can be guessed within 10 tries, with a 20% chance of accuracy on the first shot. Using misinformation (answering questions like “where were you born?” with nonsense answers like “otters” or “icebergs”) is one solution, but researchers have found this often backfires, making questions easier to guess rather than harder. Of course, you then have to remember those nonsense answers. Research shows that using two different security questions reduced an attacker’s chance to correctly guess the answer within ten attempts to less than one percent, however users only remembered the answers to both questions 59 percent of the time. As the world of security moves forward, Google proposes avoiding security questions entirely, using backup codes sent via text message or other forms of two-factor authentication instead. It sounds like cumbersome procedure, but it may be an unavoidable necessity in the future.

Google researchers have found that many common security questions can be guessed within 10 tries, with a 20% chance of accuracy on the first shot. Using misinformation (answering questions like “where were you born?” with nonsense answers like “otters” or “icebergs”) is one solution, but researchers have found this often backfires, making questions easier to guess rather than harder. Of course, you then have to remember those nonsense answers. Research shows that using two different security questions reduced an attacker’s chance to correctly guess the answer within ten attempts to less than one percent, however users only remembered the answers to both questions 59 percent of the time. As the world of security moves forward, Google proposes avoiding security questions entirely, using backup codes sent via text message or other forms of two-factor authentication instead. It sounds like cumbersome procedure, but it may be an unavoidable necessity in the future.

These days, even high school students are being told to create a LinkedIn profile, but the template just doesn’t fit most students as they have no real job experience. Enter About.me. The site is launching a new Campus section aimed at helping high school and college students establish a public online profile that can showcase who they are personally, even if they don't have rich work experience yet to build a more complete resume.

These days, even high school students are being told to create a LinkedIn profile, but the template just doesn’t fit most students as they have no real job experience. Enter About.me. The site is launching a new Campus section aimed at helping high school and college students establish a public online profile that can showcase who they are personally, even if they don't have rich work experience yet to build a more complete resume.

Armed with iPads, nonverbal students in the Fort Worth School District are communicating with parents and teachers like never before. Children lacking social and verbal skills are beginning to vocalize and even build relationships with others using an app called Words for Life that allows them to use icons to communicate with parents and teachers. Parents and teachers call the transformation miraculous as even teens, many of whom have never been able to communicate before, are starting to speak and make word approximations.

Armed with iPads, nonverbal students in the Fort Worth School District are communicating with parents and teachers like never before. Children lacking social and verbal skills are beginning to vocalize and even build relationships with others using an app called Words for Life that allows them to use icons to communicate with parents and teachers. Parents and teachers call the transformation miraculous as even teens, many of whom have never been able to communicate before, are starting to speak and make word approximations.

While online dating has become more and more commonplace, there is also more and more risk involved. An FBI report released earlier this year showed that "confidence fraud and romance" scams are a major vector for online fraud. Dating sites, which are often start-ups, don’t often worry much about security and privacy, and social sign-ins (using your Facebook or LinkedIn log-in instead of a site specific user/password combo) allows these sites to access private information associated with your social media accounts.

While online dating has become more and more commonplace, there is also more and more risk involved. An FBI report released earlier this year showed that "confidence fraud and romance" scams are a major vector for online fraud. Dating sites, which are often start-ups, don’t often worry much about security and privacy, and social sign-ins (using your Facebook or LinkedIn log-in instead of a site specific user/password combo) allows these sites to access private information associated with your social media accounts.