Digital Smarts Blog

Instagram is the top platform for cyberbullying, according to Ditch the Label’s recent United Kingdom (UK) survey. Ditch the Label is one of the UK's most innovative anti-bullying charities and has started working in the US as well. According to the research, 50% of 12-20-year-olds have been cyberbullied, and 42% of those had the experience on Instagram. Facebook was a close second at 37%, followed by 31% on Snapchat, and only 10% on YouTube. Half the teens were bullied about their appearance, while 27% had photos and videos shared without their approval. One in ten were bullied within just a week of the survey, showing an immediate need for the fight for positivity on social media. Check out the Ditch the Label website for resources such as how to get help for individuals being cyberbullied, and to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Instagram is the top platform for cyberbullying, according to Ditch the Label’s recent United Kingdom (UK) survey. Ditch the Label is one of the UK's most innovative anti-bullying charities and has started working in the US as well. According to the research, 50% of 12-20-year-olds have been cyberbullied, and 42% of those had the experience on Instagram. Facebook was a close second at 37%, followed by 31% on Snapchat, and only 10% on YouTube. Half the teens were bullied about their appearance, while 27% had photos and videos shared without their approval. One in ten were bullied within just a week of the survey, showing an immediate need for the fight for positivity on social media. Check out the Ditch the Label website for resources such as how to get help for individuals being cyberbullied, and to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Dust isn’t the only thing your Roomba is taking in…it is also recording maps of your house. Although the company is adamant that they take customer privacy very seriously and will always ask customers to opt-in to allow the storage of this information, there are of course critics who are raising concerns, especially in light of discussions about the data being sold to tech giants such as Google, Apple and Amazon. While this kind of data collection may be concerning, it is important for customers to understand why the data is collected and how it is being used in order to make an informed decision, as this kind of data is often necessary for establishing Smart Home networks.

Dust isn’t the only thing your Roomba is taking in…it is also recording maps of your house. Although the company is adamant that they take customer privacy very seriously and will always ask customers to opt-in to allow the storage of this information, there are of course critics who are raising concerns, especially in light of discussions about the data being sold to tech giants such as Google, Apple and Amazon. While this kind of data collection may be concerning, it is important for customers to understand why the data is collected and how it is being used in order to make an informed decision, as this kind of data is often necessary for establishing Smart Home networks.

About one-third of world's population, or 2.46 billion people, will view a social media site at least once a month this year, according to an eMarketer forecast. Social media use has increased 8.2% since last year, boosted by smartphone usage. Individuals in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are largely new Internet users who are signing up for social media for the first time. In 2017, 81.8% of social network users worldwide will log in via a mobile phone. By 2021, that share will grow to 86.7%.

About one-third of world's population, or 2.46 billion people, will view a social media site at least once a month this year, according to an eMarketer forecast. Social media use has increased 8.2% since last year, boosted by smartphone usage. Individuals in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are largely new Internet users who are signing up for social media for the first time. In 2017, 81.8% of social network users worldwide will log in via a mobile phone. By 2021, that share will grow to 86.7%.

In a recent Pew Research study on online harassment, about half of female respondents ages 18-29 reported that someone had sent them explicit images they did not ask for. Parents of teens should consider having a discussion about what to do if this kind of situation arises, because chances are it is happening with younger teens as well. One place to start with getting the information you need is the Wikihow entry on How to Get Someone to Stop Sexting You .  It is broken up into four sections with step-by-step directions for each section. The four sections are: Getting Help if You’re a Minor, Blocking Their Message, Confronting the Person and Contacting an Authority Figure. These sections are followed by a very helpful Community Q&A touching on many of the issues faced by both parents and teens.

In a recent Pew Research study on online harassment, about half of female respondents ages 18-29 reported that someone had sent them explicit images they did not ask for. Parents of teens should consider having a discussion about what to do if this kind of situation arises, because chances are it is happening with younger teens as well. One place to start with getting the information you need is the Wikihow entry on How to Get Someone to Stop Sexting You .  It is broken up into four sections with step-by-step directions for each section. The four sections are: Getting Help if You’re a Minor, Blocking Their Message, Confronting the Person and Contacting an Authority Figure. These sections are followed by a very helpful Community Q&A touching on many of the issues faced by both parents and teens.

As you may have observed with your own teens, Facebook and Twitter are fading and Snapchat is the app of choice these days. Even if you are familiar with Snapchat, you may need to get up to speed on a new feature called Snap Map. The feature lets users see where Snaps (messages or pictures) are being composed from. If users want to keep that information private (versus letting the whole world know where they are), users must choose Ghost Mode. Need more information on how to set up Ghost Mode and Snap Map? See Talk to your teen about Snapchat Ghost Mode on the USA Today site.

As you may have observed with your own teens, Facebook and Twitter are fading and Snapchat is the app of choice these days. Even if you are familiar with Snapchat, you may need to get up to speed on a new feature called Snap Map. The feature lets users see where Snaps (messages or pictures) are being composed from. If users want to keep that information private (versus letting the whole world know where they are), users must choose Ghost Mode. Need more information on how to set up Ghost Mode and Snap Map? See Talk to your teen about Snapchat Ghost Mode on the USA Today site.

The term "fake news" has highlighted media literacy "in a way that nothing has before," asserts Michelle Ciulla Lipkin of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. A new survey also shows that nearly everyone is guilty of sharing fake news at one time or another. In a Q&A on the PBS Newshour site, Lipkin fields questions on the topic and offers advice for teachers and parents to help keep themselves from falling victim to fake news stories. Ciulla Lipkin’s first bit of advice? Stop lumping all dubious content into one category called fake news and instead help kids understand the role of bias in the media. 

The term "fake news" has highlighted media literacy "in a way that nothing has before," asserts Michelle Ciulla Lipkin of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. A new survey also shows that nearly everyone is guilty of sharing fake news at one time or another. In a Q&A on the PBS Newshour site, Lipkin fields questions on the topic and offers advice for teachers and parents to help keep themselves from falling victim to fake news stories. Ciulla Lipkin’s first bit of advice? Stop lumping all dubious content into one category called fake news and instead help kids understand the role of bias in the media. 

Researchers suggest that increased academic pressure, economic distress and social media may be contributing to the doubling of the suicide rate among middle-schoolers that statistics from 2007 to 2014 have shown. Some experts are concerned that there is so much pressure on young people that they can become overwhelmed because they have not yet developed the coping skills that adults rely on. This is a good reminder that an incident an adult can easily dismiss can be hard for a middle schooler to shrug off. Schools are being urged to target the issue by teaching students to handle conflict, creating a welcoming climate and training teachers about suicide prevention.

Researchers suggest that increased academic pressure, economic distress and social media may be contributing to the doubling of the suicide rate among middle-schoolers that statistics from 2007 to 2014 have shown. Some experts are concerned that there is so much pressure on young people that they can become overwhelmed because they have not yet developed the coping skills that adults rely on. This is a good reminder that an incident an adult can easily dismiss can be hard for a middle schooler to shrug off. Schools are being urged to target the issue by teaching students to handle conflict, creating a welcoming climate and training teachers about suicide prevention.

The nonprofit Girl Nation is helping young women between the ages of 8 and 15 understand and cope with the potential downside of social media and technology. Among other things, the organization seeks to help girls with confronting body image issues, "mean girls", and developing healthy social media habits. While the organization holds programs and workshops in the Las Vegas area, there are lots of materials on their website for young women and parents nationwide.

The nonprofit Girl Nation is helping young women between the ages of 8 and 15 understand and cope with the potential downside of social media and technology. Among other things, the organization seeks to help girls with confronting body image issues, "mean girls", and developing healthy social media habits. While the organization holds programs and workshops in the Las Vegas area, there are lots of materials on their website for young women and parents nationwide.

Harassment and abuse are becoming the new “normal” online: 41% of American adults have been personally subjected to online harassment — an increase from two years ago — and 66% have witnessed it, a new study released recently by the Pew Research Center found. Women were twice as likely as men to say they were harassed because of their gender. The study found that 21% of women ages 18 to 29 said they were sexually harassed online — more than twice the number of men in that same age group. About half of female respondents ages 18-29 also told Pew that someone has sent them explicit images they did not ask for, an issue parents certainly need to address with their children when discussing how to handle if these kinds of situations arise.

Overall, while there is widespread concern over online harassment (62% of respondents said they viewed it as a major problem), there is disagreement in how platforms should balance being able to speak freely and preventing abuse. While 53% said it was more important for people to feel safe, 45% said free speech should take precedence. Regardless, most respondents (79%), said tech companies have a duty to step in and prevent abuse on their platforms.

Harassment and abuse are becoming the new “normal” online: 41% of American adults have been personally subjected to online harassment — an increase from two years ago — and 66% have witnessed it, a new study released recently by the Pew Research Center found. Women were twice as likely as men to say they were harassed because of their gender. The study found that 21% of women ages 18 to 29 said they were sexually harassed online — more than twice the number of men in that same age group. About half of female respondents ages 18-29 also told Pew that someone has sent them explicit images they did not ask for, an issue parents certainly need to address with their children when discussing how to handle if these kinds of situations arise.

Overall, while there is widespread concern over online harassment (62% of respondents said they viewed it as a major problem), there is disagreement in how platforms should balance being able to speak freely and preventing abuse. While 53% said it was more important for people to feel safe, 45% said free speech should take precedence. Regardless, most respondents (79%), said tech companies have a duty to step in and prevent abuse on their platforms.

Teenagers and those from higher-income households may be more likely to become addicted to technology, according to an online survey given in 17 countries. About 44% of the 15 to 19 year olds who participated and 39% of people living in high income households said they struggle to take breaks from technology, but other age groups and income levels were not far behind. While only a professional can diagnosis an internet addiction, this online screening tool can help you find out if you have an unhealthy relationship with the internet.

Teenagers and those from higher-income households may be more likely to become addicted to technology, according to an online survey given in 17 countries. About 44% of the 15 to 19 year olds who participated and 39% of people living in high income households said they struggle to take breaks from technology, but other age groups and income levels were not far behind. While only a professional can diagnosis an internet addiction, this online screening tool can help you find out if you have an unhealthy relationship with the internet.