Digital Smarts Blog

For posters, presentations, and other visual projects, choosing a font is a decision that can easily make a student’s project stand out above the others. Unless the teacher specifies the font they want for a project, it can be hard for kids to figure out what font to choose. Enter WordMark.It. This free online tool shows you all the fonts on your computer typed in the word or phrase you choose so that you can quickly pick your favorite for the occasion or project.

For posters, presentations, and other visual projects, choosing a font is a decision that can easily make a student’s project stand out above the others. Unless the teacher specifies the font they want for a project, it can be hard for kids to figure out what font to choose. Enter WordMark.It. This free online tool shows you all the fonts on your computer typed in the word or phrase you choose so that you can quickly pick your favorite for the occasion or project.

Social media has changed the way we do many things, and for young girls, shopping is one of them. In a recent Business Insider article, Mallory Schlossberg states that young people care more about purchasing experiences rather than actual items. "Their entire life, if it's not shareable, it didn't happen. Experiences define them much more than the products that they buy," says Generation Z expert Marcie Merriman. Schlossberg proposes that this could be the reason traditional retailers like Gap and J.Crew are struggling, since they operate on a slower fashion cycle and charge higher prices than fast-fashion rivals like Zara and Forever 21. In order to keep up with the culture created by social media, these young people are looking to buy more clothing at lower prices as soon as possible, and to translate those purchases into experiences on Instagram and Snapchat..

Social media has changed the way we do many things, and for young girls, shopping is one of them. In a recent Business Insider article, Mallory Schlossberg states that young people care more about purchasing experiences rather than actual items. "Their entire life, if it's not shareable, it didn't happen. Experiences define them much more than the products that they buy," says Generation Z expert Marcie Merriman. Schlossberg proposes that this could be the reason traditional retailers like Gap and J.Crew are struggling, since they operate on a slower fashion cycle and charge higher prices than fast-fashion rivals like Zara and Forever 21. In order to keep up with the culture created by social media, these young people are looking to buy more clothing at lower prices as soon as possible, and to translate those purchases into experiences on Instagram and Snapchat..

More than 75% of children in the United Kingdom under 13 are using social networks despite not meeting age limits, according to a recent BBC survey. The study was released to mark Safer Internet Day. Thirteen is the minimum age for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit and several other sites, while WhatsApp sets the bar at 16 and Vine at 17. Despite these terms, most of the sites rely on users to put in their date of birth when setting up an account, allowing children to simply change the year in order to register. Facebook deletes any accounts belonging to under-13s when flagged, while Instagram also encourages people to report underage accounts or “anything that may make them feel uncomfortable” but in most instances these cases have to first be reported in order for anything to be done.

More than 75% of children in the United Kingdom under 13 are using social networks despite not meeting age limits, according to a recent BBC survey. The study was released to mark Safer Internet Day. Thirteen is the minimum age for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit and several other sites, while WhatsApp sets the bar at 16 and Vine at 17. Despite these terms, most of the sites rely on users to put in their date of birth when setting up an account, allowing children to simply change the year in order to register. Facebook deletes any accounts belonging to under-13s when flagged, while Instagram also encourages people to report underage accounts or “anything that may make them feel uncomfortable” but in most instances these cases have to first be reported in order for anything to be done.

“Textual chemistry” is now part of the dating scene throughout the world and comes from not only what you text, but when, how and how often. Many of today’s daters analyze each text for hidden meanings and people are commonly judged by whether they text too much or too little, use too many emojis or use an inappropriate amount of LOL’s. Maybe there is another new idiom in the offing - “You are what you text.”

“Textual chemistry” is now part of the dating scene throughout the world and comes from not only what you text, but when, how and how often. Many of today’s daters analyze each text for hidden meanings and people are commonly judged by whether they text too much or too little, use too many emojis or use an inappropriate amount of LOL’s. Maybe there is another new idiom in the offing - “You are what you text.”

It probably comes as no surprise to any parent these days that social media is disrupting the lives of teenagers, but Nancy Jo Sales has a new book coming out called American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Life of Teenagers in which she proposes that young girls are the biggest victims of this cultural upheaval. Sales feels that online life brings a new notion of sexual liberation through being provocative that is extremely toxic and is promoted not only by social-media celebrities, but parents as well. While this is not a totally new revelation, a piece by Sales in Time magazine spells out the sexually charged influences that American girls are up against and paints a most disturbing picture.

It probably comes as no surprise to any parent these days that social media is disrupting the lives of teenagers, but Nancy Jo Sales has a new book coming out called American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Life of Teenagers in which she proposes that young girls are the biggest victims of this cultural upheaval. Sales feels that online life brings a new notion of sexual liberation through being provocative that is extremely toxic and is promoted not only by social-media celebrities, but parents as well. While this is not a totally new revelation, a piece by Sales in Time magazine spells out the sexually charged influences that American girls are up against and paints a most disturbing picture.

When your child’s teacher talks about blended learning or high-stakes, online testing, do you wonder how those terms are defined or what their attendant issues are? Education Week has provided a primer on the subject that is valuable for both parents and teachers in keeping up with what is changing (and isn’t) in the world of educational technology.

When your child’s teacher talks about blended learning or high-stakes, online testing, do you wonder how those terms are defined or what their attendant issues are? Education Week has provided a primer on the subject that is valuable for both parents and teachers in keeping up with what is changing (and isn’t) in the world of educational technology.

As with any argument, there are two sides to Apple’s debate with the government over the unlocking of the iPhone of the San Bernadino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook. The New York Times has come down on the side of Apple in a recent editorial, but others feel that national security trumps any privacy concerns. It is important to understand both sides of the argument because this case has long-term implications.

As with any argument, there are two sides to Apple’s debate with the government over the unlocking of the iPhone of the San Bernadino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook. The New York Times has come down on the side of Apple in a recent editorial, but others feel that national security trumps any privacy concerns. It is important to understand both sides of the argument because this case has long-term implications.

The demise of Twitter is a hot topic of conversation both within the company and in the wider world as well. It has been said that Twitter is harder to get the hang of than Facebook, and while teens and tweens have flirted with the service, many have moved on to Snapchat and Instagram. Twitter also seems to bring out the best and worst of humanity online, from allowing people to vent their immediate anger over issues to shaming others into losing their jobs or worse. Stay tuned to see what happens to the social messaging site.

The demise of Twitter is a hot topic of conversation both within the company and in the wider world as well. It has been said that Twitter is harder to get the hang of than Facebook, and while teens and tweens have flirted with the service, many have moved on to Snapchat and Instagram. Twitter also seems to bring out the best and worst of humanity online, from allowing people to vent their immediate anger over issues to shaming others into losing their jobs or worse. Stay tuned to see what happens to the social messaging site.

Mark Risher, Google’s spam and abuse chief, offers five tips for online safety in a recent Time Magazine online article. Risher observes that consumers may not be able to do anything about companies who have data breaches that leak out personal data, but points out that things like keeping your software updated, not falling for online scams, adding recovery contact info to your accounts and never using the same password for multiple sites can go a long way in protecting your personal data.

Mark Risher, Google’s spam and abuse chief, offers five tips for online safety in a recent Time Magazine online article. Risher observes that consumers may not be able to do anything about companies who have data breaches that leak out personal data, but points out that things like keeping your software updated, not falling for online scams, adding recovery contact info to your accounts and never using the same password for multiple sites can go a long way in protecting your personal data.

A new app called One Second Everyday is perfect for parents who feel their kids are growing up so fast and want to document it all. The idea is just as the name implies: one second of video, every day. One second to represent your children’s days and adventures. One second to capture everything from a special moment to everyday routine. And at the end of the year — or the week, or the month, or whatever length of time you choose — it compiles all of those fleeting clips into one wonderfully erratic video. Try it. It is easy and it’s free.

A new app called One Second Everyday is perfect for parents who feel their kids are growing up so fast and want to document it all. The idea is just as the name implies: one second of video, every day. One second to represent your children’s days and adventures. One second to capture everything from a special moment to everyday routine. And at the end of the year — or the week, or the month, or whatever length of time you choose — it compiles all of those fleeting clips into one wonderfully erratic video. Try it. It is easy and it’s free.