Digital Smarts Blog

After a recent attack on toy company VTech and vulnerabilities found in some of Mattel's internet-connected toys, blogger Vivek Wadhwa proposes there may be a need for heightened cybersecurity to protect kids and their personal data. In an article for The Washington Post, he writes that higher penalties for lax cybersecurity and stiffer regulations on Net-connected devices may motivate companies to better protect children's information. To bolster his argument, he cites a variety of examples of how hackers have already invaded parents’ and kids’ privacy, including one man who hacked into a baby monitor in a home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and started screaming “Wake up baby!” at a 10-month-old girl.

After a recent attack on toy company VTech and vulnerabilities found in some of Mattel's internet-connected toys, blogger Vivek Wadhwa proposes there may be a need for heightened cybersecurity to protect kids and their personal data. In an article for The Washington Post, he writes that higher penalties for lax cybersecurity and stiffer regulations on Net-connected devices may motivate companies to better protect children's information. To bolster his argument, he cites a variety of examples of how hackers have already invaded parents’ and kids’ privacy, including one man who hacked into a baby monitor in a home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and started screaming “Wake up baby!” at a 10-month-old girl.

With the amount of time our kids spend in front of digital devices these days, it is important to be aware of Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS—a serious condition that can cause back and neck pain, dry eyes, and even headaches. What can you do to prevent your children from developing these problems?

• Watch how much time your kids spend in front a screen – television and otherwise – remembering all things in moderation as a rule of thumb.
• Keep the monitor clean and, if necessary, use a glare-reducing monitor filter.
• Take a break - every hour, have your child take a 10-minute break from the computer (the same goes for you).
• Watch the position - the computer screen should be 20-24 inches from your child’s face (ditto for mom and dad). And, his or her feet need to touch the floor. There should be a slight downward angle (around 15 degrees) from face to screen.

With the amount of time our kids spend in front of digital devices these days, it is important to be aware of Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS—a serious condition that can cause back and neck pain, dry eyes, and even headaches. What can you do to prevent your children from developing these problems?

• Watch how much time your kids spend in front a screen – television and otherwise – remembering all things in moderation as a rule of thumb.
• Keep the monitor clean and, if necessary, use a glare-reducing monitor filter.
• Take a break - every hour, have your child take a 10-minute break from the computer (the same goes for you).
• Watch the position - the computer screen should be 20-24 inches from your child’s face (ditto for mom and dad). And, his or her feet need to touch the floor. There should be a slight downward angle (around 15 degrees) from face to screen.

Millions of teenagers in high schools nationwide are using a smartphone app to anonymously share their deepest anxieties, secret crushes, vulgar assessments of their classmates and even violent threats, all without adults being able to look in.

The AfterSchool app has exploded in popularity this school year and is now on more than 22,300 high school campuses, according to its creators. Because it is designed to be accessible only to teenagers, many parents and administrators have not known anything about it. Envisioned as a safe space for high schoolers to discuss sensitive issues without having to reveal their names, After School has in some cases become a vehicle for bullying, crude observations and alleged criminal activity, all under a cloak of secrecy. Similar to Yik Yak — an open app that has become popular on college campuses — After School allows teens to post comments and images on message boards associated with individual high school campuses but carry nothing identifying the students who post.

Millions of teenagers in high schools nationwide are using a smartphone app to anonymously share their deepest anxieties, secret crushes, vulgar assessments of their classmates and even violent threats, all without adults being able to look in.

The AfterSchool app has exploded in popularity this school year and is now on more than 22,300 high school campuses, according to its creators. Because it is designed to be accessible only to teenagers, many parents and administrators have not known anything about it. Envisioned as a safe space for high schoolers to discuss sensitive issues without having to reveal their names, After School has in some cases become a vehicle for bullying, crude observations and alleged criminal activity, all under a cloak of secrecy. Similar to Yik Yak — an open app that has become popular on college campuses — After School allows teens to post comments and images on message boards associated with individual high school campuses but carry nothing identifying the students who post.

When it comes to technology, whether you feel your child’s school is behind, ahead, or just right, it is still good to take time to review the top educational technology trends for the past year. See where your school fits in and find out about new technology that may be coming down the pike. An article on the Edutopia site entitled 2015's Ed Tech Trends in Review  provides a quick overview of everything from printing in 3D to  iPad add-ons, the latter of which is also useful for working with preschoolers at home.

When it comes to technology, whether you feel your child’s school is behind, ahead, or just right, it is still good to take time to review the top educational technology trends for the past year. See where your school fits in and find out about new technology that may be coming down the pike. An article on the Edutopia site entitled 2015's Ed Tech Trends in Review  provides a quick overview of everything from printing in 3D to  iPad add-ons, the latter of which is also useful for working with preschoolers at home.

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a number of major security flaws in systems behind Hello Barbie, an Internet-connected doll that listens to children and uses artificial intelligence to respond. Vulnerabilities in the mobile app and cloud storage used by the doll could have allowed hackers to eavesdrop on private conversations, according to a report released recently by Bluebox Security and independent security researcher Andrew Hay. There is some disagreement on how serious a threat this is, but if you are considering buying one of these dolls you should make sure you understand the privacy concerns and what you can do to prevent unauthorized access.

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a number of major security flaws in systems behind Hello Barbie, an Internet-connected doll that listens to children and uses artificial intelligence to respond. Vulnerabilities in the mobile app and cloud storage used by the doll could have allowed hackers to eavesdrop on private conversations, according to a report released recently by Bluebox Security and independent security researcher Andrew Hay. There is some disagreement on how serious a threat this is, but if you are considering buying one of these dolls you should make sure you understand the privacy concerns and what you can do to prevent unauthorized access.

To sext or not to sext is an uncomfortable question that one out of every six teens say they face. An app called Send this instead gives kids novel and witty ways to say “No!” to the request for an intimate image. Created by members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Child Sexual Exploitation Unit in Ontario, Canada, the free app includes digital posters of humorous and sarcastic retorts that users can send instead of nude photos.

To sext or not to sext is an uncomfortable question that one out of every six teens say they face. An app called Send this instead gives kids novel and witty ways to say “No!” to the request for an intimate image. Created by members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Child Sexual Exploitation Unit in Ontario, Canada, the free app includes digital posters of humorous and sarcastic retorts that users can send instead of nude photos.

Teens and tweens spend more time consuming media than sleeping, according to a recent report. Some educators, including Craig Blewett, a senior lecturer in education and technology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, comment that this trend along with the phenomena of "binge watching" are creating an environment in which kids are passive learners rather than active learners at school and at home. Blewett urges teachers and parents to challenge kids to become active technology creators instead of passive content consumers.

Teens and tweens spend more time consuming media than sleeping, according to a recent report. Some educators, including Craig Blewett, a senior lecturer in education and technology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, comment that this trend along with the phenomena of "binge watching" are creating an environment in which kids are passive learners rather than active learners at school and at home. Blewett urges teachers and parents to challenge kids to become active technology creators instead of passive content consumers.

The number of private messages consumers sent to businesses on Facebook doubled this year, and nearly 2.5 billion public comments are left on those company pages each month. Now Facebook is giving companies more tools for responding to those private messages, mainly through Facebook Messenger. Facebook also publically keeps track of and shows customers how quickly businesses respond to private messages - within minutes, hours or days.

The number of private messages consumers sent to businesses on Facebook doubled this year, and nearly 2.5 billion public comments are left on those company pages each month. Now Facebook is giving companies more tools for responding to those private messages, mainly through Facebook Messenger. Facebook also publically keeps track of and shows customers how quickly businesses respond to private messages - within minutes, hours or days.

Time Magazine posted a list of the top ten apps for 2015 that includes games, translation and photo editing tools, and even an app that helps you meditate. You may find it interesting that the list also includes Snapchat, although its propensity for aiding cyberbullying is not included in the write up. If you are interested in gadgets as well, there is a top ten list for that too.

Time Magazine posted a list of the top ten apps for 2015 that includes games, translation and photo editing tools, and even an app that helps you meditate. You may find it interesting that the list also includes Snapchat, although its propensity for aiding cyberbullying is not included in the write up. If you are interested in gadgets as well, there is a top ten list for that too.

While platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are great for sharing breaking news between peers, it is important to remember that what is posted on these sites is not always accurate. Millions of tweets went out after the recent Paris attacks but unfortunately the content of many was misleading or completely false. When using social media to follow a breaking news event, be vigilant and pay attention to who is providing the information. Looking for examples to discuss with your kids? Take a look at this article that debunks many of the “facts” circulated after Paris.

While platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are great for sharing breaking news between peers, it is important to remember that what is posted on these sites is not always accurate. Millions of tweets went out after the recent Paris attacks but unfortunately the content of many was misleading or completely false. When using social media to follow a breaking news event, be vigilant and pay attention to who is providing the information. Looking for examples to discuss with your kids? Take a look at this article that debunks many of the “facts” circulated after Paris.