Instagram Adopts “PG-13” Defaults for Teen Accounts: What Parents & Teens Should Know
Instagram will automatically places users under 18 into “13+” mode.
Family Guide to Parental Controls
How do I know when to use them, and should I tell my kids?
New Report: Designing Digital Safety with Youth in Mind
A thoughtful and much-needed framework for reimagining what it means to protect kids online.
Digital Masculinity Messages for 11-17 Year Old Boys
73% of 11 to 17 year old boys self report moderate to high levels of exposure to “digital masculinity” online
Digital Masculinity Messages for 11-17 Year Old Boys
73% of 11 to 17 year old boys self report moderate to high levels of exposure to “digital masculinity” online
Parent Guides
Parent’s Guide to TikTok
TikTok-ConnectSafely Family Survey TikTok is one of the most popular platforms for watching and creating short videos. Although you can view TikTok content via its website, downloading the mobile app is the best way to explore features and learn how it works....
Instagram Adopts “PG-13” Defaults for Teen Accounts: What Parents & Teens Should Know
by Larry Magid In a significant update to teen safety features, Instagram has announced that all users under 18 will now be placed into Teen Accounts that default to content roughly equivalent to a “PG-13” movie rating. The goal is to reduce teens’ exposure to mature...
New All-AI Social Media Platform
By Kerry GallagherOpenAI, the company that gave us ChatGPT, has launched their own social media app called Sora. Sora is an AI-generated short form video platform. All content is user generated and sharable in a feed. For now access is invite-only, but it will soon be...
Where Do American Teens and Adults Get Their News?
By Kerry Gallagher Local television news is still preferred over all other sources for both teens, young adults, and older adults, but younger Americans are more likely to also seek out news information online via search or social media platforms. Teens: 15% engage...
Why Adults Should Model Good Sleep & Screen Habits
By Kerry Gallagher In a recently published analysis of research that included over 122,000 adult participants, with ages ranging from their 40s to their 60s, 41% reported using electronic screens within an hour of bedtime. The research showed daily screen use before...
Wellness and Safety
Roblox to Estimate Age of All Users
by Larry Magid This post first appeared in the Mercury News Listen to "Roblox to estimate age of all users" on Spreaker. Larry's ConnectSafely Report for CBS News on Roblox announcement Roblox on Wednesday announced that it will employ the use of age estimation...
What You Need to Know about Instagram Map
This post first appeared in the Mercury News Instagram recently introduced a new feature called Instagram Map, designed to let you share your last active location with friends. Although it’s meant to help users feel more connected, the rollout has sparked confusion...
Back to School Tech, Study & Safety Tips
by Larry Magid This is a modified version of a post that first appeared in the Mercury News As another school year begins, technology will play a major role in how students learn, communicate, and spend their time—both in and out of the classroom. For parents and...
Parent’s Guide to Cyberbullying
Download Quick Guide (PDF) Bullying is a serious, long-standing social problem that now occurs in digital spaces as well as physical ones. But, contrary to what you might have heard or read, it isn't just a youth problem, it isn't getting worse, and it isn't more of a...
Podcasts
Podcast: The Argument for Arguing Better
In this episode, Larry speaks with Maya Whitaker, executive director of the Bay Area Urban Debate League, about how debate fosters critical thinking and respectful dialogue. They discuss how learning to argue both sides of an issue can help students navigate social...
Podcast: The Immigrant Smartphone Dilemma
New Episode: Are We Doing Tech Right? – The Immigrant Smartphone Dilemma In this episode, ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid speaks with Austin-based immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch about the surprising role smartphones play in the lives of migrants traveling...
Podcast: Unlocking Sound Sleep
In the latest episode of the ConnectSafely podcast, CEO Larry Magid speaks with Dr. Anil Rama, founder of Sleep and Brain and adjunct assistant clinical professor at the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine. Dr. Rama shares his insights into how sleep...
Podcast: Safety and Other Reasons for an Internet “Land Line”
Larry interviews Eric Stang, the CEO of Ooma, a company that provides internet phone services for homes and businesses using traditional or modern phones. The discussion covers the declining use and quality of conventional POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) lines and...
Videos
1. Generative AI for Families
2. Smart Digital Parenting: Navigating Screens with Children & Teens
3. New Gaming Research
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