Just in time for parents' holiday shopping, Google announced its new "Supervised Users" tool for Chromebooks. You know about Chromebooks, right? They're a very viable alternative to tablets that are just as (in some cases more) low-cost and offer a more laptop-like experience, and this tool makes them an even more viable option for families. [As their name suggests, the Chrome browser is their … [Read more...] about New parental controls for Chromebooks
Parenting
Spreading out emotional risk in digital social spaces
It's a kind of digital-age product segmentation or mitosis (remember learning about how cells divide and multiply in biology class?), all the different communication options that have come with the rise of digital media – texting, liking, social gaming, social networking, tweeting, snapchatting, skyping, etc. Each one seems to be associated with a certain level of emotional investment and risk, … [Read more...] about Spreading out emotional risk in digital social spaces
Rosalind Wiseman on how to talk with our sons
One of the things we ConnectSafely folk often say to parents asking us about online safety measures is, first and foremost, "Talk with your kids." We say that for a number of reasons, the chief one being that there is no single safety measure – whether it's a rule or parental-control tool – that's right for all kids. Internet use, like life (and embedded in it), is very individual. We use that … [Read more...] about Rosalind Wiseman on how to talk with our sons
Students in social media: There’s monitoring & then there’s monitoring
There's an upside and a serious downside to monitoring students in social media, and the upside doesn't involve outsourcing (that was an understatement). You'll see what I'm talking about when you get to the downside down there, but let's start with where and how it would actually help.… In her thoughtful commentary, "What inner city kids know about social media, and why we should listen," … [Read more...] about Students in social media: There’s monitoring & then there’s monitoring
Cybersecurity where kids are concerned
Today (October 1) marks the start of the US's National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It's an increasingly important kind of awareness for everybody to have, because, in this very social media environment, security – of our data, identity and property – is just as "crowd-sourced" as media is now. And we all know that kids are doing as much, if not more, sharing and producing as everybody else. So … [Read more...] about Cybersecurity where kids are concerned