Parents, the best advice for Facebook users at your house is, "Leave the contact info in your profile blank." That's the quick, easy end run around the new change, which allows apps to use your address and phone numbers if you give them permission to do so. That's the good news: It's opt-in – you choose to provide the apps with that info. The problem is, once FB users decide to install an app, … [Read more...] about Headsup, parents! New privacy change at FB
online safety
Teens’ digital self-abuse: New insight
A just-published observation by social media researcher danah boyd is important for two reasons I can think of right now: 1) it strongly confirms the importance of adults not reacting too quickly to "cyberbullying" incidents or of not acting without calm communication and investigation, and 2) it starts an important discussion about the online versions of self-destructive behavior. Let's look at … [Read more...] about Teens’ digital self-abuse: New insight
E-shopping security for gift-givers of all ages
If your kids are anything like mine, they realize kind of late that it's time to do their holiday shopping and they like to do that shopping online. So this is a great "teachable moment" for a family conversation about smart online shopping. Here are some talking points: Don't be socially engineered. Click carefully – phishers and other scammers like to trick people into clicking on bad links … [Read more...] about E-shopping security for gift-givers of all ages
For our kids’ sake, more than accountability online, pls
Maybe Plato was wrong. Or maybe he just frames the challenge we face in promoting digital citizenship and weakening the disinhibition factor online. A thoughtful opinion piece about online trolling, mean comments, flaming, etc. in the New York Times reports that, "even in the fourth century B.C., Plato touched upon the subject of anonymity and morality in his parable of the ring of Gyges. That … [Read more...] about For our kids’ sake, more than accountability online, pls
Facebook more grandparent-friendly with ’email’
I'm sure that's not what Facebook's engineers had in mind when they created Messages, but this will be one of the effects. Sending private messages, such as emails, will be more intuitive for seasoned email users, which means Facebook will make more sense to people who didn't grow up using it and a better tool for family members of all generations to stay in touch. Messages, which FB just … [Read more...] about Facebook more grandparent-friendly with ’email’