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Snapchat changes: Chat, Stories, and No, they never really disappeared!
Seems like the creators of Snapchat have had a change of heart recently. And perhaps this change was not so much out of the kindness of their hearts, but in reality a “mea culpa” due to FTC charges...
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The solution to unwanted group iMessages on the way with iOS 8
Apple unveiled their new operating system, iOS 8. This update is due for release in the fall for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch. There are many new features but a few in particular that parents will...
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Vacation Planning Apps, Tips, and Tools
Is a tech-free, screen-free vacation possible? As our family gears up for a summer road trip, this question has come to mind. I like the idea of completely un-plugging while on vacation. But at the...
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How to monitor your teen’s phone
A friend contacted me looking for some advice for keeping track of her daughter’s cell phone activity. Her teen is very active on her phone (not a big surprise!), and like many parents she had a few...
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Whisper App – another anonymous sharing app parents should know about
I hope that you never find Whisper on your teen’s phone. I could end this article right here! But that wouldn’t be too helpful. If you haven’t heard of Whisper, it is an anonymous sharing app where...
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YouTube Safety Mode
[This is an update to a post originally published in 2011] In a previous post I wrote about trying to keep kids safe on social networking sites, to the extent that is possible. But what about YouTube?...
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How to Restrict YouTube in iPod touch and iPad
[Updated from original post in May 2012] There used to be a YouTube app on every Apple device. The app icon looked like an old-style TV – remember that? Then Apple dropped their native YouTube app in...
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Five unofficial rules for following your teen on Instagram
Here are my very unscientific and unofficial rules for following your tween/teen on Instagram without coming across as too “stalk-y”. These rules (or guidelines really) are what seem to work for me!...
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Recommended Reading: It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens
Earlier this year I read It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by danah boyd. boyd (she uses lower case) is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft. Her research examines the intersection...
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Best New Tablets for Kids and Families
[This is an update to my article from 2012 – somehow I missed last year!] Choosing a new tablet for the kids this holiday season might seem overwhelming. There are so many choices when deciding on a...
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iOS Family Sharing Pros and Cons
When iOS 8 was announced, I was pleased to see the new Family Sharing features. Family sharing allows you to share purchases among family members, use a shared photo library and family calendar, and...
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Be Web Smart Year in Review 2014
Happy New Year! WordPress was kind enough to prepare a year-in-review report for me so I thought I’d share some of the information with you. I also want to say a big THANKS to all of you who are...
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Digital Parenting, Hollywood Style: Do’s and Don’ts from Angelina Jolie and...
In a recent People magazine interview, Angelina Jolie mentioned that she and her husband Brad Pitt have hired a cyber security team to monitor the Internet and social media content that their children...
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How to use the Facebook Acquaintances List to hide annoying updates
We all have those friends – the ones that post status updates continuously throughout the day, overwhelming your news feed with pictures of their breakfast croissant, pictures of their dogs, their...
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Are you protecting your privacy and data online?
February is Data Privacy month. Are you protecting your data online? Are your kids aware of the data they share every day when using apps and social media? Take this short quiz and see how you’re...
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YouTube Kids App Review
This is a review of Google’s new YouTube app for kids, called YouTube Kids. The app is a kid-friendly version of YouTube that shows only age appropriate videos. There are parental control features...
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New Snapchat feature called Discover adds to teens’ media consumption
Snapchat has added a new feature called Discover, which delivers curated content from the likes of CNN, ESPN, People, and Cosmopolitan. Between Discover and the previously added Stories, Snapchat is...
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Copilot Family parental controls help parents manage kids’ tech use
Copilot Family is a parental control tool for smartphones and tablets. It is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, Android phones and tablets, and Chromebooks and Amazon Fire. One of the biggest...
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New Website Preview and Survey Results
Thank you to all who responded to my recent reader survey. The feedback I received helped with my upcoming website redesign. I’ve been working on the new website for nearly a month and it is almost...
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Live video broadcasting apps Meerkat, Periscope, and YouNow – okay for kids?
Here are three apps all parents should have on their radar. Meerkat, Periscope and YouNow are apps used to live-stream video from your phone. More than just recording videos and sending them, with...
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