Cyberbullying has become such a major issue that platforms like Instagram are releasing features to help reduce bullying. With recent statistics showing that only 20-30% of students tell an adult when they’re being bullied, it is more important than ever for parents to teach them how to handle cyberbullying.
Digital Citizenship Blog at SmartSocial.com
Leadership Goals: This Principal Loves, Listens, Leads, and Learns with Students and Staff (With Guest Blain Watson)
Blain Watson is the Principal at Manuel E. Dominguez High School in the Compton Unified School District. Josh Ochs caught up with him to learn more about how he turned his school around in less than two years while setting leadership goals.
Is the Profoundly App Safe for Kids?
The Profoundly app is an anonymous feedback and messaging app that works with Facebook so that users can post questions to their Stories and receive anonymous feedback. It is being compared to Ask.fm, Whisper, and Sarahah – apps which have been criticized for promoting bullying.
What Is the Mewe App and Is It Safe for Kids?
The MeWe app is a social networking app for users who want more privacy. The app encourages users to be their “uncensored selves” which doesn’t promote being positive online. Content is unmoderated on the MeWe app which makes it a breeding ground for bullying behavior and negativity.
8 Days Without Social Media (What I Learned)
David Kaufmann is a teacher and father. He shares what he learned when he went 8 days without social media. Learn what he missed, why he went back, what he liked, and what he’s going to do differently moving forward.
5 Ways to Protect Your Kids in the Digital Age
As parents, it’s not easy to give kids the support they need while also keeping them safe. Relying on these tips and resources will help you protect your kids in the digital age and make parenting in a tech world much less daunting.
Private Photo Calculator App Parent Guide (Video + Safety Tips)
The Private Photo Calculator App was extremely popular in 2016. There are now hundreds of apps that allow students to hide their inappropriate photos behind an innocent looking calculator app (or another style of app that looks innocent). These apps are popular because they help a student to hide their behavior from their parents.
Yolo App Is Bad For Teens (Parent Safety Guide & Video)
Similar to Yik Yak, Whisper, and Sarahah the Yolo app is an anonymous Q&A app that works seamlessly with Snapchat. If your children use Snapchat it is very likely that they will encounter the YOLO app, this guide is to help you start a dialog and keep them safe.
Drugs on Social Media: What Parents Need to Know
When parents know which apps have had issues, what hashtags are red flags to look out for, and how to have an open discussion with their kids about drugs on social media, they are better equipped to keep their children safe.
The Negative Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
When parents set a positive example of social media behaviors, have open discussions about the unrealistic standards it can promote, and help them honor their accomplishments with gratitude, they help their children avoid the negative effects of social media on mental health.
How to Use Screen Time Productively
As parents and educators, we know that screen time can be a double edge sword. So, how can we teach students to use screen time productively way while setting limits on screen time that has no value? In this blog post, experts share their best tips.
10 Examples of the Positive Impact of Social Media
We asked 10 experts to share the positive impact of social media on teen and tweens. Learn how social media provides a platform for positive resume building.
Overwatch Game: Are Your Kids Talking with Strangers?
Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person shooter game available on Windows, XBox One, and PS4 that is incredibly popular with students. The game only works if players are matched onto teams with other real people which means that your child will be exposed to strangers in every match.
5+ Positives of Social Media for Students
When used wisely, the positives of social media can be incredibly beneficial for students (especially during the college or job application process). While it’s important for parents to talk about the dangers and risks of being online, it’s also important for kids to understand the positives of social media.
Shell On Challenge: What Parents Need to Know
The shell on challenge is a social media trend that is gaining popularity among students. Teens are challenging each other to eat food items still in their packaging. It should be a red flag for parents if their child is doing this challenge to gain attention on social media.
The Tellonym App Encourages Students To Be Anonymous Online
The Tellonym app allows students (and strangers) to ask and answer questions anonymously. The app can be linked to a user’s Instagram or Snapchat, meaning messages can include inappropriate images. When teens connect anonymous apps to their Instagram or Snapchat they open themselves up to being targeted by strangers.
5+ Screen Time Management Tips to Prevent Addiction
Children of all ages have access to screen time, whether it’s Facetiming with relatives, or using social media to chat with friends. It’s important to help your children develop healthy screen time management habits and monitor them for red flags that might indicate that they are addicted to technology.
How to Handle and Prevent Excessive Screen Time
Whether it’s toddlers playing with their parent’s tablet or teenagers keeping up their Snapchat streaks, excessive screen time can happen at any age. So, how can parents handle excessive screen time or help their younger kids avoid it entirely? 7 experts share their best tips for parents.
How to Set Social Media Guidelines for Your Family
While having a family contract can help establish social media guidelines (and consequences for breaking those guidelines), that is only one piece of your family’s online safety puzzle. Parents must be vigilant about monitoring their kids on social media and having regular discussions about online safety.
Hooked App: Is It Safe for Students?
The Hooked app enables users to read stories in chat form, like a series of text messages or as a series of video clips. Since the majority of the stories feature sex, violence, and drug use, this app is inappropriate for students.
