Tag Archives: internet safety

Microsoft Introduced Microsoft Edge Kids Mode

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Microsoft introduced Microsoft Edge Kids Mode. It is described as: “a safer space for your child to discover the web”. There is an easy tutorial provided for parents who want to use Kids Mode. Microsoft provided an explanation about why they created a Kids Mode: Our research tells us that about 50% of U.S. parents are impacted by what we call the “hand-off scenario.” This is that all too familiar situation of letting your child access the web from a shared device when you’re working, making dinner, picking up scattered toys, or doing any of the million things parents do … Continue reading →

Ways to Prevent Your Baby Monitor from Being Hacked

We are entering the very beginning of “the internet of things”. The simplest explanation of what that means is that there are now several appliances and electronics that are constantly connected to the internet through Wi-Fi. The purpose is to make life more convenient. Unfortunately, sometimes this interconnectedness can cause security issues. A family discovered this in a very unpleasant way when their nanny noticed that someone had hacked their baby monitor. A stranger was able to talk to, and see, the room the baby was in, the baby, and the nanny who was caring for the infant. How did … Continue reading →

Your Tween May be Posting Personal Information on Instagram

Instagram is a popular social media website that is primarily about photos. People post selfies, photos of what they had for dinner, vacation photos, and whatever else they want to share online. What many parents don’t realize is that teens and tweens are sharing a lot more than photos on Instagram! The terms of service at Instagram state: “You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service”. It is possible for a teenager to simply make their own Instagram account without asking their parent for permission to do so first. Some parents will make an Instagram account … Continue reading →

Do You Put Pictures of Your Baby on Facebook?

It’s hard to believe Facebook didn’t even exist ten years ago. It seems everyone has a profile these days. Whether you’re a 13-year-old chatting with her friends about homework, a businessman doing networking, or a grandma oohing and ahhing over the latest pictures of her grandchildren, Facebook has something for everyone. I use Facebook as a means to keep in instant contact with my family and friends. When your closest immediate family member lives states away, easy communication is a must. Uploading pictures is simple, and everyone can easily see new and updated pictures of my daughter. Facebook is a … Continue reading →

Teaching Internet Safety via Games

As more and more children spend time on the internet, it is important they understand about safety. Between companies trying to make offers tempting to young minds and predators lurking in dark (and sometimes bright) corners, we need to do everything possible to teach them safety. Today, game manufacturers are getting in on the game plan by putting together games that help with internet safety. I wanted to tell you about two specific games designed for this very purpose, both excellent. The first is a game called Privacy Playground: The First Adventure of the Three Little CyperPigs. This particular game … Continue reading →

Children and Internet Safety

Even an outstanding single parent is going to have times when the children use movies, CDs, DVDs, or even the internet to pass time. For instance, in a single parent home, keeping the kids involved with positive activity at all times is challenging. You might find that while cooking dinner, the kids turn to the computer for doing homework, which is fine. However, without the eyes of four parents to monitor the kids, they can get into places they do not belong. The internet is both good and bad. Again, it provides an open avenue to the world, teaching our … Continue reading →

Teens and Instant Messaging

Teenagers lead the country in use of technology. With 87% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, using the Internet on an almost daily basis. That number has risen 24% in the last four years. Today more teens than ever use the Internet to play games, get news, shop, and find health information. Email, once considered cutting edge, is quickly being replaced by instant and text messaging. Email is considered the method to communicate with adults like teachers or to send long messages to a large group of friends. But it is in IM that teens share details … Continue reading →

KidsCom

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So I was searching the Internet looking for some kids’ websites other than the typical ones that go along with kids’ networks. I used Google and typed in “websites for kids.” Anyway, to make a long story short, I found a website called KidsCom. This site is really cool. There are games, jokes, stories, and even a place where your child can find a pen pal! I had never heard of this site before, but it looks to be a load of fun for kids. There is one section on KidsCom called “Chat & Buzz,” where your child can chat … Continue reading →

How Does Pornography Reach Our Children?

Pornography is a billion dollar business with about 62% of users on the Internet at any given time accessing pornographic sites, that’s about 70 million people a week. According to the Nielsen/Net Ratings in 2002 nearly 16 percent of visitors to adult pornographic websites are under age 18. Adam West, a families.com computer writer lists statistics about internet child predators in his blog. With so much pornographic material out there it is likely that your children will view some at some point. So how does pornography reach our kids? There are a number of ways that our children can be … Continue reading →

Phishing – How not to get caught

“We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity.” “During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn’t verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information.” Have you ever opened up your email to get an official looking email from eBay, your bank, Credit Card Company or even the IRS that reads like one of those quotes? I am sure most of you have. It’s an internet scam known as phishing. What is phishing? The scam is pronounced fishing and that … Continue reading →