Are you curious about Instagram?

Just ran across another article on the MediaSmarts site by blogger Andrea Tomkins.

What parents need to know about Instagram

If you have heard of it but have not used it and are curious this is a good place to start educating yourself. Simply put, Instagram is a photography app for smart phones that allows one to both edit and share the photos. Andrea writes in her article about the basics of Instagram use and rules they have in their household about using the app. She also provides a link to A Parents' Guide to Instagram, which provides much more detail about Instagram and online sharing in general. MediaSmarts joined forces with Instagram and ConnectSafely to produce the guide.

Media Literacy Week in Canada and US

"Media Literacy Week is November 3-7. Co-hosted by MediaSmarts and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the official theme “Youth & Social Networking: Creative, Connected, and Collaborative” will encourage adults to work with young people to explore the opportunities that social networking tools provide for contributing positively to society and building digital skills for the future."

 Above is the opening paragraph in MediaSmarts blogger Andrea Tomkins' article titled "Sharing Social Media as a Family."  It's definitely a different media world out there these days for all, but especially for those of us who have children who are "millenials" and grandchildren who are "digital natives." Ms. Tomkins share a lot of insights into parenting and mentoring younger people in the ways of social media. She suggests having family accounts to such media favorites as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube as good ways to get young people used to using these communication options properly and safely.

More resources are available on the Media Literacy Week website. They include a tip sheet put together by MediaSmarts and Facebook about sharing online, activities for classroom use, and suggestions for things parents and kids can do at home to become more media literate together.

Common Sense Media Focus on Parent Concerns

I just discovered a new addition to the tabs on the Common Sense Media home page. It is called Parent Concerns and addresses seven topics - screen time, cyberbullying, privacy and internet safety, social media, learning with technology, special needs and learning difficulties, and back to school.

(Remember you can click on any of the colored text above to link directly to that topic.)

Do you have concerns or questions about:          location apps on phones?              data collection?   
          privacy settings?              kids' web browsers?               accessibility for special needs?
                                                  
Each page includes answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), articles, and videos. As usual, you can search for information by age groups.

While you are there be sure to check out some of the other resources Common Sense Media offers.

Facebook and Beyond: Social Media Summer Update

This just in from Common Sense Media!

15 Sites and Apps Kids Are Heading to Beyond Facebook

 (click on the title above to go to the web page)

Whether your child is a social media veteran,  just entering that world, or somewhere in between, this article is a "must-read" for both child and parent. (They aren't always aware of the pros and cons of the sites they are thinking of using). The CSM staff look at 15 currently available social media sites and apps, including notes on why they are popular and what parents need to know about the site or app. It's valuable information for us all in a concise format.

Check it out.

In addition if you have kids who are just getting started with social networking, take a look at this Common Sense Media page for tips on sites for ages 7 through 11.

Social Networking for Kids

Worried about your kids online? Relax (a little).

A recent article from Common Sense Media presents a few myths about safety for kids online. This may help many parents pull back some from developing what they call a "techno-panic mindset." Click on "myths and truths" below to learn what they say about cyberbullying, how kids act online, posting photos, and more.

Myths and Truths

You will also find links to internet safety tips for different age groups.

Apps Abound - How savvy are you?

I just received a very informative article on apps from Common Sense Media. It's titled Apps 101: What to Know before You Download. There are so many apps now that it is often difficult to know which ones are valuable and what age groups will get the most out of them.

Are they educational or are they primarily selling something?
Are they free or will charges pop up later?
Can they be played against strangers or can you control who plays?

The article covers what we should think about before downloading any app and adds tips for kids when choosing and using apps. There's some very good advice for navigating the world of apps.

An Interesting Take on Hashtags

Do you like and use hashtags or are you ovewhelmed by seeing them everywhere? I recently ran across this opinion piece by Daniel Stein on the DIGIDAY website. He shares his observations on the use of hashtags by advertisers. Click on the title to link to the page.

#Stopthemadness: Advertisers are guilty of hashtag abuse

Do you "Yik Yak?" Have you even heard of "Yik Yak?"

Yik Yak is a fairly new member of the social media community. According to Common Sense Media it is a "free, local social-networking app that lets users post "anything and everything" anonymously, including a lot of explicit content that's clearly not for kids. Yik Yak users post brief, Twitter-like comments, which are distributed to any 500 people using Yik Yak closest to them geographically. . ." They have determined that this app is inappropriate for kids.

For a lot more information about Yik Yak click on the links below.

Common Sense Media Reviews Yik Yak

Yik Yak app banned at Lake Forest High School amid flap

Sleeptexting - The Importance of "Turning Off"

I found this very interesting article from The Atlantic in a link from the previous post about Common Sense Media resolutions. The attachment people of all ages develop with their mobile devices, particularly phones, appears to be creating some significant health problems. Texting while not fully awake is one of them. The result could be merely embarrassing or worse.

One of the researchers studying this phenomenon said:

“It’s impacting teens and young adults, because they’re pretty much attached to the phone like an appendage. The younger generation grew up with texting and with Facebook and they’re checking their phones every two minutes during the day,” Gelb explains. “It’s just a part of their lives. This is all they know, this is what they grew up with.”


For the full article click on  Sleeptexting Is the New Sleepwalking.

New Year's Resolutions from Common Sense Media

Do you have concerns about the screens in your life? Televisions, movies, computers and mobile devices are everywhere and constantly being upgraded with new and exciting features. It's enough to make your head spin even if you understand it all.

Common Sense Media has some timely suggestions for controlling the onslaught and navigating the whole media world safely in 2014. Their resolutions are for both parents and kids of all ages and could very well provide some fun for you all along with maintaining some sanity when dealing with the ever-increasing demand for screen time.

Check out Media Resolutions Every Family Should Make in 2014.