The Great Smartphone Debate

The Great Smartphone Debate

Cell Phones
When is it a good time to let your child have a smartphone? When do you know if your child is ready? What are good rules to enforce? Is it a want or a need? https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/the-great-smartphone-debate/ Please note, that although we have found valuable information from an external web page for our blog post, we do not endorse all information, religious views and opinions posted on these third-party websites.
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NetSmartz

NetSmartz

Editorials, Filters, Guidelines, Hazards
NetSmartz is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) online safety education program. Their goal is to help children become more aware of the potential dangers that surround them when they are online. NetSmartz provides numerous resources that parents and educators may use to help educate their children/students. Topics for elementary aged children include telling parents/guardians if something makes them feel uncomfortable online, saying “no” if somebody asks them to do something inappropriate, following rules set by parents and teachers, and many other things as well. Topics for high school students include stories from victims of sexting/sextortion, distinguishing real vs. fake profiles and messages, avoiding posting inappropriate things online or via texting, not saying something online that you would not say in person, and other things of that…
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Best Phones for Kids:  The Ultimate Guide

Best Phones for Kids:  The Ultimate Guide

Filters
Click Here: https://protectyoungeyes.com/best-phones-for-kids-ultimate-guide/ As we struggle to manage modern media in our homes, a common question is “when should my children first get a smartphone?” Our Synodical Modern Media Guidelines suggest that children shouldn’t receive a smartphone before age 16.  But are there options to provide a phone to kids before this age? Thankfully, just in the last few years, several companies have developed devices that look like smartphones and in some ways perform like smartphones, all while keeping the more serious dangers of smartphones out of our children’s hands. Protect Young Eyes has put together an excellent guide to the options.  We highly recommend you consider these alternatives rather than smartphones for your pre-teen and teenage children. *Please note, that although we have found valuable information from an external…
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Bark App Review 

Bark App Review 

Apps, Cell Phones, Devices, Filters, Hazards
Get details about your child’s digital activities. Bark is able to monitor content 24/7, limit access to inappropriate and distracting material, set healthy boundaries with custom screen time limits and location updates.  Learn more about this filter by clicking on this link:   https://www.safewise.com/blog/bark-parental-control-app-review/ *Please note, that although we have found valuable information from an external web page for our blog post, we do not endorse all information, religious views and opinions posted on these third-party websites.
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Google Family Link

Google Family Link

Apps, Cell Phones, Devices, Guidelines, Resources
Google Family Link is an app used to regulate usage of a child’s phone. Google Family Link’s purpose is to “help your family create healthy digital habits.” Key features of Family Link: It lets you view your child’s phone activity; which apps they’re using, and how much time they’re spending on each app.Whitelist for websites.  Start by approving a website like Google for search results and phone numbers.  If your child requests to visit a website, the parent must Approve or Decline before the child can access that website.You can decide if they can download apps from the App Store, and if they’re allowed to make in-app purchases.You can set limits on the amount of Screen Time they’re allowed to have each day.  You can also set a bedtime for…
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Oculus Quest 2 Review

Oculus Quest 2 Review

Devices, Gaming, Hazards, Reviews
According to the webpage, oculus.com/quest-2/, Oculus Quest 2 is “an all-in-one headset filled with hundreds of unique experiences.” These experiences include playing games, doing a virtual tour of places around the world, and working out. It appears the main focus is to get teens and young adults to play games and “lose track of time” (also cited on their webpage).  To “lose track of time” is a very dangerous reality many gamers face. Time is a God-given gift that He instructs us to use to seek Him. Ephesians 5:16 speaks about “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” This tells us that we must be wise about how we spend our time. In regards to the gaming aspect and being “immersed” in a virtual reality, Oculus Quest 2 can…
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Online Security & Privacy

Online Security & Privacy

Privacy
In an age of eroding online privacy, many people are looking for secure alternatives to Google and Microsoft and other data collecting providers for internet browsers, search engines and many other online activities. Restoreprivacy.com is an independent website with no advertising or paid content that publishes reviews and guides with the mission “to give you all the information and tools you need to restore your online privacy, secure your electronic devices, and stay safe online. “ PRIVATE SEARCH ENGINES You should be aware that most of the big search engines today serve as data collection tools for advertising companies which collect your private data and use it to make money with targeted ads. Restoreprivacy.com reviews and gives suggestions for using many different search engines such as DuckDuckGo, Swisscows, Metagear, Searx,…
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Telegram

Telegram

Apps
Telegram is a free messaging app that was launched in 2013 by brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, who previously founded VKontakte. VKontakte is best described as the Russian version of Facebook. Currently, the company behind Telegram is based in Dubai. Telegram currently claims to have 500 million active users each month. According to SEO blog Backlinko, "25 million new users joined Telegram during a 72-hour peak in January 2021. That equates to about 8.33 million new registrations per day. And over 100 million new users started using Telegram in January alone.”  The rush to Telegram was prompted by GAFAM’s (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) attempted censorship of popular conservative voices such as Donald Trump. Telegram functions like a classic instant messaging app. You can send messages to other users, create…
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RobinHood

RobinHood

Apps, Cell Phones
Robinhood is an app designed for the average person to invest money in stocks, funds, options, and cryptocurrency. They attract users by giving them one free stock when they join and by allowing them to trade commission-free. The app requires users to be at least 18 years old, however, kids younger than 18 could set up an account if they know certain information about their parents, such as their social security number and ID number. It is a choice to invest in the stock market, either personally or through an advisor or broker; however, by doing it personally, it can become addicting and consume a lot of family time. Buying and selling stocks is simple on Robinhood. You can buy stocks for any publicly traded company, such as Apple and…
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