What’s New? – Page 5 – Siouxland Modern Media Committee

13Jul 2021 by Martin Van't Foort

The Evolution of Gaming

It all started out as kids playing with stones → board/card games → then to video/computer games → consoles/mobile games. Some of the benefits of gaming are: strengthens relationships, reduces stress, encourages laughterincreases brain function and sharpens our mindsteaches patience and how to set goalsenhances creativity and self confidence One of the most amazing benefits of playing board games is that it pulls people out of the digital world. Board games engage us in activities that do not involve staring at a screen. What does “gaming” mean today? It refers to playing electronic games on a screen as regular gameplay or possibly a hobby. A person who is into gaming is often called a gamer. 65% of American adults play video games with 60% playing at least once a day. …

07Jun 2021 by Sandra Post

Modern Media Guidelines

Cell Phones, Filters, Guidelines, Resources

Modern Media Guidelines: Technology isn’t inherently evil; it’s more about how we choose to use it. We need to teach our adults & children how to safely use technology. With technology, we are required to give Biblical guidelines and safe boundaries that create long-term values. Filter & Accountability Utilize parental controls/restrictions/monitoring on each device (computer, phone, tablet). Add a filter on the internet signal coming into your house (router). In your home, keep the computers in a public place. For portable devices, set boundaries about where in the home they may be used. Simple & frequent checks on your own & your families’ devices, email accounts, and social media accounts could keep us from inappropriate interactions. Time & Age limits We recommend not giving smart phones or other portable devices with…

03May 2021 by Sandra Post

Gryphon the Great?

Resources, Reviews

Are you looking for a new router? Are you wondering about better internet security options? Are the needs of your family’s device usage increasing or not currently being met? If any of those describe where you are currently, take a look at the Gryphon Router to see if it meets your needs. What is the Gryphon Secure Mesh System Router? A highly innovative system with a focus on parental controls, advanced security features and the ability to control a generous area of your home for an arguably affordable price tag. What does ‘MESH SYSTEM’ mean? A mesh router WiFi system consists of a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, placed around your house for full WiFi coverage. (Source) Here’s what…

07Apr 2021 by Sandra Post

Hope after Porn in our Marriage

Pornography, Resources

A personal testimony submitted by an NRC memberShortly after we were married, I discovered porn on the computer that shattered my world. The adrenaline kicked in, I started shaking in disbelief and anger; then I was left feeling alone and trapped in a relationship that I had not signed up for. Maybe we should use an internet filter, but, I reasoned, he didn’t really need a filter, he said he was sorry and wouldn’t do it again. But, as addictions do, it kept resurfacing, and there was an unspoken tension about how to approach this issue in our marriage. He certainly wasn’t taking initiative to install a filter on his phone and I didn’t know how far to push. We were also overwhelmed by the different options out there and how…

05Apr 2021 by Sandra Post

Open DNS

Filters, Guidelines

Inside your home, your internet network is accessed via a device called a “router”. The router connects to your internet service provider and, either wirelessly or by ethernet cables, connects all the devices in your home to the internet.Most home networks rarely have one single type of device connecting to it. Usually, there’s a blend of Windows, Android, iOS, and maybe even Macs. How do you keep all these devices connected while keeping younger users out of trouble? The easiest and most fool-proof way to filter the internet content coming into your home is by modifying your router settings. There’s no technological substitute for proper adult supervision, but a free service called OpenDNS Family Shield makes it easy for parents to block adult content with one simple tweak.Following are two…

04Mar 2021 by Sandra Post

Sensual Addictions

Events, Hazards, Pornography, Resources

On Parent's Day, Rev. Witvoet spoke about Sensual Addictions: Smoother than Oil, Bitter as Wormwood. This is an informative topic for older children and adults to help us understand how addiction works and the dangers of pornography. You can listen to the topic here. If you are looking for help regarding addiction, resources can be found here.

01Mar 2021 by nrcmmc

Reeling in Reels

Apps, Filters, Hazards

Has the app TikTok appeared on your kids’ phone? Have you heard of TikTok on the news? Did you happen to read our previous article on TikTok? (click to read) Are you aware of the controversy over the app and it’s creators? Even if you were aware of all this, the piece of information you may not have connected yet is that Instagram’s feature ‘REELS’ is a spin-off of the popular video platform. When TikTok was going through its legal battles, Instagram saw it as an opportunity to create another feature to give its users something ‘to do’ on their app, which in turn promotes Instagram’s virtual popularity. The following article from The Verge provides more information. https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/5/21354117/instagram-reels-tiktok-vine-short-videos-stories-explore-music-effects-filters Not all Reels are created equal, and that is the problem. Many…

03Feb 2021 by nrcmmc

Review of VSCO App

Apps, Reviews

In the current times, various social media apps such as TikTok and VSCO are gaining traction, particularly with teenagers. VSCO was created in 2012 but recently gained popularity when Instagram users with a lot of followers began using the #VSCO hashtag. VSCO is a photo editing and media sharing tool. The free version gives users access to standard editing tools, such as white balance, exposure, contrast and a sampling of the available presets. Users can scroll and test out presets themselves or can tap on the “for this photo” feature, which displays a collection of suggested presets for each specific photograph. The free version also allows users to explore others’ photos and find inspiration in curated portfolios that include collections such as “humankind,” “editorial,” “summer,” and “style” to name…

04Jan 2021 by nrcmmc

2020 Digital Device Gift Guide

Cell Phones, Filters, Guidelines, Hazards, Privacy, Resources

Hello, Parents! Once again, the Protect Young Eyes team wants to prepare you and your children by providing parental control guidance for whatever digital devices your family may have. In the year of COVID, digital devices are everywhere and we suspect that many new ones will be joining the family in December. Remember, if it’s connected to the internet, then there’s a story of how someone somewhere has hacked into it or out of it. Especially during 2020 with more kids connected to screens than ever before. Check it out at https://protectyoungeyes.com/digital-device-gift-guide-2020-smartphones-gaming-gadgets/?mc_cid=dd022bd5da&mc_eid=09748b43c6 *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.

04Jan 2021 by nrcmmc

App Locker

Apps, Cell Phones, Privacy, Resources

App Locker Another new term in modern media use--app locker. You might be wondering, “What is an app locker?” It is as it sounds; basically, it is an app that can safeguard existing downloaded apps on your device, by ‘locking’ them. App lockers help prevent children, or other parties, from delving into personal information. The ability to “lock” only certain apps using a pattern code or PIN code known to the user, is what makes this feature beneficial to smartphone users. When and who should you have an app locker installed on their smartphone or device? People who have kids. This is especially true if your kids use your phone for various activities like watching YouTube or playing kids games. Set up the applock correctly and you can keep your…