What’s New? – Page 9 – Siouxland Modern Media Committee

09Dec 2019 by nrcmmc

Instagram: The Rinsta’s and the Finsta’s

Apps, Reviews

The Rinsta’s and the Finsta’s As harmless as the app called ‘Instagram’ seems on the surface - a photo and video editing platform - many dark areas loom around any corner. When not set up with proper privacy settings, the user needs to be extra vigilant to protect their eyes from the content that can pop up within a few clicks or swipes. Despite the creator’s efforts to keep inappropriate content out of it’s app, and safe for “13+” to use, images inappropriate for any age of eyes can still be found. Users are allowed to ‘Block’, ‘Report’, and ‘Unfollow’ accounts that they are not interested in or believe are not appropriate. In its simplest form the app is not harmful, though the psychological effects of any social media…

09Dec 2019 by nrcmmc

Bark App

Apps, Reviews

Billed as the “Smart Way to Keep Kids Safe Online”, Bark is a highly-rated, award-winning monitoring tool. A few of us Siouxland MMC Members have been trying it out, and would like to share our experiences with our audience. “Bark” is designed to be like a watchdog. It may not stop an intruder, but it’ll bark loudly to alert others about a problem, so that problem can be dealt with. Here’s what Bark is NOT. NOT a filter. Bark does not restrict any content that a device can access. NOT a time-restriction app. You cannot set up time limits or off-hours for your child’s device. Since Bark does not prevent a child from accessing impure content on the Internet, we cannot recommend it as the only tool you should use…

04Nov 2019 by nrcmmc

I trust my child

Editorials

I trust my child….even with a phone Do you trust your child? Raised from your knees, learned to crawl, walk, talk. Started Kindergarten, learned to read and write. Helps with the chores and housework. For sure each has their personality, but we all have some faults; nobody is perfect. They do respect me and do as told, most of the time; especially my oldest child. He/she is always with me. So yes, I do trust them. We have many good discussions about how bad things can be today; the world with all its influences, television, and today the internet, and all that is on it. After all, at 14 years old, they are becoming quite responsible! Driver education now starting, and they have a driving permit. Hard to believe they…

04Nov 2019 by nrcmmc

Sexting

Guidelines, Hazards

A recent survey found that at least one in four teens receive sexually explicit texts and emails. At least one in seven teens send "sexts." Why do they do it? To show off, to entice someone, to show interest in someone, or to prove commitment. Or even as a joke. Teens' developing interest in sex, an impulse to experiment, and apps that make sexting easy -- and acceptable -- create an environment that some teens find irresistible. The attached article and video highlights these common causes of sexting and gives parents some advice on how to handle this potential problem with your children. At a minimum, the Modern Media committee recommends the following: Communicate with your children, early and often, about the sin and dangers of sexting Don’t allow apps…

07Oct 2019 by nrcmmc

15 Apps Parents Should Know About

Apps

07Oct 2019 by nrcmmc

The Negative Effects of Technology on Childhood Behavior

Guidelines, Hazards

The Negative Effects of Technology on Childhood Behavior Almost every child in America right now has grown up in a world doused with technology. We’ve all heard the common concerns about how this affects a child’s upbringing—eyesight, attention span, emotional safety, personal boundaries, etc.—but fewer people recognize the effect technology has on behavior.Not only does it affect the behavior of children, but it also affects the behavior of adults, which, in turn, changes the parenting and teaching that children experience. Read the Article

13Jun 2019 by nrcmmc

Five Most Dangerous Places for Kids to be Online

Guidelines, Hazards

Where Kids Use Tech Dictates How They Use Tech It’s impossible for parents to control all of the doorways that exist for a child to access the web. Creating an internet safety strategy for home is one thing, but how many other ways exist for your child to watch YouTube without you knowing? Although parents can’t control all of the environments where their kids spend time, there are a few high-risk environments that warrant more attention. Read the Article

13Jun 2019 by nrcmmc

Online TV

Editorials, Hazards

Do we have TV in our homes?We probably do, or we are closer than we know. We don't have the box our forefathers banned, but we do have the content readily available at our finger tips with TV online. Link to article

06May 2019 by nrcmmc

Digital Addiction

Hazards

“Son won't turn off his video game? Daughter obsessed with ‘likes’ on Instagram? It may not be entirely their fault. Like the high-octane sugar in a pint of Ben & Jerry's and that irresistible chemical spice in Flamin' Hot Cheetos, the ingredients in social media, video games, apps, and other digital products are carefully engineered to keep you coming back for more.” Common Sense Media has recently published an article describing the science behind digital addiction. Please read and ponder how this may be affecting you and your family members… The article includes some helpful tips to manage the “tricks” that are built into these digital products. (Note - there are references to specific social media examples that we do not endorse) Link to Article *Please note, that although we have…

11Feb 2019 by nrcmmc

Smartphones for Smartfamilies

Cell Phones, Guidelines

In the same way that you don’t hand your kids the keys to a car without any training and simply say “Good luck,” you shouldn’t hand them a smartphone and say, “What could go wrong?” Their lives, your life, and others’ lives hang in the balance physically, legally, and spiritually. In short, we advise against giving your children a phone if you are not ready to have a conversation with them about it multiple times a week for multiple years. Your family is on a journey together of enjoying, leveraging, and self-regulating your phones. And there is a destination! It is when your son or daughter has demonstrated integrity and has learned how to self-regulate his or her phone (that is, your kids no longer have limits imposed by you;…