Hazards – Siouxland Modern Media Committee

04Aug 2025 by nrcmmc

OnlyFans

A sports website? Spoiler alert - it’s not. And it’s really unsafe for you and your family. OnlyFans is a website where users can upload content and offer it to the public for a set price. While some of the content is good, 98% of it is sexual in nature. The world today is hypersexual; therefore it is easy to offer sexual content at a premium price, due to the appetite for the general public to view that type of content. In some cases, the uploader can be persons we are familiar with; a friend, coworker, or even a relative. Persons uploading content to OnlyFans are often using OnlyFans content as a source for supplemental income. Some uploaders are making large amounts of money from the content they upload. OnlyFans…

04Mar 2025 by Martin Van't Foort

Review of Discord

Apps, Hazards, Resources, Reviews

Discord is a popular platform for voice, video, and text communication. Originally used by gamers as a way to communicate between different gaming platforms, the app is increasingly being used by people from various communities, including for educational purposes, hobbies, and professional groups - some companies are using it to replace Zoom. On Discord, users can create or join servers, communicate in real-time, and share content with other users of common interests. Besides posting to certain servers where everybody can see, users can privately message each other. Discord has several dangerous aspects which should be considered for user safety: Safety of young users - Protect Young Eyes and Bark emphasize that while Discord offers privacy settings, it can still present risks for young users. Since Discord allows people to create…

04Mar 2025 by Martin Van't Foort

Why Every Parent Should Watch the Gridshock Documentary

Events, Hazards

Why Every Parent Should Watch the Gridshock Documentary In a world where digital technology connects us all, there is a hidden crisis threatening the safety of our children—human trafficking. The documentary Gridshock exposes the dark reality of human trafficking in America, shedding light on how this criminal industry thrives in plain sight. For parents, understanding the risks and signs is crucial to protecting their children. This powerful film is not just an exposé—it is a call to action. What is Gridshock? Gridshock is an investigative documentary that uncovers the human trafficking epidemic in the United States, focusing on the demand-driven market. The film brings forward survivors' voices, law enforcement insights, and expert analysis to show how sex trafficking continues to plague communities across the nation. Through heartbreaking stories and shocking…

07Jan 2025 by Martin Van't Foort

U.S. Surgeon General Warning

Devices, Hazards

It is no surprise that social media is addictive. If a person observes others around them, you will notice many who are scrolling through social media. Instagram, YouTube shorts, TikTok and other like platforms are the most popular. The human brain is a very intricate organ with much of its growth and development happening from birth until approximately 20 years old. With the explosion of social media over the past decade, there are some alarming trends, especially in children who are using social media excessively. The U.S. surgeon general has released an executive summary, Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory (executive Summary), which highlights the negative consequences of too much social media use within our younger population along with recommendations on how to deal with…

11Nov 2024 by nrcmmc

Math AI Tools – What Parents Should Know

Guidelines, Hazards, Reviews

Math-focused artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer a new way to support students in learning and practicing math at home. From tools that provide interactive explanations to apps that help solve and visualize problems, there are many resources available that can enhance understanding and make math more approachable. Here’s what parents should consider: 1. Benefits of Math AI Tools Step-by-Step Explanations: Tools like Photomath, Microsoft Math Solver, and Khan Academy’s AI-driven practice provide guided steps, helping students understand each stage of problem-solving. Personalized Practice: Many apps, like Prodigy or DreamBox, adjust difficulty based on the student’s skill level, ensuring challenges are appropriate and minimizing frustration. Instant Feedback: With AI-based assessment, students can get immediate feedback, helping them correct mistakes early and understand where they went wrong. 2. Learning vs. Shortcuts Encourage…

14Oct 2024 by nrcmmc

Hidden Dangers of Spotify: A Caution for Parents

Apps, Cell Phones, Devices, Hazards

Music streaming platforms like Spotify have millions of tracks at your fingertip, offering a convenience that’s hard to resist, especially to teens. We know many teens and families use these music platforms, but we would suggest with the little 'profitable' material to be obtained that we stay away from them as much as possible. However, as parents, it's important to recognize the potential dangers Spotify might pose to teens and adults. Here are several to consider: 1. Explicit Content One of the most significant dangers on Spotify is the sheer volume of explicit content. Spotify does offer a “clean” version for younger listeners. Many songs feature explicit language, themes of violence, drug use, and sexual content. Spotify does label songs as “explicit,” but it is easy to bypass this. Here…

16Sep 2024 by nrcmmc

The “Dirty Dozen”

Apps, Devices, Hazards

Each year since 2013, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) releases a list of 12 mainstream companies that facilitate, enable, or profit from sexual exploitation. This list is termed the “Dirty Dozen.” Some companies on the 2024 Dirty Dozen list include Apple, Meta, Spotify, and Roblox. NCOSE explains each company they place on the list. For example, they say that “Apple is rotten when it comes to child protection. This Big Tech titan refuses to scan for child sex abuse material, hosts dangerous apps with deceptive age ratings and descriptions, and won’t default safety features for teens.” NCOSE provides updates for each company throughout the year if they attempt to improve safety for their users. If you go to the NCOSE website, you can find the Dirty Dozen and…

07Mar 2024 by nrcmmc

Hoop – Teens Connecting with Strangers

Guidelines, Hazards

Hoop describes the user experience as being able to make new friends locally or all over the world. What exactly is Hoop? When creating an account for Hoop, you only need your age, gender, country, Snapchat username, and a profile picture (up to 5 pictures). Then, Hoop provides you with endless profiles to view. If you find a profile you like, you can request to exchange Snapchat usernames and begin chatting on Snapchat. If you do not like a profile, you pass. Requesting a user’s Snapchat username requires you to use “diamonds.” You can either earn diamonds by performing certain tasks, such as gaining a certain number of friends on Snapchat that were initiated through the Hoop app, or you can purchase more diamonds. Hoop has no chat capabilities -…

06Feb 2024 by nrcmmc

Teen Social Media and Mental Health

Devices, Guidelines, Hazards, Resources

We all want to feel loved. We all want to be seen and heard for who we are. When we are beside our spouse, with our parents, amongst our family, friends, classmates and co-workers, we want to be acknowledged as a worthy person. As young people, the human brain is developing and learning to be able to live in an adult world. The need to feel loved and accepted is especially strong in teenagers. Many teens have turned to social media in an attempt to feel known, connected, and loved. This is evident by the number of teenagers using social media. Universally, up to 95% of teenagers ages 13-17 use social media and as many as one-third say they are addicted! Social media provides a false feeling of love and…

08Jan 2024 by nrcmmc

Media and the Mind: Pediatricians guide to screen time.

Devices, Guidelines, Hazards, Resources, Reviews

Like the snowflakes that fall from the sky, no two people are exactly alike. Psalm 139 tells us of God’s craftsmanship and knowledge of each individual He created. The psalmist praises,”I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each person's needs vary from one another. And our children are no exception. In fact, a child's brain needs guidance and instruction from caring adults at all ages. Screen time and media usage is an area of attentiveness adults must be aware of when raising children. In an article covering this major topic, Mayo Clinic guides parents and caretakers on digital literacy, problems, developing rules, and teaching good behaviors with screens. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-20047952 In a general Q & A article, the American Academy of Pediatricians reiterates the previously mentioned topics. They have also included a…

Category: Hazards