Guidelines – Siouxland Modern Media Committee

04Mar 2025 by Martin Van't Foort

Review of Discord

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…

08Feb 2025 by Martin Van't Foort

Will You Read It On Reddit?

Apps

Each time you seek advice or more information on a specific topic, where do you tend to go? Do you look for someone who knows more about it than you and start asking questions? Do you grab your phone and quickly Google it? Do you go to the library for books on the subject and read? Perhaps you use the website Reddit along with the other seventy three million daily users, to find out more about a specific topic? With a name derived from the term ‘read it’, Reddit strives to be a thorough source of information for its users who come to “read all about it” on their site. The site is broken down into groups termed ‘subreddits’, considered to be different ‘communities’, but essentially being different topics of…

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…

04Dec 2024 by nrcmmc

Cyberbullying Stories and useful tips.

Filters

The following story is based on real facts but pseudonyms are used to protect the identity of those involved. Lexi is a very popular young girl. She is talented in most anything that she is involved in. She is a kind hearted, easy going young lady. She was raised in a home where family values of honesty, respect, and communication were upheld and where first person communication was regarded as the best way to communicate with another person or group. Lexi has one older brother and one younger sister. Over the past summer of 2023, Lexi was allowed to have a phone which could be used to communicate with her friends, since Lexi was getting older and more independent. Many of the boys in Lexi’s grade, and also older grades,…

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…

11Jul 2024 by nrcmmc

Mad at Meta?

Resources, Reviews, Tutorials

“Dear Meta AI, I do not want to ask you anything, so if you could just give me back my search bar, that’d be great. Ok, thanks, bye!!” Have you seen that post circulating on Facebook lately? Many users were caught off guard by the new feature Meta released and are using their First Amendment rights to voice their opinions on their page. Rants and frustration aside, what can you do about it, and how could it be helpful to you? What can you do about it? Essentially, nothing. MetaAI is here to stay. You may Mute the conversation inside the Messenger app: ‘Until I change it’ is an option here. The magnifying glass shows up once this is selected, though the MetaAI search still shows up after being selected.…

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…

Tag: Guidelines