Messaging – Siouxland Modern Media Committee

11Dec 2023 by nrcmmc

Saturn Time Together App

Saturn is a scheduling app which targets high school students as their users and markets itself as a way to “control the chaos and live in the now.” After creating an account, students select their school and can take a picture of their schedule or manually enter their schedule into the app to get a personalized calendar. The app helps students to feel connected by sharing their schedules with each other and being able to make comments on the school bulletin board. Saturn also has a feature that allows students to privately message each other. When Saturn originally launched, there were limited safety features. Recently, more safety features have been added, such as needing a verified school email address to privately message other students and access other features of the…

11Sep 2021 by Martin Van't Foort

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…

07Sep 2021 by Sandra Post

Gabb Watch

Devices

"Gabb Wireless now has a smartwatch that is safe for kids! No Internet or app store."Looking for a safe "phone" for your kids to use that allows for communication with parents, a GPS tracker, step counter, and more? This interactive stand-alone watch acts like a cell phone and GPS device. Learn more about the new Gabb watch here.*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.

09Nov 2020 by nrcmmc

Cyberbullying Surpasses Bullying

Hazards

Cyberbullying Surpasses Bullying as Most Common Type of Harassment For much of the 2020 school year, most children in America were schooled from their homes. During this time, one would think that bullying (which typically happens at school, on the school yard, or on the school busses) would have decreased. Unfortunately, 2020 was the first year that cyberbullying surpassed all other methods and became the most common type of harassment. Teens don’t have to physically be at school - they can just use their smartphones to continue to harass their peers. A recent article posted by Very Well Family explains the facts. https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-common-is-cyberbullying-4570942 Cyberbullying isn’t new. October 10, 2020 marked 8 years since Amanda Todd, a Canadian teenager, took her own life after suffering both bullying and cyberbullying for a…

06Apr 2020 by nrcmmc

Socializing Online

Apps, Hazards

Chatting with a few friends on Messenger or What’s App isn’t a harmless way to pass the time. Right? Look at that question from another perspective: Meeting with other friends at one of their homes for a few hours to talk isn’t a harmless way to pass the time. Right? Does one of those questions strike a chord with you more than the other? That could depend on your age. It could depend on what generation you were born in. It could also depend on how you were raised and what you learned as you grew up. As the generation of adults who grew up without the internet ages, the generation of children who grow up knowing nothing but a screen in the face ages as well. We see it…

10Feb 2020 by nrcmmc

HBD or Happy Birthday?

Guidelines

HBD or Happy Birthday? Which of the above greeting would you prefer on your birthday? Netiquette or a texting abbreviations? Netiquette is simply using proper etiquette while using digital devices. Most of us are familiar with some texting abbreviations/acronyms. There is a social norm we should follow with digital interaction to maintain proper work correspondence & ethics, as well as personal relationships. There are some guidelines to keep in mind or it may be soon be a thing of the past, as much as addressing letters to “Dear Sir” or “Dear Mrs. Smith”. Be respectful. Everyone has different feelings and opinions and it is important to respect this online. You may wish to comment on something someone has shared but always remember that behind every account is a real…

10Feb 2020 by nrcmmc

“Sticks and Stones…”

Hazards

“Sticks and Stones…” We are most likely familiar with the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. However, is this really true? For anyone who has been on the receiving end of bullying, or even a scathing reproach, know how deep words can cut and hurt the heart. Bullying in the ‘Sticks and Stones’ era, typically started when a child stepped onto the bus, endured during the school day, ended as the bus pulled back into the driveway. For today's teens, or older ones, bullying has broadened its aching wounds. It can now be a constant bullying via electronic devices that can be left on 24/7. Cyberbullying or cyberharassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means, also known as online…

06Jan 2020 by nrcmmc

WhatsApp Safety

Apps, Reviews

WhatsApp safety: a how to guide for parents - Internet Matters WhatsApp is a common app used for communicating on smartphones. Does this mean it is as safe as phone conversations? What do you need to know about the ins and outs of this app? What are some pros and cons? The link below delineates some common matters. https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/whatsapp-safety-a-how-to-guide-for-parents/

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…

Tag: Messaging