resources – Siouxland Modern Media Committee

07Apr 2025 by Martin Van't Foort

Topic: Accountability – what and why? Different ways to hold oneself accountable with modern media usage

Cell Phones, Devices, Filters, Guidelines, Resources

For the five years since they had been married, T & R both worked full time jobs. Each enjoyed their job; their work ethic helped them both to excel in their company. They normally spent their evenings doing things together or with friends. They stayed busy enough with their house, jobs, and social life that each one’s use of their phones stayed limited. Even when they were on their phones, they were together, and one would tease the other to ‘be present’ or ‘tell your boy/girlfriend you’re with your wife/husband right now’. There was an understanding between them that they weren’t perfect with it, but together they could hold each other accountable on their devices. It was a system that worked well - openness and honesty with their phone usage…

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…

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…

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.…

08Jun 2024 by nrcmmc

There is Forgiveness

Filters

From the 2018 January special edition Insight Into During a Bible study, two prisoners were talking together. " I will never be able to forgive myself for what I have done," said one of them, "My sins haunt me every day," he added. "That is good to hear!" his friend answered, "I have relatives who feel no guilt at all. At least you realize what you have done, and therefore you need the Lord Jesus more." When I heard this, I had to think of Paul. He continued to feel himself to be the least of the apostles, Sexual addictions can also lead to this, it continues to sadden you, this is good, as long as it doesn't suffocate you, Cain ran away from God, because he had murdered is…

Tag: resources