Trending Topics for Families

"Get informed. Kids will have lots of questions. Prepare yourself with the latest reports from credible news sources so you can decide what to share and ways to share it. " 

Click here to read more from Common Sense Media "Explaining the News to Our Kids. October 2023 

"Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin is a Mayo Clinic pediatrician and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. While there are many benefits to technology, she says it also can affect children and teens in negative ways, including some behavioral changes."

Click to read "Mayo Clinic Minute: How much screen time is too much time for your kids?" from MayoClinic.Org. May 2023

On the one hand, he says, "it can lead to the betterment of humanity and the transformation of the world if it “contributes to greater order in human society and greater fraternal communion and freedom”

On the other hand, techno-scientific advances, especially in the digital sphere, “are placing in human hands a vast array of options, including some that may pose a risk to our survival and endanger our common home.”

Click to read more from Vatican News "In World Peace Day Message, Pope Warns of Risks of AI for Peace, December 2023

"Keeping You Informed. Keeping You Aware. Stay on top of the latest in security including social engineering, ransomware and phishing attacks. "

Click to access the KnowBe4 Blog

"All in all, Family Sharing, Screen Time, and Schooltime make the Apple Watch an appealing smartphone alternative. But parents remember – it’s still an incredibly powerful device with some smartphone attributes. We don’t think it’s appropriate for Elementary or early Middle School. Maybe as they are moving into eighth grade as a stepping stone to a smartphone. "

Click to read more from Protect Young Eyes Blog Article, April 2023

"We hope these new tools and guidelines help parents, caregivers, trusted adults and teens not only personalize their Snapchat experience, but empower then to have productive conversations about their online experiences."

Click to learn more from Snapchat's Privacy and Safety Hub, March 2023

According to an article from the Child Mind Institute, Matthew Rouse, PhD, a clinical psychologist, says..."once kids have the shared experience of watching difficult or uncomfortable content with a parent and then talking about it, they’re probably more likely to come to that parent when they face a similar problem in their real lives." 

Click here to read more on "Why Watch TV With Your Tween or Teen" from the Child Mind Institute. October, 2023 

According to cyberbullying.org, 26.5% of students said they had experienced cyberbullying with the 30 days prior to taking their 2023 survey. This national survey included a sample of 5,000 13 to 17 year old middle and high schools students.

Click here to read more about "Cyberbullying Continues to Rise Among the Youth in the United States" by the Cyberbullying Research Center . October, 2023

Common Sense Media cautions parents, "While there's no graphic violence or gore, there are splatters of blood throughout the factory. Also, the horror nature of the game will likely be too scary for younger audiences." 

Click to read "What to Know About Huggy Wuggy and the Poppy Playtime Game" from Parents Website Article, May 2023

"It's true that users must be over 18 without parental permission, but reality is that children don't always follow these rules. and they're extremely easy to circumvent. According to Jordan, Omegle's warnings are "not an effective barrier. It might protect them legally, but it's not good enough." Plus, she stresses that Omegle doesn't verify the age of its users. "

Click to read more from Parents Blog, August 2023

"Wi-Fi is incredibly beneficial. However, anything that involves an Internet connection, wireless access points, and network security also has its risks. Just like computers, Wi-Fi networks are prone to being hacked."

Click here to view "How to Secure Wi-Fi Networks" from StaySafe.org. Updated for 2024