The uncle in question, Nick Bilton, is also a tech reporter for the New York Times, so he's got a certain 30,000-foot perspective on social media that can be helpful to parents (because, even when writing commentaries, [good] reporters have been conditioned to represent things dispassionately, which is helpful in the tech-parenting space). So with his nephew Luca in mind, Mr. Bilton puts social … [Read more...] about An uncle’s take on social media for kid users
parents
Of student digital privacy & schools demanding passwords
For Data Privacy Day (1/28), let's take a look at students' data privacy – as in the data on their cellphones and whether school administrators have the right to search the devices. The ACLU says they don't. It called out a school board in Tennessee for violating the constitutional rights of students by implementing a policy that allows school officials to search digital devices kids bring to … [Read more...] about Of student digital privacy & schools demanding passwords
Of parenting & a class called ‘Wasting Time on the Internet’
One of the central stereotypes of (or maybe urban legends about) us, our tech and our time is people filling every free or empty moment doing something on a screen – texting, playing a game, posting a photo, listening to a tune, checking email, reading a book, etc., etc. It makes us feel guilty or critical because it's typically associated with lack of self-discipline or situational awareness. … [Read more...] about Of parenting & a class called ‘Wasting Time on the Internet’
Perfect digital parenting doesn’t exist
I'm stating the obvious – that perfect digital-age parenting doesn't exist – but let me explain why it doesn't. Writer Heather Havrilesky got me thinking about this with her commentary "The 'Mommy' Problem" in the New York Times this weekend. She focuses on mothers (since our culture does so much) and on offline parenting. I'll add the digital part. She writes that "the current culture demands … [Read more...] about Perfect digital parenting doesn’t exist
Less parental control, more support of kids’ self-regulation: Study
It isn't the first time research has found that "parental control" is not the best way to keep children safe online and on phones. "Rather than restricting or monitoring internet use, parents should let their children discover the net, both good and bad, themselves," the BBC cites a new survey as saying. It's encouraging to see news stories like this; they've been rare over the past decade+, so … [Read more...] about Less parental control, more support of kids’ self-regulation: Study