I’ve Met Someone Online. They Want to Meet in Person. Now What?
So, you met a guy online. Or a girl. (For purposes of stylistic ease, we are using the male pronoun here, but this person could be of any gender.) It could have been Facebook. Kik. Fortnite. He seems so nice. Flattering. Sweet. And he really likes you, it seems. He understands, accepts, and supports you […]
How to Talk to Your Kids About Stranger Danger…On the Internet
Before you hand your teen a phone, you need to have a talk with them. Just like the conversation about the birds and the bees, this kind of talk is of paramount importance in your teen’s life. This talk is about stranger danger…on the internet. As a parent, you have a responsibility to keep your […]
Is a Sex Trafficker Talking to Your Daughter Online?
According to a study by The University of Toledo in Ohio, sex traffickers are increasingly using the internet, specifically social media, to recruit and sell adolescents. The study found that traffickers are able to exploit the teens even without ever meeting face to face. Usually, traffickers are preying on vulnerable young teens—usually girls. Through 16 […]
Snapchat: Is It Safe for My Teen?
You may have heard of Snapchat. It’s a popular messaging app whose unique feature is that it self-destructs photos and videos (snaps) after sending them. Users can only view their snaps once before they disappear. Millions of teens use Snapchat every day. In fact, along with Instagram, it is one of the leading social media […]
How Snapchat Streaks Are Getting Teens Addicted to the App
According to a national survey of American teenagers conducted by the University of Chicago, around three-quarters of adolescents aged 13-17 use Snapchat regularly. Snapchat’s main draw is that it erases photos and videos just seconds after receipt. Most teens use the app to share lighthearted, spontaneous moments. The app’s design is playful and fun. You […]
Should I Be Concerned? My Teen Is on ASKfm
ASKfm is a social media platform, based in Europe, with more than 200 million users around the world. It’s particularly popular with teens. In fact, more than 40% of its users are adolescents ages 13 – 18. On the site, users ask and answer questions to each other—directly or anonymously. Such questions can range from […]
Secret Code Words Your Adolescent Is Using for Sex and Drugs
If you’re a parent of a teen, it can be confusing when you hear your teen talk to others, or try to read their texts. If you’re not familiar with teen slang, some of their exchanges may seem unfamiliar or downright odd. Adolescents today will also use words and phrases that mean totally different things […]
Does Your Teen Have Kik? How to Stay Safe on This App
You’re probably on Facebook. You know about Instagram and Snapchat. You’re familiar with Whatsapp and Twitter. Maybe you even know about Finsta. But have you heard of Kik? Kik is the secret messaging app most parents don’t know about. For millions of teens in the U.S., it’s quickly gaining steam as a popular way to […]
The Common Sense Census Part 3: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Tween and Teen Media Use
We recently posted two articles about a mammoth report published in November, 2015 by Common Sense Media about the way young people in the United States use media and technology. Conducted over six weeks in the early spring of 2015, the study included 2,658 children age eight to eighteen. Tweens were defined as children age eight […]
The Common Sense Census Part 2: Socioeconomic Differences in Tween and Teen Media Use
We recently posted an article about a mammoth report published November 2015 by Common Sense Media about the way young people in the United States use media and technology. Conducted over six weeks in the early spring of 2015, the study included 2,658 children age eight to eighteen. Tweens were defined as children age eight to […]