At Mobicip we believe that there are two components that determine how effectively a message is delivered. One—the relevance of the message itself. Two—the medium of communication used to get the message across. Anti-bullying has taken center stage across the world in the past few years, with a significant number of children coming forward to report the adverse effects of new-age bullying. Although country-wide campaigns have been conducted in the US to address the issue, the

Cyber flashing is when an explicit or inappropriate media file is sent to your phone anonymously and without your permission. This is most common with iPhone users, using an application called AirDrop, which allows anyone within 30 feet to send images and other media files as long as their AirDrop is set to receive the files without explicit permission. Even as adults, it is never pleasant to receive unsolicited images. However, we at least know how to handle the situation. C

EDITORS NOTE: While we believe no app is inherently "good" or "bad" (it's how they are used!), one thing we've learned is this... Parents want to know what apps kids are using and what the potential for danger is on those apps. So we turned to our friends at Mobicip for a rundown on 7 apps you should know... It is a tricky world out there, especially for parents trying to ensure that their children do not fall prey to online abuse and fake news. While it might be futile to tr

YouTube stars have become celebrities to young audience and the content produced by these stars are consumed by kids and have a powerful hold over them. Recently, a seven-year-old YouTube star named Ryan became a toy tycoon after catching the attention of the world’s largest retailer Walmart earlier this year. His namesake toy line “Ryan’s World” is one of the season’s biggest sellers, according to Brad Bedwell, a senior buyer in toys for Walmart. "[My nephew] exclaimed ‘Comb

As evidenced by increases in app downloads, app earnings, and smartphone penetration over the last five years, mobile application usage seems to be on the rise. The smartphone has managed to take up even more of our time. However, usage does not distribute evenly across types of mobile apps. Five social media apps in particular, have gained disproportionate shares of overall app use. The makers of these apps, of course, want people to use and spend time using them, and consu

It is not by accident that smartphones, tablets and computers have become ubiquitous today. While they serve as valuable productivity tools, the companies that make them, along with those that make apps, have relentlessly focused on making them engaging. But there comes a point when these tools have become so engaging to be considered "addictive," especially among younger users. The behavioral effects of such hyper-engagement with screens and technology is not a new phenomeno

When was the last time you saw your children look up from their social media feed and voluntarily engage in a conversation with you? If you have to think about it, we feel you! You’ve probably spoken to them, scolded them or even pleaded with them to stop with their online obsession, but all your efforts have gone in vain. The only solace is the fact that you’re definitely not alone. The obsession with smartphones and social media has become an endemic as a result of very you

Raising healthy and happy children in the digital age is a challenge for most parents. The use of smartphones, computers, and tablets for learning and communication has exploded. Most schools have integrated devices into their curriculum. Younger children get exposed to information that is far beyond their capacity to handle. This leads to technology addiction, internet/social media obsession, exposure to profanity & violence in games, exposure to mature content and unhealthy

Getting to meet new people is fun! There's the excitement of bouncing off one's ideas on someone new and exploring alternate perspectives with another person who has similar interests. Besides, there’s the novelty of it. As parents, we all want our kids to be exposed to a variety of people, places, and experiences that shape them into dynamic and inspired adults. But when the person our child is interacting with is a total stranger, with a completely virtual experience that g

"Technology addiction"* is a new and rapidly growing problem among today’s population, but most susceptible are children and teens. Their brains are not fully developed, and without careful family rules and regulations, it may be difficult to tear them away from the seductive embrace of a tablet, phone, or video game system. Teens who struggle with issues like depression or anxiety may have even more problems with screen addiction, as they can withdraw from the stressful outs

In the present day, it is difficult to insulate our children from the fear, violence, and discontent constantly broadcasted through radio, film, and television. Especially on social media, graphic and violent information can easily be amplified to reach thousands of viewers of all ages. Children may feel afraid for their own safety, or the safety of their loved ones when constantly bombarded with such messages. The recent Florida and Texas school shootings were not only trag

With the #MeToo movement heightening awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment in our offline lives, it is equally important to understand the influence of sexual assault in our digital lives. Given the novelty of the digital era, there is, as yet, no formal definition of cyber sexual assault. The US Department of Justice defines sexual violence, as “any unwanted sexual act, or attempt to obtain a sexual act, through coercion, unwanted sexual advances, and sexual traff