When parents think of TikTok, usually viral dance videos come to mind. However, platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter are being used by Gen Z — youth born after 1996 —to revolutionize activism. At just the click of a button, they can start a movement… like TikTok users who helped sabotage a Trump rally when they coordinated to register for tickets and did not show up, or young Indonesians who used the app to protest labor law reforms. And following George Floyd's murder, there was a surge in Black Lives Matter videos on all of these social media apps. Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles, co-author of "#Hashtag Activism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice" was our special guest.

Did our clickbait headline get your attention? We hope so! In this Cyberwise Chat we tackle the topic of clickbait and misinformation. Kids today are exposed to all sorts of online information that's downright untrue, and unarmed with media literacy skills, they can fall for (and share!) headlines designed to grab their attention. Find out how you can prepare your child to face an online world full of clickbait and fake news!

One of the most disturbing problems of the digital age is how easy it is for children to access online pornography. With cellphones in their pockets, access to porn in often just a click away. In fact, the average age of first Internet porn exposure is 11 years old and whether your child accidentally or intentionally stumbles across it, the impact can be devastating. Learn how to protect your children from online pornography, what to do if they have already accessed online porn, and how to have honest conversations about this thorny topic.

During this post-pandemic return to “normal,” kids need parents to help them re-learn how to balance screen time with real life, understand how to use technology mindfully and safely and, most of all, help them manage the anxiety and stress many have (and will) suffer during this transition. Watch Diana Graber of Cyberwise, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center, and Rick Andreoli, Editor-In-Chief of Parentology tackle these topics.

In this interactive webinar we discussed parental concerns about Instagram. Here are some things that top the list: Data collection, access to inappropriate content (pornography, violence, fake news, dangerous challenges, etc.), a "compare and despair" atmosphere, possible links to anxiety and depression, and more. On top of all this, Facebook is reportedly planning to build a version of the app for the under-13 set. Good idea or bad idea?

Clubhouse is one of the newest on the block, what about it is making is so popular, so fast? And Omegle has been around for a while, why the sudden resurgence in interest? Is it safe for kids? What other chat apps are kids using now and why? Join us to chat about these social media platforms and more.

Teens might use the phrase “you’re canceled” in jest, but some are taking it a step farther and actually blocking, unfollowing, and boycotting peers on social media (and in real life) because of a personal opinion or for simply saying/doing something disagreeable. First used as a way to target celebrities—i.e., #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty​—“Cancel Culture” has made its way into classrooms and into teen peer groups. This new form of cyberbullying has many parents concerned about how it’s affecting their kids.

From the "Cereal Challenge" to the "Penny Challenge," the "Blackout Challenge" and more, viral challenges born and spread on the popular app, TikTok, range from silly to downright dangerous. In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge and Diana Graber talk to Parentology's Editor-in-Chief, Rick Andreoli about some of the most outrageous TikTok Challenges, and what parents should know about them.

Recently some prominent public figures have had their social media accounts revoked--on Twitter, Instagram, and more--for conduct that violates the sites' terms of use, and kids are watching! In this Cyberwise Chat, we discuss how to talk to kids about these events and how it influences their own social media behavior.

2020 is gone, but COVID is still here. That means many of us are still relying on tech--for learning, work, and socialization. Listen to this Cyberwise Chat to find out what tech tools your family can use to thrive in 2021.

Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center, and Diana Graber, author of "Raising Humans in a Digital World," answer your questions about tech and human behavior. This week find out if your child is ready for the most popular holiday gift... the cellphone.

Here we answer your questions about how to use technology (and which tech to use) to stay connected with family and friends during our COVID-holidays. Be sure to download the show notes to get access to the resources discussed.

Joni Siani of No App for Life, Diana Graber of Cyberwise, and Jean Rogers of the Children's Screen Time Action Network discuss the very real issue of 'screen fatigue and offer actionable strategies and resources to deal with it.

Play Here

“Criar humanos en un entorno digital.” 

A chat with Josh Ochs of SmartSocial.com about "How to Raise Humans in a Digital World."

A chat with Marc Groman and David Reitman of "Their Own Devices" about "What our Kids Post Online Matters, Maybe Forever!"

A chat with Christian Coon of "Failing Boldly" about "How to Keep Your Teens Safe Online."

A chat with Caleb Farley of "Socially Smart" about "Raising Humans in a Digital World."

A chat with Sheana Ahlqvist  of "Innovation For All" about "How To Teach Kids to Interact Online."

A chat with Sue and Steph of Your Teen Magazine on "Why We Need to Parent Like Dolphins."

CYBER CIVICS

Do you know about our award-winning in-school and at-home digital literacy curriculum?

GET OUR BOOK 

Got digital kids? Then "Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology" is for you!

FOR FAMILIES

Guess what? The Cyber Civics curriculum is now available for parents to teach at home too!

READ OUR NEWS

Let us send you a newsletter every couple of weeks with tricks and tips to help you raise awesome humans!