Family Tech Blog

Tag: parenting

  • Instagram Has Added 4-Way Group Chat

    Instagram Has Added 4-Way Group Chat

    Available today, Instagram has added a way to chat with your friends while simultaneously creeping the app. Instagram is allowing users to chat with up to four friends over video as well as multitask within the app by minimizing the chat screen. You can call friends directly and they will be notified of the call they can then accept or if they go into your group chat feed and see the icon is blue that means you’re chatting with someone and they can just join.

    Instagram has hit 1 billion users this month and they are doing their best to make it the app that people spend the most of your time in. This update allows users to meet the video chatting need that especially so many young people have and then doubles down with the ability to explore the app while you chat. This makes using Instagram an even more social experience.

    Instagram has also added new camera effects and channels that you can explore that highlight different topics.

    What Parents Should Know

    Video chatting is available in many apps including Snapchat, Facebook, HouseParty, and FaceTime. This is becoming the most common way for our young people to spend time with each other. Retail stores and malls are closing movie theaters are adding features to attract an older audience all because our kids don’t have to go anywhere to spend time with each other.

    Whether this is good or bad is up for you to decide. It is true that studies have been done showing that even video chatting does not meet the same social needs as being in the same room with somebody. So my advice is simply to monitor the amount of time your kids spend on their social media apps. Whether they are chatting with friends, just scrolling through images, or posting their own information. There’s a lot that needs to happen to keep them secure but all experts agree we have to be careful with how much time they spend on their devices.

    UNGLUE CAN HELP!

    Video Chatting Apps You Should Uninstall NOW

  • T-Mobile Customers Can Now Get a Rebranded Circle, They’re Calling it FamilyMode

    T-Mobile Customers Can Now Get a Rebranded Circle, They’re Calling it FamilyMode

    Circle is one of my favorite parental control solutions to recommend to families. It’s easy to set up and the settings really work well. T-Mobile has caught on to this great service and is adding it to the offerings to their wireless customers. Verizon also added pressure controls recently and now T-Mobile is joining the club. The app is completely rebranded with T-Mobile is pink and black color scheme and the image of the Circle device itself even has a T-Mobile logo on it.

    Circle allows you to build profiles for each family member and set parental controls and filters for their profile. This protects your home Wi-Fi and with CircleGo you’re able to protect them over data no matter where they are as well. Time limits, usage reports, and tons of other information are also available on the Circle app. T-Mobile has patched into these resources and is offering them to their customers.

    What Parents Should Know.

    If you’re a T-Mobile customer the $20 price point for the device plus $10 a month to take the safety with you is well worth it. We highly recommend circle and even use it ourselves. My advice is to take advantage of this deal and this great opportunity to protect your family on their devices.

  • Facebook Messenger Kids Wants To Teach Your Children Kindness

    Facebook Messenger Kids Wants To Teach Your Children Kindness

    There have been a few important updates in Facebook Messenger Kids lately. The first of which is a focus on kindness and digital citizenship. The app has added features to walk kids through kind online behavior and safety on social media. The app has kids agree to a pledge that asks them to be kind, respectful, safe, and have fun in the app. They’ve also added stickers and other creative content that will encourage sending kind messages.

    Facebook has also added the ability for more than one parent to manage a kids app. This will allow both mom and dad to keep an eye on who is asking their kids to friend them on messenger. They recently removed the requirement for parents to be Facebook friends of each other in order to allow their kids to chat but this feature is a very parent-friendly addition. It is, in fact, a direct response to feedback from parents whose kids use the app.

    Facebook also announced that they’ll be releasing something called “Appreciation Mission” which will introduce children to some ways they can show appreciation to friends and family on Facebook Messenger Kids.

    What Parents Should Know

    Many experts are concerned about the amount of harassment and mistreatment on social media as well as the general overuse of our screens. A feature that helps kids understand the importance of kindness online is a very good idea. Thus far, Facebook Messenger for Kids is the best option out there to give your kids the freedom of a social media messenger within the boundaries you’ve decided are necessary to keep them safe. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the app and set some time limits to be sure your kids aren’t overusing their screens as video and photo messaging can make the time pass very quickly.

  • You Can Watch and Create Longer Videos on Instagram with IGTV

    You Can Watch and Create Longer Videos on Instagram with IGTV

    Instagram has joined the long form video club with the release of IGTV. You have probably already started seeing the organizations (Like Us) and companies you follow posting about their new longer content on Instagram. It’s pretty easy to get to and built into the base app. It’s also easy to make a “channel” and everyone can do it. This video content can be up to 1 hour long for approved accounts and a half hour for everyone else. 

    You should expect to see much of the same videos you would see on YouTube make their way to Instagram as well. There are already podcasts, tutorials, and news reports being uploaded and, since literally, anything else you can imagine will be available soon as well. 

    What Parents Should Know

    With excessive screen time becoming an increasing problem, longer videos on the fastest growing social media app among most age groups could be cause for concern. Content is also, often a consideration since Instagram filters photos and videos through an algorithm. This means their software has to detect adult or dangerous content and if it fails the content has to be flagged enough times to be changed. Parents who are concerned about online content and screen time should be sure that their younger teens and children have time limits and content filters set. The other issue will be brands and entertainment companies creating content to market to our kids. They know that our kids and teenagers use Instagram and they will be targeting them with their videos. My advice is (as always) for parents to talk to their kids about the content they view online and try to help them keep an eye on how they spend their time and what they’re watching.

  • A.R.K. Survival Evolved Mobile Lets You Ride Dinos and Fight Other Cavepeople Online

    A.R.K. Survival Evolved Mobile Lets You Ride Dinos and Fight Other Cavepeople Online

    A.R.K. Survival Evolved is a PC survival game that has come to iOS and Android for free. In the game, you are dropped onto a jungle island full of dinosaurs, plants, resources, and even other players. You have to explore, scavenge, craft, and hunt to survive. You can build shelters and even tame dinos and other animals to serve as your mighty steeds. The game was wildly popular when it released last year on computer and has climbed the charts on iOS to be in the top five in only four days since release.

    What Parents Should Know

    A.R.K. is rated 12 + for violence and “fear themes.” The violence in the game is mostly committed against animals and dinosaurs for self-defense or hunting. There is a vs multiplayer mode in which you can play against up to 60 players from all over the world. Remember that online multiplayer modes are never rated because the content changes depending on how the users behave. 

    This game also has ads and features in-app purchases. You can pay to have the ads removed or purchase resources to speed up your development in the game. This game is “free to play” but is considered a “freemium” game. If you haven’t turned off in-app purchases on your devices, this game is they type that will make you want to do so immediately. It doesn’t take long to realize that by spending a few bucks you can advance in the game much faster. It is easier for kids to spend those bucks when they belong to mom and dad.

    A.R.K. isn’t a horrible game, I recommended it before your typical first-person shooter or battle royale game. The violence is mostly not committed against other humans and there are a real story and survival element involved in the game. There are even dinosaurs and animals that you can be kind to and tame instead of just killing everything in site. If your children meet the age recommendation for the game and you feel like you can manage the amount of time they spend playing (survival games have a way of making you spend a ton of time playing without realizing it) then A.R.K. is a pretty fun option.

  • Fortnite is Available to Play Now on Nintendo Switch

    Fortnite is Available to Play Now on Nintendo Switch

    At E3, today, Nintendo announced that the extremely popular battle royale game, Fortnite, is available to play on their latest console, the Switch. Fortnite is an online multiplayer battle royale game that rushed onto the scene several months ago and broke all kinds of records. The game is free to play on PS4, XBox, Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and now on Nintendo Switch as well. There are some limitations, however, as PS4 won’t allow you to play online with players who use other consoles or computers to play. Also, Nintendo says they will be using a pay model for their online gaming platform beginning in September, whether or not Fortnite will fall into the pay to play category at that time remains to be seen.

    What Parents Should Know

    I wrote an extensive article about my thoughts on Fortnite. If your kids enjoy playing the game and have a Nintendo switch then they will likely ask to download it for their console very soon. Nintendo announced that it’s available now so be sure to keep an eye on what your kids are playing and installing and who they are playing with. Fortnite keeps pretty well with Nintendo’s seemingly family-friendly nature since the game is rating T for Teen and not M for Mature. While some Mature games are available on the Switch, most of the games produced for the console are rated T or below. Just keep in mind that multiplayer gaming is officially unrated and that Fortnite is famous because of the ability to play online with other players.

  • Now You Can Instantly Delete Messages You’ve Sent in Snapchat

    Now You Can Instantly Delete Messages You’ve Sent in Snapchat

    I’ve done it, you’ve done it, everyone has sent that message you immediately regret. Snapchat’s new feature will allow you to message “regret free” by adding a delete feature. You can now delete a message after you’ve hit that send button. Maybe there’s just a dumb typo, perhaps what you said could come across differently than how you meant it, no matter the reason, they’ve got you covered.

    To delete a message just long press it and select the delete option. Everyone will be alerted that you deleted the message but they won’t see the message itself. Previously, Snapchat only made messages disappear when everyone in the group had seen them but this will change that up quite a bit. Obviously, screenshots can be taken of your message if someone sees it before you’ve eliminated evidence, but you’ll be notified of that as well.

    Also Read: Snapchat allows x-rated material from cosmo.

    What Parents Should Know

    This is a small change for Snapchat but it speaks volumes about the nature of a messaging app like this one. The idea has always been to remove regret, apprehension, and maybe even responsibility for the messages you send online. Our kids should understand that there are consequences for what we do on the internet, even is some of our apps try to make us feel like there aren’t.

    One of my biggest concerns about Snapchat is the disappearing messages. I have heard story after story of parents reporting their kids being victimized by bullies or predators on Snapchat only to be told by police that there is nothing they can do because there is no evidence of the messages that were sent. Snapchat has always been on my uninstall list and it most likely will never be taken off that list. If your kids are under 16, think long and hard before you allow them to use a disappearing messages app like Snapchat.

  • You No Longer Have to Be Friends with Your Kids’ Friends’ Parents on Facebook Messenger Kids

    You No Longer Have to Be Friends with Your Kids’ Friends’ Parents on Facebook Messenger Kids

    When Facebook Messenger for kids was released several months ago, I immediately installed it for my kids and began to test it out. I like that parents have to approve every single friend request. I was glad that it is encrypted, no data is collected, and that kids don’t have to open their own Facebook account. Finally, I was impressed that they built it with its own kid-friendly GIF library and camera filters. Now, Facebook has made a small change that could be helpful for many parents.

    You no longer have to be Facebook friends with the parents of the friends your kids want to contact on Messenger. The approval requirements haven’t changed. Your children aren’t allowed to make contact with anyone you haven’t pre-approved and any request will be sent to your Facebook account for easy approval or denial. This update will just free parents up to allow their kids to chat with friends regardless of being mere acquaintances with that friend’s mom and/or dad.

    What Parents Should Know

    I still think that Facebook Messenger for Kids is one of the better messaging apps for kids. It’s easy to set up and use and there is no data collection, account setup, or advertising.

    Here, however, is my warning: You should probably know your kids’ friends’ parents if they’re going to be chatting online. I’m not saying you should follow them on Facebook and be online BFFs, just that you want to be sure your children are chatting with other children. You give up a certain level of security when you aren’t looking out to see who your kids are talking to. With Facebook messenger kids the only way to find out who they’re talking to is through the account of their parents. Friend request their parent and then unfollow them if you must but you should be able to see what you can about their family to make sure your kid is only messaging other kids.

  • Snapchat Allows Cosmo to Include X-Rated Content in the App

    Snapchat Allows Cosmo to Include X-Rated Content in the App

    *This article is for parents and there is discussion of x-rated content. You have been warned.

    The Snapchat Discover page has been my main source of concern for kids and teens when it comes to the photo-sharing app. I posted a video over a year ago announcing that Snapchat was being added to my uninstall list because of the Discover page. This magazine rack style page featured articles from all kinds of magazines and other publications that highlighted sexuality, drug use, and other adult themes. As I began to understand the discover page, it became obvious to me that this app was intended for adults even though it’s used by High School and even Junior High students all over the country.

    Another Report on Cosmo After Dark

    The latest source of concern with Snapchat for parents is, as I’ve been saying, the Discover page. A new feature from Cosmo, called “Cosmo After Dark” features content that Cosmo themselves calls X-Rated. These articles are about everything from how to masturbate properly, to truth and dare ideas, and pornography site recommendations. I won’t say much more about this because the video below says it all.

    Remember, this video is from a year and a half ago, I saw this content coming from a mile away!

    Parents, PLEASE, pay attention to this news and require your child to uninstall Snapchat NOW. Use your parental control software to block data access to the app, do whatever you can to keep them away from the over-sexualization that social media is instilling in our children. Snapchat has really always been about sex, they seem to be really going for it now with this new “after-hours” content.

  • Facebook to Release Dating Feature

    Facebook to Release Dating Feature

    Facebook is getting into the dating game. At their developers’ event in California last week, Mark Zuckerberg announced a new dating feature for Facebook. The feature will be opt-in only and will feature only the users’ first names. You can scan through people’s dating profiles (separate from their FB profile) and select whether or not you’re interested in them. If you both see each other and show interest, you’ll be connected through a built-in messenger feature.

    Tindr has had the dating app scene under control for a while, but like Snapchat, Facebook seems to be out to take some of the spotlight. This foray into online dating isn’t surprising since many (1 in 3) relationships already begin online. It is an obvious move towards Facebook becoming the one-stop app for most of your social media needs.

    What Parents Should Know

    There hasn’t been a release date announced for Facebook’s dating feature. It is, however, said to be completely separate from your Facebook account and it’s a feature that you have to opt-in to so it isn’t automatically available. If your kids or teens are on Facebook, they will likely have the option to join the dating feature since the age limit is set at 13 for the social media service.

    I recommend not allowing your younger kids to use apps like Tindr since they are meant to make contacts for face to face meetups. There are many healthy relationships that have started on dating apps but there are also many stories of young people being tricked into accepting invitations from people who have no business contacting them. I would put Facebook’s dating option on my list of dangers for your kids under 18. It is a feature that is intended for adults and should only be used by adults. I also warn against messing around with it as a married person. As crazy as it may sound, many people who aren’t interested in dating use these apps to just check what kind of people would be interested in them. Facebook is already one of the leading topics of dissent in the marriage counselor’s office. The dating app could (I submit that it definitely will) increase the frequency of marriage problems caused by social media.