Internet Safety | Cool Mom Tech https://coolmomtech.com Cool Mom Tech is the intersection of tech and style, of parenting, practicality and fabulosity, brought to you by the same team behind Cool Mom Picks. Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:14:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://coolmomtech.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/09/cropped-cmt-512-1-32x32.png Internet Safety | Cool Mom Tech https://coolmomtech.com 32 32 The widespread teenage boy sextortion scam: What to do if your child is a victim https://coolmomtech.com/2023/10/teen-boy-sextortion-scam-what-to-do/ https://coolmomtech.com/2023/10/teen-boy-sextortion-scam-what-to-do/#respond Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:34:50 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=47796 This week’s Washington Post article about the teenage boy sextortion scam by Chris Moody is all I’ve been thinking about. In part because I know a kid who was targeted in this way, and it was a terrible situation. But to learn that this is a problem that’s so widespread that thousands of teen boys […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2023/10/teen-boy-sextortion-scam-what-to-do/feed/ 0 This emotional support hotline for gamers is delivering mental health support one text at a time. https://coolmomtech.com/2023/06/emotional-support-hotline-for-gamers/ https://coolmomtech.com/2023/06/emotional-support-hotline-for-gamers/#respond Mon, 05 Jun 2023 10:00:54 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=47709 We know many so many families who love online gaming for its temporary escape into cool unique realms and the connection with others who love to play as much as we do. But sometimes real-world problems can follow us into our online games; bullying, harassment, or feelings of inadequacy or depression can persist after we set […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2023/06/emotional-support-hotline-for-gamers/feed/ 0 How to download your Twitter data archive…and what you’ll find in there. https://coolmomtech.com/2022/10/how-to-download-your-twitter-data-archive/ https://coolmomtech.com/2022/10/how-to-download-your-twitter-data-archive/#respond Sat, 29 Oct 2022 17:53:54 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=47381 Thinking about leaving Twitter? (Are we calling it Twexit yet?) With the big changeover in management this week, some Twitter users are leaving, some users are staying, and your choice is up to you. Either way, it’s good idea to download your Twitter data archive. In fact, it’s a good idea to know how to […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2022/10/how-to-download-your-twitter-data-archive/feed/ 0 Should your kids be using BeReal, the hot new social media app? What parents should know. https://coolmomtech.com/2022/10/kids-be-real-photo-sharing-app/ https://coolmomtech.com/2022/10/kids-be-real-photo-sharing-app/#respond Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:54:55 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=47319 You may have seen this hilarious sketch on SNL that has a bunch of adults using the app BeReal during a rather tense situation. (if you haven’t seen it yet, go watch now! I’ll wait.) This sketch does a great job explaining what BeReal is, but we’ve seen your comments on our Out Tech the […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2022/10/kids-be-real-photo-sharing-app/feed/ 0 Will Meta’s new parental controls keep teens safer on Instagram and Quest? We have thoughts. https://coolmomtech.com/2022/07/meta-new-parental-controls-instagram-quest/ https://coolmomtech.com/2022/07/meta-new-parental-controls-instagram-quest/#respond Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:00:58 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=47027 Recently, Meta announced it would be launching new parental safety controls for teens in the form of tools and resources for both the Instagram social media app and their Meta Quest VR gaming headsets. The goal is to help parents better manage what our teens are seeing when they are using either Instagram or Quest. To which I […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2022/07/meta-new-parental-controls-instagram-quest/feed/ 0 A parents guide to Apple’s affordable new iPhone SE 2022: Why it could be perfect for kids https://coolmomtech.com/2022/03/affordable-new-iphone-se-2022-features-kids-families/ https://coolmomtech.com/2022/03/affordable-new-iphone-se-2022-features-kids-families/#respond Wed, 09 Mar 2022 15:58:23 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=46647 We’ve officially hit the point of full Apple product saturation in our household — and as so many parents in our Out Tech Your Kids community tell us, they have too. So what do you do when you’re all basically on Apple devices, your kid needs a new phone, and you want all the connectivity, […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2022/03/affordable-new-iphone-se-2022-features-kids-families/feed/ 0 How to make strong passwords and protect them: A simple guide https://coolmomtech.com/2022/01/how-to-make-strong-passwords-and-protect-them/ https://coolmomtech.com/2022/01/how-to-make-strong-passwords-and-protect-them/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2022 11:05:03 +0000 http://coolmomtech.com/?p=17336 With the new year here, it’s a good time for a refresher on how to make strong passwords and help keep them safe. With phishing on the rise, ever-present social media hacks, and general security breaches and unsavory shenanigans, it’s just a good idea, and one of our top 10 tech to-dos. In fact, put this one […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2022/01/how-to-make-strong-passwords-and-protect-them/feed/ 1 What my teen daughter had to say about THAT article about Instagram and body image https://coolmomtech.com/2021/09/instagram-body-image-teen-girl-article/ https://coolmomtech.com/2021/09/instagram-body-image-teen-girl-article/#comments Thu, 16 Sep 2021 18:14:50 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=45644 We’re all talking about “that” Wall Street Journal article about Instagram: Facebook Knows It’s Toxic for Teen Girls. You’re probably talking about it. Or your kids are. I know it’s all we’ve been seeing in our social feeds this week around here, and easily 15 people forwarded it to me in the first 24 hours. (And […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2021/09/instagram-body-image-teen-girl-article/feed/ 3 How can I prevent a Facebook hack? Reader Q&A https://coolmomtech.com/2021/05/how-to-prevent-facebook-hack/ https://coolmomtech.com/2021/05/how-to-prevent-facebook-hack/#comments Mon, 24 May 2021 15:47:20 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=43377 This week in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook group, we were asked how to prevent a Facebook hack, and specifically, if were any security measures to take that might help.  And yes, yes there are! Here, a few really simple tips to help prevent a Facebook hack. They can save you so much hassle […]

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]]> https://coolmomtech.com/2021/05/how-to-prevent-facebook-hack/feed/ 1 How to report spam texts and phishing. Because sorry, Amazon is not giving you $130 in “freebies” out of blue. https://coolmomtech.com/2021/04/how-to-report-spam-texts-phishing/ https://coolmomtech.com/2021/04/how-to-report-spam-texts-phishing/#respond Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:10:06 +0000 https://coolmomtech.com/?p=41033 Have you noticed lately there’s been a huge uptick in text spam? So of course, I want to report it to…someone. Anyone! Turns out it’s so much easier than I had expected. Now when I say text spam, I don’t mean political candidates you’ve contributed to (or those who may have bought your info legally […]

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