by Steven Zimmerman | Aug 20, 2025 | Social Media, Technology
Games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite are immense creative spaces—and busy social networks. The same features that make them fun—open chat, gifting economies, fast friending, countless user-made worlds—also create cover for people who manipulate kids. Over the...
by Steven Zimmerman | Feb 12, 2025 | Administrators, Apps, Blog, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Cybersecurity, Digital Citizenship, Digital Safety, Mental Health, Online Dangers, Online etiquette, Parenting, Social Media, Suicide Prevention, Virtual Reality
AI-driven companion chatbots, such as Replika and Character.AI, have rapidly gained popularity, especially among youth seeking emotional intimacy or companionship. These platforms offer users the ability to engage in personalized conversations, often blurring the...
by Emma | Nov 30, 2023 | Administrators, Blog, Cyberbullying, Educational Technology, Mental Health, Online Dangers, Social Media, Technology
Social media is an integral part of life for today’s teens. Online interactions and social media platforms offer teens avenues for self-expression, connection, and information sharing. However, the extensive use of social media – especially video- and image-oriented...
by Emma | Sep 21, 2023 | Administrators, Apps, Blog, Criminal Activity, Cyberbullying, Digital Safety, Distance Learning, Educational Technology, Media Literacy, Online Dangers, Online Learning, Safe Learning Environment, Social Media, Technology
Over the course of the pandemic, teenagers’ use of social networking apps increased exponentially. According to Common Sense Media, “media use by 8- to 18-year-olds has grown faster during the two years of the pandemic than it had over the four years before the...
by Emma | Jul 27, 2023 | Cyberbullying, Cybersecurity, Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Digital Safety, Educational Technology, Lesson Planning, Online Dangers, Online etiquette, Pedagogy, Smartphones, Social Media, Teachers, Teaching Topics, Technology
Children engage with digital media and devices at very young ages. According to a March 2020 poll by the Pew Research Center, parents reported that 35% of children two years or younger interacted with tablet computers. For this same age group, parents reported that...
by Emma | Jul 13, 2023 | Administrators, Blog, Cyberbullying, Digital Citizenship, Digital Safety, Educational Technology, Mental Health, Online Dangers, Social Media, Social-Emotional Learning, Technology
Devices provide students with many benefits, from connecting with peers to accessing educational resources. However, devices also create stress and anxiety for young people. While social media helps students connect to like-minded peers, it also creates stress and the...
