The ConnectSafely Report with Larry Magid

AI generated influencers can lead to teens spending  money and experiencing low self-esteem

A report from Sesame Workshop's Joan Ganz Cooney Center finds that parents are on a "tech family cycle" that can be exhausting. Larry Magid speaks with its author, Amanda Lenhart

Even though there are a lot of scams, some offers are legitimate. It may be OK to send money, but only after you do some research.

AI has entered the lives of most teens but teens and parents have different attitudes towards its impact.

New research shows that teen sexting is on the rise. What parents can do.

The jury verdicts against Meta and Google show that social media can harm teens, but unlike dangerous substances, social media involves protected speech

A pair of jury verdicts is holding Meta and Google responsible for harms to children, but -- despite risks -- social media isn't all bad. Many young people benefit from it. 

Uber has introduced teen accounts that give teens some independence while keeping parents informed and in control

While social media remains popular among youth, we're starting to see some pushback.

People worry about storing their information online but Google Drive users encryption that's similar to what banks and health organizations use to protect their data.

ConnectSafely Eduction Director Kerry Gallagher on Looksmaxxing. A manosphere term that “refers to the practice of maximizing your physical attractiveness — methodically, relentlessly, and by any means necessary.” Teen boys see videos from creators arguing that physical appearance is the only way to measure a person’s value, pushing a mix of strategies that range from moisturizing skin to limb lengthening surgery, and cruelly tearing down others who do not meet the physical attractiveness standard set by the trend. The most popular looksmaxxing creator is called Clavicular, who is creating a following with its own culture and vocabular

Although misinformation isn’t nearly as horrific as the loss of human life, it’s nevertheless harmful. It can inflame tensions, be used as propaganda and erode trust in legitimate news. In some cases, it can put people in danger if it causes them to make and act on dangerous decisions.

There are already some fake news stories about the war with Iran including a video of a of ship being bombed that was actually a clip from a video game and exagerated videos of destruction in Israel. 

Advice on how to identify "pink slime" so-called news sites that mix facts with propaganda

ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher has advice for parents worried about the impact of social media on their teen's self image. 

A teenage panelist at ConnectSafely's Safer Internet Day event expressed concerns about how AI can harm teenage girls and others whose images can be manipulated in ways that take away their autonomy. 

A “zero-day attack” is when a vulnerability is known — potentially by hackers — before it has been fixed, and that recently occurred with Windows. Microsoft has updated the software to address these recent vulnerabilities, but it’s up to users to update their systems.

ConnectSafely and the National PTA have produced a one-hour webinar and podcat to help parents navigatge screens with children and teens

An increasing number of young people, including some young children, are using generative AI, which is why parents and educators should provide some guidance on how to use it safety and appropriately. 

Tuesday is Safer Internet Day when ConnectSafely and National PTA will hold a webinar while encouraging families around the country to have their own conversations about online safety.