
Our Chief Navigator, Christina Jontra, along with our staff of content curators, are constantly monitoring the digital world to keep up with the never-ending sea of changes. Below are some of their observations, helpful hints & tips, and warnings about all things digital.
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Think Before You Post Podcast
Why Online Safety is Important
Episode 1
In this first episode, we discuss all things Digital Citizenship and the ever-present question of why it’s so important for everyone to know how to be smart and stay safe online.
What to Know About Social Media & Parenting
Episode 2
In this episode of Think Before You Post, we discuss the latest changes to Instagram’s parental controls which leads us to the question: when and HOW should I allow my kids to use social media?
Protecting Your Identity Online
Episode 3
In this episode, we talk about how easy it is for your personal information to be found online and what steps you can take to protect your identity online, like creating strong passwords, using two-factor authentication, and deleting your personal search history.
The Importance of Media Literacy
Episode 4
In this episode, we discuss Media Literacy and how important it is to teach all ages how to find reliable and credible information online.
Social Media Influencers
Episode 5
In this episode, we talk about how social media influencers are making it more difficult to know what is real and what is fake in the digital world from lifestyles to body image and everything in between.
How Screen Time Affects Children & Young Adults
Episode 6
We’re all aware of how much technology has become a part of our every day lives, but are we aware of just how much an affect screen time can have on child development and the brain? Learn more on this episode of Think Before You Post.
Positivity in the Digital World
Episode 7
The digital world doesn’t have to be scary. There are so many good things that can come from social media, whether it’s learning something you may have never heard about before, or seeing how others are able to come together to be kind to one another, thanks to the ability social media has to connect people all over the world.
What Age Should Your Child be Given a Phone?
Episode 8
In today’s episode, we discuss one of the most common questions parents ask regarding technology: when should my child get a phone? You’ll hear both the negatives and the positives as we dig in to this important topic.
Tips for Parents
Recent Blog Posts
Don’t Get Hooked! Here’s How You Can Spot and Avoid Phishing Scams
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/05/those-urgent-emails-metamask-and-paypal-ar e-phishing-scams In today’s digital age, it’s essential to remain vigilant and cautious when it comes to online security. Phishing scams have become increasingly prevalent,...
NavAlert – Mom Warns Of AI Voice Cloning Scam That Faked Kidnapping
Jennifer Destefano is warning people after receiving a phone call from an unknown number while her daughter was on a ski trip. The caller claimed to have kidnapped her daughter and demanded a ransom. It even sounded like her daughter was crying for help. Destefano was...
NavAlert: Don’t Use Public Charging Stations
The FBI and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have issued a warning against using public charging stations, saying that “bad actors” have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. This new type of...
Digital Citizenship Matters
We are living and teaching in the digital age. No longer are we limited to news from only three local stations. Students aren’t restricted to accessing information from the library only during school hours. The phones they carry with them 24/7 give them access to...
Setting Boundaries For Kids And Their Digital Devices
https://www.wifr.com/2022/05/04/study-most-teens-have-healthy-relationship-with-technology/ When my kids were small, I always had to be careful about the words I used in front of them because they often repeated everything they heard. If I wanted them to use kind...
How Much Is Too Much Screen Time?
https://healthmatters.nyp.org/what-does-too-much-screen-time-do-to-childrens-brains/ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/parenting-approaches-and-concerns-related-to-digital-devices/ We know that screen time is an enormous discussion point among parents...
Social Media Addiction: Where Does It Begin?
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/followers-cheaper-lips-young-influencers-detail-allure-cosmetic-proced-rcna14463 It’s been proven that social media addiction is real, but what happens when that addiction goes beyond scrolling and posting? There’s a disturbing...
How Friendly Are Kid-Friendly Apps?
The continued concern about our kids and digital devices is the amount of data that tech companies are collecting about them. Even if your child isn’t on social media yet, they are still vulnerable to disclosing their personal information while using apps and video...
Dove Fights Back Against Toxic Social Media Content
https://www.fastcompany.com/90746539/dove-deepfakes-moms-to-illustrate-the-impact-of-toxic-influencers-on-teens For many young girls, their self-esteem is heavily influenced by their mothers. And most mothers do their best to protect and build that self-esteem so...
Synthetic Media: What Is and Is Not Real?
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/the-ethics-of-a-deepfake-anthony-bourdain-voice?utm_source=morning_brew Synthetic media. That’s a term that was new to me until today. Synthetic media is “a catch-all term for the artificial production,...