2,617... 2,618... 2,619
This week: 2,617 reasons you might want to think about how much you use your phone, and 1 reason you’re really glad you’re not in my kitchen right now. Oh, and a bunch of valuable information about online privacy, toilet phone usage stats, and other goodies.
Remember, Google’s not a babysitter, so you probably don’t want it watching your kids.
Say What
A helpful vocab lesson from this Grown & Flown post:
HEARD: Heard is a confirmation that someone is aware of what has been asked of them; a deep understanding of the topic being discussed
Parent: Take out the garbage, please.
Child: Heard (this should be in no way understood as child will take out the garbage, only that he understands that you want him to.)
Read This
From birth, your kids have fostered your personal growth in so many ways. As toddlers, they made sure you didn’t miss a single moment of sunlight by waking you up at 5 am (even on weekends). As blossoming elementary-school students, they were there to let you know each time you skipped a word in a book or added a couple numbers incorrectly, and as tween/teens, they provide the valuable service of letting you know when you’re doing something embarrassing, like breathing.
Now, it’s time to let your love and dedication to the betterment of your children translate to your own digital life by taking the time to learn a bit about what’s going on with digital privacy and how to take steps to protect your family’s data.
First things first, news dropped this week about a couple kid-favorite platforms: YouTube (good news) and TikTok (not such good news). Regarding TikTok, per this New York Times piece, serious vulnerabilities were found that, if acted upon, would have allowed hackers to “manipulate user data and reveal personal information.”
While TikTok took action to fix these vulnerabilities, it is important to note that new apps present new opportunities for hackers, so use caution in deciding when and whether to download them, especially if you’re considering granting access to your kids.
Beyond these security concerns, TikTok has been criticized for illegally collecting personal information from minors. An FTC compliant stated that Musical.ly (with which TikTok merged) violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). TikTok settled the case and agreed to abide by COPPA.
Major TikTok Security Flaws Found - The New York Times
The vulnerabilities, which the app says it has fixed, could have let attackers manipulate content and extract personal data.
Last fall, YouTube paid a fine and agreed to implement policy changes in the wake of serious violations, including illegally accessing and profiting from children’s personal information with targeted ads. As outlined in this New York Times article, YouTube announced that they are addressing these privacy concerns in the following manner:
Limiting the collection and use of personal data from people watching children’s content, regardless of the viewer’s age.
Limiting features that expose personal data, such as commenting and live-chat.
No longer showing targeted ads based on viewers’ browsing patterns or other online activity, but instead, basing ads on the context of the video being watched (this applies only to children’s content).
Requiring video producers to designate whether or not a video is made for children. YouTube will use AI to ensure proper designation and correct mistakes.
While far from perfect, it’s good that YouTube has taken these steps to begin to protect children’s privacy, especially since it is such a popular platform for kids of all ages.
4 Things to Know About YouTube’s New Children Privacy Practices - The New York Times
The video service is making several changes after a settlement with federal and state regulators.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
As much as it may pain you to pay attention to what’s happening in sunny Cali, especially if you live in a place that seems perpetually grey-skied and cold (I see you Midwesterners!), it’s worth a few minutes of your attention. As outlined in this Vox article, you and your family’s online data (e.g. name, birth-date, location, shopping habits, interests, etc.) have been collected, bought, sold, transferred, and shared by companies for decades.
If you’re like me, you probably put off thinking about this because it seems overwhelming, confusing, and inevitable. However, as more stories come to light about many of the shady ways companies are mining, selling, and sharing data (e.g. 23andMe Is Sharing Genetic Data with Drug Giant or the Cambridge Analytica scandal), the push for transparency and data privacy reform has intensified.
On January 1, 2020, CCPA went into effect, giving Californians specific rights over the data that companies can collect from them. Though the law is limited, it’s existence is considered a victory from a data privacy perspective.
The Vox article does a good job of outlining and explaining the specifics of what the new law means for Californias (and if you live in the state, I highly recommend reading it and this one from Common Sense Media.)
If you don’t live in California, you can still realize some benefits from CCPA, including added transparency (companies must notify you of what information they collect and why). Additionally, some companies are giving people who live outside of CA the opt-out option as well, so be on the lookout for these changes and keep your family in the loop.
The real success of CCPA may not be in its actual implementation, but the attention it commands and the possible changes it will spur on the national level.
CCPA, California’s new privacy law, explained - Vox
What is CCPA? The California Consumer Privacy Act gives Californians some control over their data, but only if they know how to take advantage of it.
Do I Have To?
Tidying up the digital family room.
While I’ve been good about making sure my social media privacy settings are up-to-date, I’ve been slacking in other areas of online privacy, but reading about CCPA has inspired me to spend some time over the next couple weeks, getting my online life streamlined a bit.
I hope you’ll join me in this endeavor, and if you have a tween/teen with a device, teaching them to regularly check and update their privacy settings is a valuable life skill (perhaps today’s equivalent of learning to balance a checkbook).
Here’s a cartoon that outlines the basics and a compilation of links that go into more detail:
It’s only an online game, why read the small print? Thinking about privacy in a digital world
This Common Sense Media link is also a great resource, especially this article that outlines the minimum steps a family should take to protect its data.
Your Family Has a Right to Privacy Online | Common Sense Media
Take steps to protect kids’ personal information and help make the internet safer for everyone.
Further, it’s worth checking out some articles within The New York Times’s The Privacy Project. Digesting the entire series feels overwhelming and depressing (there’s even an article titled, “You Should Be Freaking Out About Privacy,”), but even if you don’t make it through all the articles, be aware that there are some important reads about kids’ privacy and this primer for basic steps you can take to protect your privacy.
Americans would never consent to a government directive that all citizens carry a device that broadcast, in real time, their physical location and archived that information in repositories that could be shared among powerful, faceless institutions. Instead, Americans have been lulled into doing it voluntarily by misleading companies.
Here’s a helpful piece for iPhone users with quick tips for protecting your privacy:
Your iPhone Is Spying On You -- Here's How To Stop It
So much for what happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone. Apps that are recommended in the App Store are tracking your every move. Here’s what you need to know, including how to stop them…
Onto cleaning the teen’s room. (Yikes! We’re not sure what was on that plate on the dresser either).
Last week, we wrote about the complexity of teens getting real with “finsta” accounts and highlighted the importance of teens having an outlet to express themselves that needn’t be a picture perfect, blemish-free persona.
However, the line between being real and being hurtful can blur in an instant, which is why it is imperative that you continue to stress the importance of staying true to the fundamental values you’ve worked to instill in your family. Further, the occasional social media scrub may be in order for all of us.
These tips from Laura Tierney outline a standard to which teens and adults should adhere when posting online:
Never post content that introduces or reinforces a stereotype. You are better than that.
Never try to cram a complex and complicated thought into a short social media post or caption. Without much context, others could take your message the wrong way.
Never post content that only serves the goal of making friends laugh or like it. Stay true to your values and let your values guide your posts, not the amount of attention you will receive.
This is easier said than done, and your kids will make mistakes. Check out this article for advice on how to teach them the life skill of repairing their inevitable digital fails.
How Parents Can Help Teenagers Repair Social Media Mistakes
Teenagers sometimes make social media mistakes that can lead to hurt feelings or worse. Expert advice on how parents can help teens repair digital mistakes.
Social Media Skeletons: Why Teens Need a Social Media Clean-up
It’s important for teens to protect their character both now and in the future—including their online reputation. Do teens need a social media cleanup?
After all this virtual cleaning, I may be looking forward to some actual cleaning! (Nope. Just glanced over at my kitchen, and it turns out, I’m not.)
Stats
Here are some sobering stats pulled directly from John Brandon’s Inc. article. I think it’s wise to consider these with our own smartphone use in mind, as our kids are watching and learning from what we do.
We tap, swipe, and click on our phones 2,617 times per day (King Online University).
The average smartphone owner unlocks their phone 150 times a day (Internet Trends).
We use a gadget 10 hours and 39 minutes on average each day (Penn State).
73% of us have experienced anxiety over losing our phones (Harvard).
We send or receive 94 texts per day on average (Text Request).
25% of adults wake up to use our phones at night (Wharton).
We’re using our phones 20% more often than we did in 2015 (King Online University).
33% of teens bring their phone to bed at night (Wharton).
60% of college students say they are addicted to their phones (Baylor).
75% of Americans use their mobile phones on the toilet (Tech Jury).
59% of teens reported moderate exposure to online bullying (Psychology Today).
94% of all Americans now have cell phones (Mobile Coach).
85% of smartphone users check their phones while speaking with friends and family (Bank My Cell).
87% of Millennials say their smartphone never leaves their side (Zogby).
These Updated Stats About How Often You Use Your Phone Will Humble You | Inc.com
You tap, swipe, and click on your phone 2,617 times per day. Enough said.
ITK Out
Real Life.
Since we’re talking cleaning, this is a picture of my kid’s lunchbox that was left at school over the 2-week break. When it left my house on the morning of December 20th, it contained a thermos of Pad Thai, a container with orange segments, and a Luna Bar. When I’m done writing this newsletter, I’m going to clean it (possibly while wearing a respirator). Just wanted you all to know, in case I’m not here next week.
As always, please subscribe and share ITK with your peeps and on social media because everybody who owns a phone (so…everybody) needs to read this issue!