The ConnectSafely Report with Larry Magid
Episodes
Social media jury verdicts and free speech
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The jury verdicts against Meta and Google show that social media can harm teens, but unlike dangerous substances, social media involves protected spee...
Teen sexting
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New research shows that teen sexting is on the rise. What parents can do.
Uber teen accounts
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Uber has introduced teen accounts that give teens some independence while keeping parents informed and in control
Verdicts find that social media can harm kids, but it can also help them
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Some teens cutting back on social media
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While social media remains popular among youth, we're starting to see some pushback.
Google Drive security
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
People worry about storing their information online but Google Drive users encryption that's similar to what banks and health organizations use to pr...
Fake war news can cause harm
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Although misinformation isn’t nearly as horrific as the loss of human life, it’s nevertheless harmful. It can inflame tensions, be used as propaga...
Teen Boys Succumbing to "Looksmaxxing"
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Eduction Director Kerry Gallagher on Looksmaxxing. A manosphere term that “refers to the practice of maximizing your physical attracti...
What are 'pink slime' news sites and how can you identify them?
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Advice on how to identify "pink slime" so-called news sites that mix facts with propaganda
Beware of misinformation about Iran war
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 gam...
Teenage girl sounds alarm about AI harms
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 m...
Advice for parents on teen body image issues
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher has advice for parents worried about the impact of social media on their teen's self image.
Online Safety Webinar and podcat for parents
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely and the National PTA have produced a one-hour webinar and podcat to help parents navigatge screens with children and teens
Microsoft patches Windows to protect against recent Zero Day Attacks
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A “zero-day attack” is when a vulnerability is known — potentially by hackers — before it has been fixed, and that recently occurred with Wind...
Safer Internet Day is Tues Feb 10th
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tuesday is Safer Internet Day when ConnectSafely and National PTA will hold a webinar while encouraging families around the country to have their own ...
GenAI Tips for Teens
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An increasing number of young people, including some young children, are using generative AI, which is why parents and educators should provide some g...
Social media often links to misleading so-called 'news' sites
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Teens and young adults are likely to get their news through social media which makes it more important than ever to 'consider the source.'
Watch where you click if viewing 'alternativie" Super Bowl half-time show
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This year Turning Point USA will sponor an alternative Super Bowl Half Time show, which is safe to watch, but there are reports that scammers may tr...
Fake audio
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Even people who are very smart can sometimes be fooled by AI-generated media.
Teen gambling
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The statistics on teen gambling are startling. Here's some advice for parents.
How to avoid 'tech neck'
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Looking down at a phone, tablet or even computer screen can cause a condition known as "tech neck," the strain and stress placed on the neck and upper...
What do to if there's another cell phone outage
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Millions were impacted by the recent Verizon outage which wasn't the first nor the last time a major carrier stops working. Here's some advice if it h...
Take Control of Your Instagram Feed
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
These accounts, which require a parent or guardian’s approval, allow teens to request rides and order food while keeping parents informed and in con...
Uber Teen Accounts
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Uber now offers teen accounts so teens can order food or request rides while parents control the budget and get updates on the teen's whereabout durin...
AI chatbots and emotional issues
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The majority of teens are using AI and some are relying on them for companionship and emotional support.
Safety before punishment
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kids sometimes don't tell their parents about negative online experiences in fear of punishment which is why it's important for parents to emphasize t...
Can AI encourage eating disorders
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher reports on how generative AI can encourage eating disorders among young people.
Australia's social media ban for teens under 16 is a bad idea
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid weighs in on Australia's law that bans teens under 16 from social media, hoping that US law makers don't follow suit.
Video games and attention
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's very common for teens to spend many hours a week playing video games, partly because many of those games are engineered to keep them playing long...
Safer Internet Day grants
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely is offering grants of up to $1,000 to help educators and community organizations organize local events to celebrate Safer Internet Day i...
Teens provide techs support for seniors
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tech Me Kid is a teen run non-profit that provides free tech support for seniors around the world.
Put away phones during holiday gatherings
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you're looking at your phone during holiday gatherings you're not focusing on your friends and family, but if you put your phone into "do not distu...
Roblox rolls out age assurance
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roblox is rolling out a system to estimate the age of users to prevent kids from exchanging messages with adults they don't know.
Not all screen time is equal nor necessarily bad
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely education director Kerry Gallagher says that education related screen time for kids is not the same as entertainment. But even online en...
CS CBS Report Snap getting advice from youth 11-13-25
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Snap, which owns Snapchat is now getting safety advice from young people and it's paying off for the company and their young advisors.We speak with Sn...
Tech's impact on teen friendships
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A report from the American Psychological Association looked how how technology is changing how young people approach friendships
How tech changes teen friendships
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A report from the American Psychological Association looked at how technology is changing how young people approach friendships. ConnectSafely's educa...
Snap getting advice from youth
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Snap, which owns Snapchat, is now getting safety advice from young people and it's paying off for the company and their young advisors.
Online gambling with skins
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may not have heard of "skins" but they're used as currency by minors who gamble online.
Hate speech in gaming
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Online games are fun and productive outlets for people of all ages, including children and teens. But they can also be outlets for hate speech.
AI in schools
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Research shows that AI is very popular among students, teachers and parents but there are risks.
Meta rolling out parental controls for teen use of its AI characters
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meta is adding parental supervision tools to help families guide how teens use AI virtual "characters" that often have a unique personality.
OpenAI launches Sora video sharing platform
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is launching a service that lets you use AI to create and share videos. There are some safeguards but things could...
You can recover from sextortion
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sextortion is a horrible crime, and being a victim can feel devastating, but it's not the end of the world.
Helping families sleep better
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a teen at home, chances are they're not getting enough sleep, and that may also apply to the adults in the family. That's why experts reco...
When hate goes viral
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk murder, we've had a bit of a national conversation about hate speech and free speech. Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Cen...
CS CBS Report role model good sleep hygein
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a teen at home, chances are they're not getting enough sleep and that may also apply to the adults in the family. That's why ConnectSafely...
Why social media amplifies hate speech
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk murder we've had a bit of a national conversation about hate speech and free speech. Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Cent...
Taking a Facebook break
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely's Larry Magid is taking a break from Facebook in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder after finding his feed filled with speculation, finge...
Talk with your kids about XR risks
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Extended Reality, or XR, can be fun and educational but there are risks for kids that parents need to manage, said ConnectSafely Education Director, K...
Is gaming disorder the cause of symptom of mental health issues?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Education Director, Kerry Gallagher, reports on research showing that obsessive gaming disorder may be more of a symptom rather than a c...
You don't have to remember all your passwords
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Security experts recommend that you have strong and unique passwords for all your accounts, but it's an almost impossible task to remember them all. ...
Roblox to estimate age of all users
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roblox will soon employ the use of age estimation technology or government ID to estimate the age of all users.
Don't send Venmo or Paypal Money to the Wrong Person
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When using services like Venmo and Paypal, it's easy to make a mistake and send it to the wrong person. Here are some precautions you can takie.
What you need to know about Instagram map
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Instagram recently introduced a new feature called Instagram Map, designed to let you share your last active location with friends and, despite report...
Study reveals that generative AI can improve brain power but only under some situations
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent MIT study found that generative AI can actually boost brain power—but only if it’s used at the right stage. When people first wrote on th...
Parents biggest issue for a child's first phone is not about the device but how the child will use it
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
..Larry speaks with ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher who says that getting a child their first phone or tablet should be less about wh...
It makes sense to limit what young kids can do with their devices
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
.Larry Magid speaks with ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher about considerations for a child's first device. "They don't need all of the...
Most Americans encounter scam emails, texts and calls
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A high percentage of Americans say they often get scam emails, texts or phone calls and many have lost money to them, according to Pew Resarch
Back to school study and safety tips
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As kids go back to school, parents and caregivers need to understand school tech policies, review some basic safety tips and know that kids are likely...
Instagram adds location sharing
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can now share your location on Instagram which can be fun but can also be dangerous. Make sure you or your teen know the risks and how to avoid th...
1 in 3 teens are using AI companions
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seventy-two percent of teens have tried AI companions, and over half (52%) use them regularly—interacting with them at least a few times a month. Bu...
UK Online Safety Act tougher than proposed US law
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The United Kingdom is now fully enforcing its Online Safety Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2023. The law, which calls for shielding all users ...
Cyberbullying on the rise
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recent research from the Cyberbullying Research Center shows that cyberbullying is on the rise
Scams targeting teens
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If a child or teen in your life is impacted by an online scam, don't blame the victim. Let them know you have their back.
AI and teen well being
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The American Psychological Association has recommendations regarding the impact of AI on adolescent well-being.
Better sleep
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night but most aren't getting it. ConnectSafely's education director has suggestions
AI regulation
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The UN's Internet Governance Forum shined an international spotlight on AI regulation. Some argued for strict rules while others warned against overr...
Social media privacy
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Make sure you’ve buttoned down your privacy on social media apps and sites.
Location sharing
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sharing you location via your phone can be very helpful, but there are also some risks.
Kids and AI chatbots
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discuss AI chatbots with your kids. It may seem obvious that they’re not human, but it’s easy to subconsciously treat them as if they are.
Parental controls
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parental controls, including the ones that come standard on phones and PCs, can be useful, but they can’t replace regular conversations with your ki...
Password managers
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Using a good password manager can enable you to use unique and strong passwords for each of your sites and apps.
Are apps listening to your conversations?
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are your apps listening to your conversations? Probably not, but they have other ways to know a lot about you.
AI scams
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Red flags to watch out for to prevent falling for an AI scam.
Tech break can improve mental health for teens as well as adults
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely education director Kerry Gallagher shares tips on how parents can help their teens (and themselves) take much-needed short tech breaks.
Apple rolling out child and teen safety tools
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Apple is rolling out new tools to help parents keep their kids safe online. With this fall’s software update, parents will get more control over the...
The Take It Down act
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a new law that makes non-consensual sharing of intimate images a federal crime, but it won't eliminate the crime. You still need to know what...
AI ban in budget bill
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The "One Big Beautiful" budget bill has a clause that would remove states' ability to enact or enforce AI regulations.
Proximity to phone can impact test results
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher reports on some fascinating research on the relationship between where students put their phones and ...
2025 Family Online Safety Institute Child Safety Study
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A study from the Family Online Safety Institute finds that 89% of kids say they feel comfortable turning to their parents if something online makes ...
Benefits of music even while working or studying
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listening to music can enhance your happiness, creativity and productivity but not while you're trying to concentrate
The 5 Ms of Digital Wellness
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Boston Children's Hospital Digital Wellness Lab has articulated the five M's of digital Wellness: Model, Mentor, Monitor, Mastery and Meaning.
Teens concerned about social media and mental health
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Pew Research survey finds that many teens do worry about the impact of social media on mental health.
How to keep your phone running all day
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A phone with a dead battery can impact your safety in an emergency. Here's how to keep yours running all day.
Parental controls
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Worried about how your kids are using tech? Most devices and services offer parental management tools.
Handwriting vs. typing
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What helps children learn better, handwriting or typing?
Is it rude to look at your phone around others?
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Youth Advisor Trish Prabhu says checking your phone occasionally around others isn't automatically rude — but context matters. She rec...
Immigrants vulnerable to online scams
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all have to deal with online scams, but immigrants at or near the border are especially vulnerable says Austin, TX-based immigration attorney Kate ...
Roblox Parental Controls
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of kids and teens are using the popular Roblox gaming platform and parents have access to controls to limit who they can chat with, what types of...
Advice on what to do besides staring at your phone
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
.ConnectSafely Youth Advisor Trisha Prabhu has advice for kids and parents on things you can do instead of looking at your phone
Google Wallet will soon be available for kids
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Google is rolling out Wallet for kids. If your child has an Android phone, you’ll soon be able to enable them to make payments and access loyalty c...
Ways to fact check posts
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you see something online that might not be true, there are ways to help verify it
Virtual companions can be fun but they're not real relationships
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely education director Kerry Gallagher on talking with teens about virtual companions.
Eliminate filters to reclaim online humanity
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Youth Advisory Trisha Prabhu on why filters are a bad idea
Teens and online gambling
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A substantial percentage of teens have engaged in online gambling and sports betting, which exposes them to advertising for even more gambling sites.
RSA Conference to include AI and changing geopolitical landscape
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The upcoming RSA security conference will include plenty of talk about AI in the context of global geopolitical changes and events.said Acohido, edito...
Sextortion Scams Target Teenage Boys
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sextortion is a growing crime that targets mostly teenage boys.
Sleep Doctor Anil Rama on Sleep and Tech
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Anil Rama, who runs the Sleep and Brain Clinic in Saratoga, Calif on why tech use before bedtime can interfere with sleep.
California Age-Appropriate Design Code
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the author of the state's Age Appropriate Design Code, likens legislation to protect kids online with laws that...