The ConnectSafely Report with Larry Magid
Episodes
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...
Apple beefing up parental management tools
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In addition to other parent management and child safety tools, Apple has added the ability for parents to inform app developers of a child's age range...
Social media and stress
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Social media can cause stress, but it can also relieve it.
Tech policies and their unintended consequences
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Be careful what you wish for. There can be unintended consequences from what seem to be good policy changes.
Dealing with mistakes
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely's Education Director Kerry Gallagher has advice about how parents can help teens deal with online mistakes.
California Assemblymember expresses opinion about Google and Meta
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
California Assembly Member Ash Kalra, who represents parts of Silicon Valley, isn't shy about criticizing tech companies, even when execs from those c...
Teen perspective on social media restrictions
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At ConnectSafely's Safer Internet Day conference, some of the adults proposed parental controls or restrictions on teen social media. But one teen sp...
Superintendent at Safer Internet Day
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
California's Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, says that AI has a very productive use in his state's classrooms.
Teen perspective on social media restrictions
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At ConnectSafely's Safer Internet Day conference, some of the adults proposed parental controls or restrictions on teen social media. But high school ...
California school chief Tony Thurmond on AI in schools
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
California's Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, says that AI has a very productive use in his state's classrooms.
Teens and false information
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just like adults, many teens have seen and shared false informatoin online. ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher said "teens face signifci...
Tuesday is Safer Internet Day
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tuesday is Safer Internet Day which is recognized in more than 100 countries and coordinated in the US by ConnectSafely.
Teens and Scams
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The majority of teens are concerned with AI scams, but do you know what to look for?
DeepSeek
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Chinese AI DeepSeek is less than candid about some of China's problems and is not a good place to reveal personal information.
Toll scam
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you get a text message saying you owe back tolls, don't pay. It's probably a scam.
TikTok is back online
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok went offline last weekend but quickly returned, at least for now, thanks to a presidential moratorium.
Conversation Starters for Parents of Teen Social Media Users
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely's Education Director Kerry Gallagher has conversation starters for questions you might ask your teenage social media users.
Empowering Young People to Protect Themselves Online
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roblox VP Tami Bhaumik has advise about empowering young people on social media by giving them agency to help protect themselves online.
New Years resolutions on your relationship with tech
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Youth Advisor Trisha Prabhu has advice on New Years resolutions to improve your relationship with your technology.
LA fires remind us to use cloud backup for precious files
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Los Angeles area fires are yet another reminder of the importrance of off-premise cloud backup. Lives and structures are the first priority but pr...
Parents Have a Role to Play in Their Kids' Online Lives -- Even Teens
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Catherine Teitelbaum, the head of trust and safety for Amazon Kids is also a former educator and a parent with some good advice for other parents.
Pediatrician Dr. Hina Talib on Positive Aspects of Social Media
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Hina Talib, a pediatrician and board certified adolescent specialist says that social media doesn't just have risks but also has advantages that c...
Advice for parents whose kids are getting connect tech gifts this holiday season
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here's advise for parents whose kids are getting connect tech gifts this holiday season
Australian law would ban kids under 16 from social media
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Australia has passed a law that would ban kids under 16 from social media with heavy fines to companies that violate the law. But there are questions ...
First rule for talking to your kids about online issues: Don't overreact
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If your child or teen comes to you with a problem encountered online, it's important to have a conversation and not overreact.
"Nudify" apps
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nudify apps use AI to enable removing clothing from a fully clothed person, causing emotional harm to victims, including minors.
Pediatrician Dr. Hina Talib on Teen Mental Health
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pediatrician Dr. Hina Talib says that social media can play a role in teen mental health, but it's far from the only factor.
FOSI research shows surprising attitudes toward online concerns
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A new survey has some surprising results on teen and parent attitudes towards online concerns.
Bluesky
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bluesky is a fast growing social media platform and a lot of that growth has to do with dissatisfaction of Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter.
Teen feel under pressure to excel
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many teens feel pressure to excel, and while some blame social media, others argue that it can help reduce some pressures.
Instagram is adding the ability to share your location
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Instagram is adding the ability to share your location.
YouTube Kids offers age-appropriate videos for young children
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
YouTube Kids offers age-appropriate videos for young children.
Teens and screen time
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Teens spend a lot of time online, but it's not just time that should concern parents as much as what they do online.
Holiday scams
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Beware of scams, which proliferate at this time of year.
Possible social media ban for teens in Australia
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Australia's Prime Minister wants to ban social media for teens under 16.
New survey about boys' online activities
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A survey finds that Gen Z boys use social media to enhance personal relationships with people they know.
Media literacy in schools
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A report finds that many students don't understand the difference between types of media such as news, opinion, advertising and even propaganda.
Interacting with others over election results
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people were happy with the election results, but many others weren't. Even though it's over, there could still be some angry reactions between fa...
Shadowbanning limits your online audience & sometimes creators don't know why
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shadowbanning isn't exactly censorship, but it does limit who can see your content. It happens on social media, sometimes for good reasons, but creato...
Harder to be a teen now than 20 years ago
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A study from Pew Research finds that many parents and teens say it's harder to be a teen now then 20 years ago. ConnectSafely education director Kerry...
Sports betting
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Online gambling, including sports betting, is becoming very popular but it's not for kids or even some adults.
Sexualized deepfakes
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Generative AI is making it easier to create exploitative nude and sexualized deepfake videos and images.
Instagram's new campaign to help protect teens from sextortion scams
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Instagram is launching a campaign to help protect teens from sextortion scams.
AI regulation is necessary, but experts urge against over regulation
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Speakers at the Generative AI Summit at Oxford University generally agree that regulation is necessary, but some urge against over-regulation.
Remote mental health therapy
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even after the pandemic, there are advantages to remote mental health therapy.
AI can promote creativity young children
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AI can promote creativity and learning in young children.
Meta's New Augmented Reality Smart Glasses
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meta has announced a prototype of its first augmented reality smart glasses.
Election Countdown: How to Spot and Stop Disinformation
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the election draws closer, we're going to see a lot more disinformation and misinformation and it's up to us to verify it before we share it.
How AI Might Help Rural Communities
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conference in a rural part of Oregon focused on how AI can be used in regional settings.
Building Trust with Our Kids
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Teens are sometimes reluctant to seek help when they encounter problems online, but there are things parents can do to help.
Smartwatch safety features
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Smartwatches can detect falls and car crashes.
Pediatrician on screen time and young kids
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A pediatrician has advice about screen time and background TV when infants are present.
PlayStation parental controls
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PlayStation and other gaming consoles have parental controls to enable parents to limit who children can communicate with and when they can use the co...
States banning or limiting phones in schools
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many states have banned cell phones in schools or are considering doing so. While this might help promote mental health and reduce cyberbullying, the ...
Here's an idea -- use your phone to speak with friends rather than just texting and social media
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Youth Advisor Trisha Prabhu suggests that maybe it's time to start using your phone for the purpose it was originally intended for by ac...
Discord is a popular communications app used by many teens
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A brief explanation of Discord and its new Teen Charter
Dating app privacy
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A new study finds that popular dating apps leak personal information.
Google helps remove fake explicit content from search
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Google is making it easier to remove non-consensual sexually explicit fake images from search results.
Autonomous vehicles
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Autonomous robotaxis are already on the roads of some cities and, unlike Tesla's Full Self Driving, they almost never have serious problems.
Smartwatch security and privacy
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Smartwatches are very popular, but they can collect some very personal information, so they're not for everyone.
Revisit phone settings before school starts
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Back-to-school is a good time to revisit phone settings, including screen time limits.
Sleep and the school year
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As summer comes to an end, consider gradually adjusting your child's sleep schedule so their circadian rhythms are in sync with their school schedule.
Family Online Safety Institute sponsors summer challenge
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Family Online Safety Institute's Summer Challenge features safety advocate Elizabeth Molovidov and her son Maximillian.
Senate passes Kids Online Safety Act
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
By a vote of 91 to 3, the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act. It will face challenges in the House and oppositiion from some groups, including t...
A more diverse security and software eco-system would limit damage from outages
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
That giant outage that grounded flights and disrupted computer networks worldwide might have had less impact if we had a more diverse software and ser...
Smartphone bans in schools are well-intentioned but not ideal
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
California is about to join several other states by enacting a law limiting or banning smartphones in schools. It's well-intentioned but not necessari...
Innovation is essential when it comes to protecting children online
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Innovation is essential when it comes to protecting children online
Positive social media trends for youth
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Youth Advisor and ReThink CItizens CEOTrisha Prabhu on positive trends in social media.
Google to offer free dark web monitoring
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Google will soon let all users with a Google account acess reports on their personal information on the dark web.
Scam targets Apple users with phishing attacks
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A leading security firm is warning about phishing attacks aimed at obtaining Apple IDs, passwords and user informatoin.
National Association for Media Literacy Education making an impact
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have had some progress when it comes to media literacy thanks in part to the work of the National Association for Media Literacy Education
Internet has benefits and challenges for LGBTQ Youth
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A survey from the Human Rights Campaign and the University of Connecticut found that nearly all LGBTQ+ youth go onlikne but most f them encounter nega...
LGBTQ+ Community Underrepresented in Tech Workforce
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Youth Advisor and blogger Trisha Prabhu says that members of LGBTQ+ Community are underrepresented in the the workforce, which impacts u...
Surgeon General's call for a warning label on social media is a bad idea
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has called for a warning label on social media platforms, but ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid thinks it's a bad idea.
Video explains GAI to parents
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A ConnectSafely animated video explains generative AI to parents, including benefits, risks and how to talk with your teen about how they're using it....
There is help and hope if you're a victim of a sexualized deep fake
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even if you become a victim of a sexualized deep fake, there are things you can do to get it taken down. And, even though it can be traumatic, you wil...
Misinformation vs Disinformation
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher explains the difference beween misinformation and disinformation and the need for media literacy.
Could your sleep tracker be giving you too much information
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Logan Schnieder, a sleep doctor and Clinical Lead for Sleep Health, Google Health.says that it's important to put the data from your sleep track...
Good and bad news from Pew survey on teens and video games
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
80% of teens say that harrassment is a problem with video games, according to a recent Pew survey. But video games, says ConnectSafely education direc...
Using ChatGPT to structure your thoughts
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some people worry that ChatGPT can be used to create content and misrepresent it as if it's your own, but ConnectSafely Youth Advisory Trishia Prabhu ...
Teen mental health issues not all a result of tech use
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There has been an increase in mental health issues among teens and some blame social media but there are other explanations for these issues and the r...
Helping teens understand phone distractions
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
During the course of a one hour class, 20 students got 190 notifcations from their phone. ConnectSafely education director Kerry Gallagher suggests th...
News Literacy Project
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Larry speaks with News Literacy Project's Peter Adams about the election and misinformation
Talk with your kids about cyberbullying
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Advice from ConnectSafely education director Kerry Gallagher about talking with your kids about cyberbullying
Catfishing can break your heart and your piggy bank
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Advice from ConnectSafely education directory Kerry Gallagher on how to avoid being a victim of catfishing, when a person uses false information and i...
Summertime and screentime
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kids will soon be out of school for the summer, but that doesn't necessarily mean lots more screentime. Advice from ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid and ...
Are self-driving cars dangerous?
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are worries about the safety of self-driving cars, including Tesla's so-called Full Self Driving. But they have come a long way and are moving t...