Who Ranks in Online Privacy?

Twitter and American Greetings are two leading companies when it comes to protecting its users' privacy, but 53% of big online companies fail to pass muster, according to the Online Trust Alliance's annual survey of online privacy and security practices. In general, the survey reveals that the social segment -- including gaming, communication, social networking, and document / photo sharing -- have recognized the importance of privacy and security as part of their brand promise, but most companies need to go a long way to catch up. Take a look at who made the Online Trust Alliance's 2013 Honor Roll -- a comprehensive audit of the web's most visible companies.

Another Solution to Playing Password

Can’t remember all those passwords so you use the same one over and over again and live with the guilt? Now, there is an update to one solution – and it’s free and easy to use. Dashlane 2.0 works in Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox. It can import existing password “vaults” from rival programs. It is a password memorizer and it can also fill in other kinds of Web site forms: your name/address/phone number, and even your credit card information. As far as security goes, Dashlane never sees your passwords – they are stored on your computer using an AES-256 encryption method, an open-source standard approved by the National Security Agency. Your entire Dashlane universe is protected by a master password. It’s intended to prevent a laptop thief from heading online with your missing computer and going on a shopping spree. If you’re still worried, there is also two-step authentication offered, as well, where you have to enter your master password as well as a code that Dashlane texts to your phone. For more, see what David Pogue of the Times has to say about the newest version of Dashlane.

Is It Possible to Make Cell Phones and School Compatible?

I found the comments that go with an article entitled, “Is texting in school a right? Can we make school and cell phones compatible?,” in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution fascinating. They reflect the premise that so much of the population expects that school will be taught exactly the same way it was when they were in school – sans technology. The world, though, is not the same. Technology is here and we need to figure out how to incorporate it into the average class with the average teacher on an average day. It is not going away and, as kids continue to find their personal technology more fascinating than their teachers, teachers need to figure out how to harness the power of technology into their teaching.

I actually found it rather funny that the author of the article bemoans the fact that so many teens seem to be looking downward all the time. We used to moan and groan that kids did not read and write enough.  Now, they do it all the time, but because it is not what we think they should be reading and writing, it is a problem. The bottom line is that technology should help kids look out at the world in new ways. We need to figure out how to balance looking down and looking up into a useful educational experience.

Facebook May Be Having a Mid-Life Crisis

It is beginning to look more and more like Facebook is NOT going to take over the Internet. But, even though the company may be falling short of that goal, it does seem to have acquired some staying power. As one expert put it, "They've gotten so big that it's one of those things you have to use." While experts say the new exciting stuff is going to come from start-ups, Facebook may be the glue that holds it all together.

Survey Says That Tweens Are Active and Unmonitored on Social Media Sites

A new survey done by McAfee, the security company, says that younger and younger kids are going online unsupervised. Most US tweens, ages 10 to 12, have at least one social media account and many go online without any supervision from their parents. Despite the dangers, 82 percent of preteens say they think social media sites are very safe, or somewhat safe, and 79 percent of parents agree. Nearly half of youngsters also report sharing personal information online such as their email address, and 28 percent have revealed the school they attend. Many parents are also unaware of the time their children spend online. The poll showed 52 percent of youngsters spending five or more hours a day online but most parents think they spend only one to two hours.

Hate Speech Not Being Blocked on Facebook

Facebook says the systems intended to curb hate speech on the social network have not done their job effectively, after a pressure campaign by feminist groups that prompted Nissan and others to pull their advertising. The groups pointed to specific pages that glorify violence against women on Facebook and asked Facebook executives, in an open letter, to “ban gender-based hate speech on your site.” Facebook says it will review its safeguards with a particular emphasis on ensuring that its users use their real identities when posting comments. Advertisers, including Dove, that market specifically to women, have been criticized for not joining the ban.

Estate Planning for Your Digital Assets

Have you thought about how you are going to pass down the photographs you have stored online, the contents of your Facebook page, and maybe even that digital sword you won online? While this may sound a little far-fetched, as more and more of our lives move online and to the Cloud, it is something we may all have to think about. Many services and programs have sprung up to help people prepare for what happens after their last login. Google has a program called Inactive Account Manager, introduced in April, that lets those who use Google services decide exactly how they want to deal with the data they’ve stored online with the company — from Gmail and Picasa photo albums to publicly shared data like YouTube videos and blogs.

Girls Face Challenge Balancing Digital Learning and Social Life

Research shows that when it comes to technology boys tend to prefer gaming while girls often gravitate toward more social uses. This can lead to increased pressure on female students, whose relationships often can play out negatively online, and then spill over into the classroom as we move to letting more digital devices into our schools, according to Ana Homayoun, founder of Los Altos, Calif.-based Green Ivy Educational Consulting. Homayoun gives the example of how social media is creeping into something like the time honored hunt for the right prom dress that no else has and the kinds of comments about body image and other snide remarks that go along with making such a process “public.” She suggests that schools can help by teaching coping strategies as students fumble with the ultimate paradox — the same tools needed to complete school assignments also provide them with an outlet for socialization, potential distraction from getting work done, and even worse, not so subtle cyberbullying. Of course, it is important to remember that the digital tools are not really the culprit here – it is the users who are. If our society tolerates this new method of inflicting pain, then we really haven’t moved forward very much at all.

One School Board Weighs in On Teacher Student Facebook Friends

It may be that your school or district is redoing its policy to establish guidelines for the use of social media by teachers and students and looking around for examples of what other districts are doing. After some extensive research, the school district in Vancouver, Canada, is considering a policy where teachers and students would be banned from being Facebook friends for non-educational purposes. Keeping in mind, though, that interaction in social media can be very useful for classroom communication, they also considering the use of social media for acceptable interactions between teachers and students such as the creation of a Facebook page about a science experiment or taking a field trip online. What kind of policy does your school have? Would a policy like this work in your district?

Is It Social Suicide Not Having the Right Smartphone?

Getting a lot of pressure from your teen or tween about having an iPhone or other “right” smartphone? Take a look at “Q&A: Is not having an iPhone really social suicide for kids?” for a very balanced explanation that weighs the pros and cons and cites ways for you to keep some control over the situation.