Twitter Age Verification – Just Legal Mumbo Jumbo

I have to say, when I read press releases like the recent one from Twitter about its new “age gate” filtering, I wonder if they realize how silly they are being – but, then their lawyers don’t think so. Twitter has modified its "age gate" screening processes so that users can input a date of birth to follow adult brands, such as spirits vendors, inside the Twitter application instead of being forced to a separate Web page. The new service immediately follows the desired adult brand when the date is accepted, and Twitter will note that the account is for a "legal adult," making it easier to follow more restricted brands. This is just indemnification for the site so they can say that they asked the user for their age, because no age check is done, in case there are legal problems that might develop later. This is yet another reminder to parents  -- no one is looking out for your kids except you.

Round and Round on College Applications and Posting Online

Since a new survey from Kaplan Test Prep appeared that said that more college admissions officers (31%) are checking applicants’ digital trails, there has been a whole slew of articles on the subject. Most students seem rather unperturbed by the whole idea (50%) probably because they already understand that everything they post is public. Since colleges have no uniform or posted policies about checking online sites, it is also hard to tell what really goes on behind closed doors, which could lead to unequal treatment among applications. 

One college consulting group advises students to review their postings with a “critical eye.” Some questions they advise asking include: “Do comments make you sound like a misogynist? A bully? Do hundreds and hundreds of ‘selfies’ convey narcissism?”  Some parents are even hiring sites like Reputation.com, an online reputation management firm, to check out their child’s postings or data that tends to be findable on a child — pictures, threads, things that they’ve liked on Facebook.”

On a positive side, since today’s applicants have incredibly rich resumes, a college being able to go online and check a student out could be to their advantage. “If an applicant has built schools in Ecuador or created environmental programs in their own home towns,” one expert says, “If they’ve started a new club or they are a member of a board, it feels very human and natural for an admissions officer to want to read more about those experiences online or to Google something in a student’s essay.” This is just something else to think about.

Screen Time Linked to Extra Weight In Children

Every additional hour children and teens spent watching TV each day was associated with an approximately 0.1 point increase on the body mass index scale, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Among girls in particular, watching DVDs and videos was linked to weight gain, researchers said. One thing researchers warned about was that sitting in front of the television, with hands free, makes watchers more likely to go into the kitchen to get a snack. It would be interesting to know how interacting with a tablet or smart phone while watching television might change that habit.

How to Muddy Your Tracks Online

There are no secrets online. So, how can you cloak your online activities, at least the best that you can? While hackers are an issue, search engine operators, email suppliers, and Web site administrators are the ones collecting and cross referencing your data, that is, matching your e-mails with your browsing history, as well as figuring out your location and identifying all the devices you use to connect to the Internet. (Remember how that item you looked at and thought about buying online popped up next to a totally unrelated article you pulled up for your child’s homework assignment?)

Of course, all of these players act like this creepy intrusion is a boon to your life, because it is tailoring services to your needs. But, the truth is, most people don’t want to give that much information away. So, what can you do?

Here are some quick ideas:

1.      Use multiple search engines.

2.      Use a different source for your email and your search engine – like using Yahoo for your mail and Google as your search engine – better yet, use a lesser known free service like HushMail, RiseUp, and Zoho.

3.      Think about setting up your own domain with an associated e-mail address through services like Hover or BlueHost, which cost $55 to $85 a year. You not only get the company’s assurance of privacy but also an address unlike anyone else’s, like [email protected].

4.      Even better, set up your own mail service.

5.      Try a search engine like DuckDuckGo that saves or tracks your searches.

6.      Make sure that you turn on your browsers “private mode” found under “Preferences”.

Does Facebook Have a Teen Problem?

Is Facebook less appealing to teens? Is that a problem for the social networking site? Not so says Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. There will always be "newer" and "shinier" companies around, but Facebook's teenage user base remains stable and highly active, Sandberg says. "I think if you look at the way teenagers continue to use Facebook, we are useful to them," she says.

Differences Between e-Readers and Tablets

The CNET Community, in its Tablets Forum, offers a comparison between e-readers and tablets—information that you may find helpful this holiday season in choosing gifts. Advice is given in answer to a question from a parent of an eight-year-old who wants to know what is the best mobile device for her child. Answers include visiting an electronics store to have a salesperson demo different products, finding products that fit the interest and age level of the child, going with tablets because they have more functionality, and thinking about going to the library for traditional books if all that is needed is a book reader. Some CNET members suggest that if parents already have an iPhone, for example, that purchasing an iPad or iPod Touch is a good idea.

Parents should also keep in mind that schools are successfully putting digital devices to work in classrooms with younger children. Tablets have more flexibility for learning activities and, because they are dressed in a sturdy case, they usually can endure time in backpacks and accidental drops. Of course, checking with school personnel about devices that children can bring to school and use in the classroom is always wise advice.