Born into a world of constant connectivity, today’s children have access to a never-before-seen wealth of online content. A bottomless pit of apps, videos, music, and games guarantees that even the most voracious content consumer won’t go hungry. We parents have the complex task of ensuring that our children have a healthy and safe online experience. An important part of this is making sure they consume age-appropriate content. What is age-appropriate content and why is it important? Age-appropriate content refers to apps, videos, games, and other online media that are suitable for ..read more

  It all started with a 19-second video of a man talking about elephants at the San Diego Zoo.  “Me at the zoo” was the first ever video uploaded to YouTube on April 23, 2005; and the young man is Jawed Karim, one of the platform’s creators.  Nearly 20 years later, over 1 billion hours of YouTube is consumed daily and the platform has more than 2.7 billion active users – many of whom are children. According to our 2023 report on children’s tech habits, YouTube was the most popular app, with kids spending a global average of 70 minutes a day watching their favorite gaming chan ..read more

Online scams have been around since the early days of the internet. Emails informing us of large inheritances from long-lost relatives, competition wins, and generous offers from Nigerian royalty have been filling our spam folders for the last 30 years.  While email scams are alive and well, the explosion of social media has brought new ways of tricking people out of their money or personal information. Some are so inventive and convincing that even the most tech-savvy adults can fall for them. As it’s children who are often targeted by scammers, especially on social media, it’s importa ..read more

  Chatty folk are spoiled for choice when it comes to instant messaging apps. WhatsApp is still the communication king, but Telegram is a popular alternative – especially for those who prioritize privacy and security. Telegram’s comprehensive security features might explain how it’s attracted over 800 million active users and was the world’s 6th most downloaded app in 2023. Although Telegram’s strong focus on privacy might sound like music to a parent’s ears, its features could expose your child to some serious online threats.  What is Telegram? Telegram was launched back in 201 ..read more

Just like how shopping, banking, dating, and almost everything else has been transformed by the digital age, so has bullying. Of course, the traditional schoolyard menace still exists. But today’s bullies can hide behind their phones and computer screens, and make your child’s life a misery 24/7.  And, with children worldwide spending approximately 4 hours a day on their personal devices, cyberbullying is a serious parenting issue that won’t be going away soon.  The urge to fight a child’s battles is strong for any parent. But, it’s important for their development that they know h ..read more

Dr. Nicole Beurkens Child psychologist Have you installed a parental control app on your child’s devices with the best intentions of keeping them safe online, only for them to remove the app from their phone? Or maybe their device has become a bone of contention, because while your goal is protection, your child uninstalls parental controls from it because they believe they are old enough to look after themselves. Whatever the situation you find yourself in, the“kids vs. parental controls” scenario can be frustrating for everyone involved. It can be difficult for parents to know what ..read more

You have a new message. The tiny dopamine hit we feel when we see these words on our screens may help explain why direct messaging apps are among the most popular apps – for adults and kids.  Our annual data report showed that kids in the US spent 45 minutes every day exchanging messages on WhatsApp, Messenger, and similar apps.  But parents need to be aware of another, more controversial, messaging app that’s particularly popular among young teens. What is Kik? Kik is a Canadian-born messaging app that claims to be “your place to chat and message with all of your friends and to ..read more

  It’s unusual to go anywhere these days without seeing children and teens engaged with screens- especially in situations where they may be prone to feel bored. Whether it’s at a restaurant, in the car, at a sibling’s sports event, or in their own home or yard – many kids are spending a good portion of their day engaged with screens as opposed to finding ways to engage with the world around them. In fact, one of the biggest complaints I hear from parents is how frustrating it is to deal with their child’s cries of “being bored” when they aren’t allowed to use digital media. Many parent ..read more

Helping your child develop confidence is an important aspect of their development, and has lifelong influence on shaping beliefs about themselves and their abilities. Self-esteem, often referred to as confidence, is the sense of one’s own worth and capabilities. It encompasses feelings of self-worth, self-acceptance, and self-respect. Children with healthy self-esteem are more likely to navigate challenges with resilience, develop positive relationships, and pursue their goals with determination.  Many factors can negatively impact a child’s developing self-esteem. From social media pr ..read more

Before we get on to Hoop, we need to talk about Snapchat – the social media phenomenon that Hoop integrates with to connect people around the world. Since its humble beginnings in a Stanford dorm room, Snapchat has amassed over 406 million daily active users sending more than 5 billion snaps every day. The platform introduced the world to disappearing photos and ‘stories’ – a now standard feature of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other platforms.  As no shock to parents whatsoever, Snapchat is enormously popular with the younger generation. Based on time spent, Snapchat is the most ..read more