Category: Editorials
GIFT GIVEAWAY: Simon & Schuster Offers Anti-Bullying Books for Parents
It’s been great working with Simon & Schuster during the last 10 months. In addition to supporting what we’re doing with the “I Choose” Anti-Bullying Campaign, they’ve delivered exclusive book content to the Yoursphere community that’s both entertaining and educational, further expanding on our company’s mission to change the way children use social media. I [...]
Is Your Child Addicted to the Internet? How to Tell and What Parents Can Do
“Addiction to the Internet shares some of the negative aspects of substance addiction and has been shown to lead to consequences such as failing school, family, and relationship problems.” Click here to read the full study. We live in a much more connected world today than we did even five years ago. Today’s smartphones are [...]
Are You Giving Your Teen Too Much Freedom on the Internet?
Parents who first began using the Internet when they were in college or when they got their first office job can sometimes find it challenging to fully understand the allure that it holds for teenagers. Older people may be more accustomed to using the Internet just for doing research for university projects or to help [...]
Choose Not to Bully
A little over a week ago, the Huffington Post wrote an article about the Youth Service America Top 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People in the World. Reading about twelve-year old Olivia Bouler who has managed to raise $200,000 for environmental causes, and sixteen-year old Jonny Cohen who has been retrofitting school buses to be more [...]
Common Sense Media – A Hub of Advice and Reviews for Parents
At Yoursphere for Parents we take pride in providing parents with information and advice on social networking and Internet safety. But as a resource that parents can turn to for advice on the movies, books, music and games that are appropriate (or not appropriate) for their children, I recommend looking no further than Common Sense [...]
Why Facebook Wants Your Young Child To Join Their Network
Great article by industry expert, Linda Criddle. Original article http://ilookbothways.com/2012/06/07/why-would-facebook-want-to-enroll-children-in-a-service-built-with-little-regard-for-adult-safetyprivacysecurity-for-the-money/ _____________________________________________________________________ A floundering Facebook is under increased pressure to shore up their revenue and flat per user minutes. So it was no surprise to see the Wall Street Journal report that Facebook is developing technology to allow children younger than 13 years old to use the [...]
The NCAA, Social Media and Your Teen
My two younger boys, who are still in middle school, are intently focused on playing collegiate sports. When I read about the recent news of the NCAA sanctions against the University of North Carolina’s football program (due to what was found on student athletes social media profiles), I immediately shared the story with my 13-year [...]
A Better, More Progressive Internet for Our Children
The other day I read an interesting column on Forbes.com called “Avoiding a Precautionary Principle for the Internet”. In the article, Adam Thierer voices his concern with adopting a “precautionary principle” as it relates to the progression of Internet technologies. The precautionary principle that he mentions is the notion that since every current or future [...]
Family-Safe Black Friday Deals Under $100
There are hundreds of amazing deals on electronics this Black Friday, as there are every year. Most of us tend to go after the best deals on the hottest items just because they’re the best deals on the hottest item. But do you know which ones are safe for your children? Then again, how do [...]
Yoursphere Parents Unaware of Internet Dangers
Mark Zuckerberg’s most recent effort to get children on Facebook has left parents, including myself, wondering exactly how he plans on keeping children safe from the adult culture on Facebook. I’ve posted my thoughts about this issue here, but what concerns me the most is that there are millions of parents out there who are [...]
Parents Should Read Deeper Into TRUSTe Survey Results
A new survey conducted by online privacy company, TRUSTe, looks at how teens and their parents use social networks, as well as their thoughts and practices when it comes to social networking privacy. An article from San Francisco’s local ABC News, KGO-TV, used the survey to focus on the idea that “kids are alright with [...]
Join the Cause to Help Build Positive Self-Esteem in a Young Girl’s Life
Help support Dove's Movement for Self-Esteem this weekend by taking an hour to talk to your daughter–or other young girl in your life–and based on what you know now, share with her what you wish you knew when you were 13.
Our Kids Demand Better Technology!
What kind of technology does the future hold for our children? Not sure, but apparently the current market isn’t good enough. Check out the latest tech reviews from our young experts! Apple is no match for this kid. If they want him to fall in line for the next generation of Macbooks, they’re gonna have [...]
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and honestly, it couldn’t come at a better time. The recent tragic story of Tyler Clementi—the Rutgers freshman who committed suicide after his sexual encounter was streamed online—has triggered national attention towards bullying and cyberbullying laws. But cyberbullying is only one form of cybercrime. Sexting, online privacy, identity theft—I [...]
Yoursphere Before Facebook – Here’s Why
As parents, we want what’s best for our children, there’s no doubt about that. We want them to enjoy life and everything that it has to offer, and we want them to be safe while doing so. In today’s world, the Internet is part of that life. Its mainstream influence on our society is growing more and [...]
Jolkona’s Technological Approach to Global Charity
When you step back and take a look at the major sociological changes in the last 20 years or so, you can’t help but notice the Internet and how connected it’s made everything. It’s such a mind-blowing, yet amazing, phenomenon. Granted, there can obviously be some negative things that come out of the idea of [...]
How Risky Is Your Digital Behavior?
I was browsing Linda Criddle’s Online Safety blog when I came across this interesting tool. It’s a Digital Privacy Quiz created by the ACLU. Essentially what the quiz does is show you the impact you have on your privacy when you use every-day digital technologies like email, social networks, or even your cell phone. The [...]
The Internet’s Most Precarious Celebrities
Letting our guard down is the last thing we want to do when it comes to searching around on the Internet. Whether we’re searching for entertainment like fashion or music, or something more serious like answers to health questions that we may have; it’s always a crapshoot as to what we’ll come across in our [...]
Mary Kay is a nationally-recognized Internet safety expert and the founder of 
