Category: Facebook
uKnowKids Software Review
uKnowKids is a new web-based monitoring system for your child’s smartphone and social network accounts. For testing purposes, our team used the “Premier” subscription which provides comprehensive monitoring on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, as well as Android-powered smartphones and Blackberry devices. Subscription prices vary depending on how many children you want to monitor, extra features [...]
Smiley Faces and “LOLs” Do Not Mitigate the Effect of Cyberbullying
Three Indiana girls were expelled from Griffith Public School last week after a concerned mother provided the school principal with a copy of a malicious Facebook thread about her daughter and other students at the school. In the thread, the three girls discussed different ways to kill their classmates, including putting someone in a bathtub [...]
Three Good Reasons Why Your Child Shouldn’t Be on Facebook
As a mother of two college students and two tween boys, I absolutely understand the urge to give children what they want. Right now, in this world of digital media and instant gratification, that ‘want’ is to be on a social network with their friends. Most children, as you know, use Facebook as that social [...]
Your Guide to the New Facebook Timeline Privacy Settings
The Timeline feature that Mark Zuckerberg announced in September is now available to all Facebook users. If you’ve already activated Timeline for your own profile, you’re probably in the midst of adjusting to the new layout and testing out the new features. But what you might have overlooked are the minor additions to your Privacy [...]
Thanks to Facebook Sims Game Your 10, 12, 13 Year Old Is Now Rewarded for Having CyberSex
The Sims Social, a Facebook game and a franchise that has been around for years, has recently been in the spotlight for rewarding and encouraging players (including your child) to build a romantic relationships with their Facebook friends. The Sims Social refers to your Facebook friends as “Neighbors”, and gives players virtual currency and recognition [...]
Facebook Monitoring Solutions for Parents
For parents who have made the conscious decision to allow their kids or tweens to use Facebook, there are several monitoring solutions out there that can help you keep an eye on their activity, and more importantly, keep them safe. Figuring out which one works best, however, can be a pain. Below is an in-depth [...]
Social Networking Linked to Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Researchers at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (Columbia University) recently released a study where they found that teens who regularly use social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are twice as likely to smoke marijuana and three times are likely to drink alcohol. As well, the study points out that cyberbullied [...]
Social Media Clean-Up in 5 Easy Steps
After the Social Media Background Check article, I received a significant amount of feedback from readers and parents asking if there’s a way for them, or their teen, to “clean up” their social media profile. As I pointed out in the original article, a person’s social media profile officially consists of “up to seven years” [...]
One Network for Adults and Children: A Recipe for Disaster
Over 7 million kids are lying about their age to join Facebook. by guest columnist, Luke Gilkerson, from Covenant Eyes – It’s called “Smash or Pass.” Boys and girls alike can submit a photo of themselves or someone else to any number of smash-or-pass pages on Facebook. Others then stop by and say whether they [...]
The Social Media Background Check
Yes. You read that right. A social media background check is now possible thanks to a ruling by the Federal Trade Commission. It also provides us parents with further reinforcement that it’s incredibly important to teach our children how to “safely and responsibility network online.” The FTC ruling authorizes companies to provide reports on an [...]
Giving In to Tweens Who Want to Join Facebook – Is It Too Much Pressure for a Parent to Bear?
From firsthand experience, I can tell you that it’s very difficult not to simply succumb to the pressures of letting your tween have an account on an adult-intended social network like Facebook. Most of their friends probably have one—in fact, their friends’ younger siblings probably have one. But does that justify giving in? That’s the [...]
In response to Mark Zuckerberg Wanting Children Under 13 to Be Able to Join Facebook
Article being referenced: Zuckerberg: Kids under 13 Should Be Allowed on Facebook Plain and simple, Facebook isn’t a place for children. As I’ve shared in the past, and as many of us know – the content and culture is adult-intended. While I agree with Mark, children should benefit from social media, Facebook just isn’t the place. [...]
Mary Kay is a nationally-recognized Internet safety expert, and the founder of 
