Cyberwise Chats

TikTok & Gen Z: From Viral Dance Videos to Social Media Activism

When parents think of TikTok, usually viral dance videos come to mind. However, platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter are being used by Gen Z — youth born after 1996 —to revolutionize activism. At just the click of a button, they can start a movement… like TikTok users who helped sabotage a Trump rally when they coordinated to register for tickets and did not show up, or young Indonesians who used the app to protest labor law reforms. And following George Floyd's murder, there was a surge in Black Lives Matter videos on all of these social media apps. Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles, co-author of "#Hashtag Activism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice" was our special guest.

OMG! You Won’t BELIEVE What Kids Are Clicking On.

Did our clickbait headline get your attention? We hope so! In this Cyberwise Chat, we tackle the topic of clickbait and misinformation. Kids today are exposed to all sorts of online information that's downright untrue, and unarmed with media literacy skills, they can fall for (and share!) headlines designed to grab their attention. Find out how you can prepare your child to face an online world full of clickbait and fake news!

Kids and Online Porn: What Parents Need To Know

One of the most disturbing problems of the digital age is how easy it is for children to access online pornography. With cellphones in their pockets, access to porn is often just a click away. In fact, the average age of first Internet porn exposure is 11 years old and whether your child accidentally or intentionally stumbles across it, the impact can be devastating. Learn how to protect your children from online pornography, what to do if they have already accessed online porn, and how to have honest conversations about this thorny topic.

Post Pandemic Reboot: Helping Kids With the Return to ”Normal.”

During this post-pandemic return to “normal,” kids need parents to help them re-learn how to balance screen time with real life, understand how to use technology mindfully and safely and, most of all, help them manage the anxiety and stress many have (and will) suffer during this transition. Watch Diana Graber of Cyberwise, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center, and Rick Andreoli, Editor-In-Chief of Parentology tackle these topics.

Parents: Get the Lowdown on Instagram

In this episode, we discussed parental concerns about Instagram. Here are some things that top the list: Data collection, access to inappropriate content (pornography, violence, fake news, dangerous challenges, etc.), a "compare and despair" atmosphere, possible links to anxiety and depression, and more. On top of all this, Facebook is reportedly planning to build a version of the app for the under-13 set. Good idea or bad idea?

What Parents Need to Know About Chat Apps

Clubhouse is one of the newest on the block, what about it is making is so popular, so fast? And Omegle has been around for a while, why the sudden resurgence in interest? Is it safe for kids? What other chat apps are kids using now and why? Join us to chat about these social media platforms and more.

When Cancel Culture Turns Into Cyberbullying: What Parents Need to Know!

Teens might use the phrase “you’re canceled” in jest, but some are taking it a step farther and actually blocking, unfollowing, and boycotting peers on social media (and in real life) because of a personal opinion or for simply saying/doing something disagreeable. “Cancel Culture” has made its way into classrooms and into teen peer groups. This new form of cyberbullying has many parents concerned about how it’s affecting their kids.

Kids Love TikTok Challenges! What Parents Need to Know.

From the "Cereal Challenge" to the "Penny Challenge," the "Blackout Challenge" and more, viral challenges born and spread on the popular app, TikTok, range from silly to downright dangerous. In this Cyberwise Chat, Dr. Pamela Rutledge and Diana Graber talk to Parentology's Editor-in-Chief, Rick Andreoli about some of the most outrageous TikTok Challenges, and what parents should know about them. Help your kids use technology safely and wisely. 

Deplatformed! How To Talk to Kids About Social Media Use Policies

Some prominent public figures have had their social media accounts revoked--on Twitter, Instagram, and more--for conduct that violates the sites' terms of use, and kids are watching! In this Cyberwise Chat, we discuss how to talk to kids about these events and how it influences their own social media behavior.

Tech Tips to Help Your Family Thrive

2020 is gone, but COVID is still here. That means many of us are still relying on tech--for learning, work, and socialization. Listen to this Cyberwise Chat to find out what tech tools your family can use to thrive in 2021.