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Family Research & Tech News
FEB 4, 2019
10 Facts About Americans And Facebook
Here are 10 facts about Americans and Facebook, based on Pew Research Center surveys conducted in 2018. Read the article here.
JAN 30, 2019
Kraft Heinz’s Devour Advertises On Pornhub As Part Of Super Bowl Campaign
At a time when many marketers obsess about appearing only in uncontroversial “brand-safe” environments, Kraft Heinz Co.’s Devour frozen food brand ran ads on pornography website Pornhub on Monday, part of a campaign built around a Super Bowl commercial with a food porn theme. Read the article here.
JAN 30, 2019
YouTube, Instagram Among Most Popular Social Video Platforms For Gen Z, Millennials
Where do millennials and Gen Z get their social video content? Increasingly, it is on YouTube or Instagram. Read the article here.
JAN 30, 2019
Scientists Link Selfies To Narcissism, Addiction & Mental Illness
The growing trend of taking smartphone selfies is linked to mental health conditions that focus on a person’s obsession with looks. Read the rest of the article here.
JAN 30, 2019
Instagram Meme Accounts Are Pretty Now
Teen girls are using a new format to express themselves and forge connections online. Read the article here.
JAN 30, 2019
Facebook Is Paying Teens To Install A ‘Research’ App That Lets It Monitor Their Phones
Facebook has stealthily launched a service similar to Onavo Protect, its vampiric psuedo-VPN that claims to protect users’ privacy but actually collects and analyzes their data. Read the article here.
JAN 29, 2019
Instagram ‘Implicated’ In Teen Suicides As It Prepares To Merge With Facebook
It’s notable that until now, Instagram has managed to remain healthily detached from the issues that have plagued Facebook over the last twelve months. Read the full article here.
JAN 29, 2019
Faking It: How Selfie Dysmorphia Is Driving People To Seek Surgery
Filters have never been more prevalent – and it’s leading some people to have fillers, Botox and other procedures. What’s behind the obsessive pursuit of a flawless look? Read the article here.
JAN 29, 2019
Negative Experiences On Social Media Tied To Loneliness
Using social media does not appear to reduce feelings of loneliness. In fact, it can make you feel more lonely, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion. Read the article here.
JAN 24, 2019
More Than Half Of Kids Ages 8-12 Experience Cyberbullying
Bark’s 2018 Children & Teen Cyber Fact Sheet provides a collection of data analyzed from over 900 million messages across texts, email, social media, and school-issued Google and Microsoft accounts of 2.6 million children ages 8-17. Read the article here.
JAN 24, 2019
Snapchat’s Place In The Social Matrix
In the latest episode of “Behind the Numbers,” analyst Debra Aho Williamson talks about the underlying reasons internet users pick different social networks, and how Snapchat fits in, both in the US and around the world. Listen to the eMarketer podcast here.
JAN 24, 2019
5 Gaming Myths Debunked
Games represent the largest category of apps available for download, according to research from Google and Ipsos Mori. Read the article here.
JAN 24, 2019
As Parents, We Need To Teach Our Teenagers About Social Media Safety
You can only teach when you understand the perils yourself. Read the article here.
JAN 15, 2019
A Letter To Teens About The Science Of Popularity… And The Best Ways To Use Social Media
An excerpt from the book “Popular: Finding Happinessand Success in a World That Cares Too Much About the Wrong Kinds of Relationships.” Read the excerpt here.
JAN 15, 2019
Study Shows Screen Time Has Little Impact On Mental Health?
Using phones, tablets and laptops is no worse for teenagers’ mental health than eating more potatoes, a new scientific study has claimed. Read the article here.
JAN 14, 2019
Graphic Pornography Is Making Teen Boys ‘Impotent’
Teenage boys as young as 16 are experiencing symptoms of erectile dysfunction due to excessively viewing violent and hardcore pornography, an expert has revealed. Read the article here.
JAN 14, 2019
Teens On YuBo App Ignore Risks To Gain Followers
Sharing personal information with strangers to gain new followers is a risk teenagers are taking on an app with similar features to Tinder. Read the article here.
JAN 11, 2019
Tweets Can Haunt Teens, Young Adults Years Later
Teens and young adults commonly post things online that will come back to haunt them. Read the article here.
JAN 9, 2019
Teens Are Spamming Instagram To Fight An Apparent Network Of Child Porn
#dropboxlinks has gone viral after hundreds of users posted memes about the tag’s concerning material. Read the article here.
JAN 8, 2019
Depression In Girls Linked To Higher Use Of Social Media
Research suggests link between social media use and depressive symptoms was stronger for girls compared with boys. Read the article here.
JAN 8, 2019
Esports Business Poised For Expansion In 2019
The esports phenomenon is set to expand even further in 2019, with Deloitte predicting the U.S. esports business will expand by 35%. Read the article here.
JAN 7, 2019
Social Media Use And Adolescent Mental Health: Findings From The UK Millennium Cohort Study
This paper i) assesses whether social media use is associated with adolescents’ depressive symptoms, and ii) investigates multiple potential explanatory pathways via online harassment, sleep, self-esteem and body image. Read the research here.
JAN 7, 2019
Top YouTube Stars ‘Encourage Children To Use Gambling Site’
Vloggers popular with youngsters, including Jake Paul and Morgan “Morgz” Hudson, have promoted a “mystery box” site where customers pay to try to win computer games, trainers, toys or other items. Read the article here.
JAN 4, 2019
Twelve Tips For Parenting In The Digital Age
Tony Reinke provides parents with tips on how to steward teens in the digital age. Read the article here.
JAN 4, 2019
Worry Less About Children’s Screen Use, Parents Told
Most of the evidence in the review was based on television screen time, but also included other screen use, such as phones and computers. Read the article here.
JAN 2, 2019
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much? New Research Shows Just How Bad Screens Can Be For Kids’ Brains
The physical formation of kids’ brains is being altered by smartphone, tablet and video game use, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health. Read the article here.
DEC 24, 2018
Digital-Only Festivals Redefine Immersive Entertainment
Recently, brands are bundling aspects from both music and video games into can’t-miss digital-only festivals where participants tune in for immersive entertainment from the comfort of their consoles. Read the article here.
DEC 19, 2018
Teen Girls And Their Moms Get Candid About Phones And Social Media
NPR sat down with teen girls and their mothers to get a snapshot of what it’s like to grow up with smartphones right now. Read the article here.
DEC 19, 2018
Depression In Adolescents And Young Adults Is Rising: Are Phones And Social Media To Blame?
Some experts are debating whether the phenomenon of smartphones, tablet computers and social media is responsible for the rising rates of depression among children and young adults. Read the article here.
DEC 19, 2018
Teens Are Looking To Social Media Stars As Role Models, Survey Says
Many teens are drawn to social media stars as their role models instead of to their own parents. Read the article here.
DEC 18, 2018
Groundbreaking Study Examines Effects Of Screen Time On Kids
60 Minutes goes inside a landmark government study of young minds to see if phones, tablets and other screens are impacting adolescent brain development. Read the article and view the video here.
DEC 18, 2018
Technology & Christmas: Tips For Monitoring Devices
Here are some key statistics and helpful tips to make yours a tech-wise home for the holidays. Read the article from Barna here.
DEC 17, 2018
The NIH Is MRI-Ing Kid’s Brains While They Instagram To Study The Effects Of Screen Time
The $300 million study follows 11,000 children at 21 testing sites across the country to assess how screen time, which includes mobile phone apps and video games, impacts their brain development and mental health. Read the article here.
DEC 17, 2018
US Kids And Digital 2018
What Matters and What Doesn’t for These Digital Natives. Read the report from eMarketer here.
DEC 14, 2018
How Teens Turned Instagram Into A Dating App
Dating culture is thriving on Instagram and other platforms popular with youth. Read the article here.
DEC 14, 2018
How Can Texting Affect Your Teenagers Grammar
TV might have killed the radio star, but is texting killing the art of communication? Read the article here.
DEC 13, 2018
Teens, Technology, Parenting And A Podcast
We are raising a generation of kids who are using devices and connecting with each other through technology in a way we didn’t—and in some ways, still don’t—experience. Read the article here.
DEC 12, 2018
Teens’ Social Media Habits And Experiences
Teens credit social media for helping to build stronger friendships and exposing them to a more diverse world, but they express concern that these sites lead to drama and social pressure. Read the Research from Pew here.
DEC 12, 2018
Emotional Competency, Communication, And Bullying In Adolescent Technology Use
Research shows that the abuse of technology is a damaging behavior and might cause psychological problems, social problems, or school problems. Read the article here.
DEC 12, 2018
As “Fortnite” Blows Up, Parents Need To Up Their Game
A new survey confirms what most parents already know: Kids are going crazy for “Fortnite.” Here are some practical tips to manage it. Read the tips from Common Sense Media here.
DEC 5, 2018
Fortnite ‘V-Bucks’ More Popular Than Cash On Teens’ Holiday Wish Lists
Some U.S. holiday wish lists crisscross all generations and some, well, don’t. Read the article here.
NOV 28, 2018
Instagram ‘Edges’ Snapchat As U.S. Teenagers’ Favorite Social App
85% of teens surveyed said they use Instagram at least once a month, compared to 84% for Snapchat. Read the article here.
NOV 20, 2018
Most Parents Let Their Kids Watch Videos On YouTube
Some 81% of U.S. parents with children 11 years old or younger let their kids watch videos on YouTube, with 34% letting them watch “regularly,” according to a new report from Pew Research Center. Read the article here.
NOV 12, 2018
How To Protect Your Kid From ‘Fortnite’ Scams
The popular game has become an easy way for scammers to trick kids into sharing way too much information. Read the article from Common Sense Media here.
NOV 7, 2018
Digital Media Is ‘Like Cocaine’ For Babies’ Developing Brains
Some doctors refer to behaviors resulting from overexposure to digital devices as “virtual autism.” Read the article here.
NOV 7, 2018
Many Teens Are ‘Sextortion’ Targets
Sextortion is threatening to share sexually explicit photos without consent if a person doesn’t agree to certain demands, such as sexual favors or money. Read the article here.
NOV 5, 2018
How To Host A Social Media Detox For Your Teen Or Tween
GMA provides a guide to follow if you want to try a social media detox with your own family or community. Read the article here.
NOV 1, 2018
Too Much Screen Time Is Affecting The Well-Being Of Children And Teens, Says Study
A new study advises limits on screen time for children and teenagers to help boost their well-being. Read the article here.
OCT 31, 2018
Parents And Teens Discuss The Dangers Of Sexting
Sexting is a growing trend among American teenagers, according to recent data. Read the article here.
OCT 29, 2018
Millennial Parents: TV Becomes The ‘Good Screen’
As millennials become parents, the family dynamic is completely shifting again. Read the article here.
OCT 29, 2018
The Smart Speaker Series: Kids & Teens
Many voice platform providers see kids as a potentially lucrative market. Read the article here.
OCT 26, 2018
Nearly One-In-Five Teens Can’t Always Finish Their Homework Because Of The Digital Divide
Some 15% of U.S. households with school-age children do not have a high-speed internet connection at home, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of 2015 U.S. Census Bureau data. Read the article here.
OCT 26, 2018
Teens And Their Smartphones: Too Much Of A Not-Always-Good Thing?
Many teens regard their cohort’s smartphone usage as an ‘addiction.’ Read the rest of the article here.
OCT 26, 2018
Instagram Remains Popular With Teens, Their Most Used Platform
Marking a major shift in social media trends, Instagram has overtaken Snapchat as the most used platform among U.S. teens. Read the article here.
OCT 24, 2018
My Child’s Friend Has A Problem With Pornography! What Should I Do?
You’re probably taking great steps to safeguard your kids against pornography. Have you thought about how pornography may be affecting their friends? Read the article from Protect Young Minds here.
OCT 24, 2018
Teens Turning Off Cable In Favor Of YouTube
Teens are embracing streaming video — in particular Google’s YouTube platform — and are increasingly spurning linear pay TV services, according to Piper Jaffray’s 2018 “Taking Stock With Teens” survey. Read the article here.
OCT 22, 2018
Parents’ Ultimate Guide To Fortnite
Are your kids caught up in the Fortnite frenzy? Here’s everything you need to know about this popular video game. Read the helpful articles from Common Sense Media here.
OCT 22, 2018
50 Media Hours Per Week
A new survey estimates that consumer time spent with media worldwide, including all digital and traditional media combined, is on pace to grow 2.1% to an average of 50.9 hours per week (HPW) in 2018. Read the article here.
OCT 18, 2018
Holiday 2018: The Most Anticipated Video Games
So which video games are gamers most anxious to sink their teeth into this year? Read the report from Nielsen here.
OCT 18, 2018
Phantom Community: What’s The Power Of Talk In A Digital Age?
A digital “sense” of connectedness is replacing or impeding our ways of “being” incarnate (“in the flesh”) with one another. Read this blog post from Fuller Youth Institute here.
OCT 15, 2018
If Instagram Has A Strict ‘No Nudity’ Policy, Why Is There So Much Porn On The App?
Despite a ‘no nudity’ policy, porn is thriving on Instagram. Why is this the case? Read the article here.
OCT 15, 2018
Teens Are Being Bullied “Constantly” On Instagram
Harassment on the platform can be uniquely cruel, and for many it feels like there’s no escape. Read the article here.
OCT 5, 2018
A Majority Of Teens Have Experienced Some Form Of Cyberbullying
59% of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, and a similar share says it’s a major problem for people their age. At the same time, teens mostly think teachers, social media companies and politicians are failing at addressing this issue. Read the research here.
OCT 5, 2018
Is Your Teen Hiding Sexting Photos In A Fake Calculator App?
Your teens calculator app? It could be a digital safe, hiding photos they don’t want you to see. Read the article here.
OCT 5, 2018
‘Pocket Slot Machines’: Smartphone Apps Turn Users Into Addicts, Says Google Study
Research from two Google employees found that the “trigger, action, reward” design of popular apps has conditioned mobile phone owners to the extent that they feel “phantom” cues in which they imagine they have received a message even if the phone has not issued an alert. Read the article here.
OCT 2, 2018
Parents’ Ultimate Guide To Esports
Now that esports is in high schools across the country, your teen gamer can justify gaming as “training” — and maybe even win a college scholarship. Read the article from Common Sense Media here.
OCT 2, 2018
Is Technology Going Too Far In Measuring Student Performance?
In thousands of schools across the country, students are strapping on heart monitors and being judged by the rate of their pulse. Read the article here.
OCT 2, 2018
Can Too Much Screen Time Dumb Down Your Kid?
If you’re worried that too much “screen time” could be sapping your child’s intelligence, new research suggests you might be right. Read the article here.
SEP 27, 2018
More Millennials, Gen Z Are Using Social Apps
Of the 1,000 US internet users surveyed, more than half (56%) of Gen Zers, ages 16 to 24, said they had increased their use of Snapchat in the past year, and another 55% of respondents said they are using Instagram more. Read the article here.
SEP 25, 2018
Teens Sleeping Too Much, Or Not Enough? Parents Can Help
Of parents who tell pollsters their teens have trouble sleeping, 23 percent say the kids are waking up at night worried about their social lives. Read the article here.
SEP 24, 2018
Google’s Parental Control Software Family Link Expands To Teens
Google’s parental control software for mobile devices, Family Link, will now help parents of teenagers, too. Read the article here.
SEP 18, 2018
More Than Half Of Parents Of Sleep-Deprived Teens Blame Electronics
Fifty-six percent of parents of teens who have sleep troubles believe the use of electronics is hurting their child’s shut-eye. Read the article here.
SEP 18, 2018
12 Priorities For Parents In The Digital Age
Tony Reinke gives practical advice for parenting digital natives. Listen to the podcast episode here.
SEP 18, 2018
How To Warn Against Porn Without Scaring Your Child
How exactly can we warn against pornography without traumatizing our child? Read the article here.
SEP 17, 2018
Pornhub Wants To Be A Lifestyle Brand
Pornhub is already the biggest porn distribution platform ever, but now it wants to become a brand that anyone would talk about out loud, and just maybe, someday, wear on a T-shirt. Read the article here.
SEP 17, 2018
The Average Child Spends Just 7 Hours A Week Outside, But More Than Twice That Playing Video Games Inside
The survey also found that 40 percent of parents have to force their children to leave the house in order to spend time outdoors. Read the article here.
SEP 12, 2018
Teens Are Over Face-To-Face Communication, Study Says
Most teens now say their favorite mode of communication is texting (35%), according to a new survey released Monday from Common Sense. Read the article here.
SEP 12, 2018
More Teens Are Getting Plastic Surgery Because Of Social Media, Study Suggests
A study suggests social media has also increased the number of teenagers going under the knife. Read the article here.
SEP 11, 2018
Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences (2018)
Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences from Common Sense Media sheds light on teens’ changing social media habits and why some kids are more deeply affected by — and connected to — their digital worlds. Access the findings of the report here.
SEP 11, 2018
The 10 Most Followed Celebrities On Instagram
These 10 celebs have totally cashed in on the platform’s popularity. Here are the 10 most followed people on Instagram. Read the list here.
SEP 11, 2018
Here Is How Much Sexting Among Teens Has Increased
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics revealed that sexting (which is the electronic sharing of sexually explicit images, videos, or messages) has increased among teenagers since 2009. Oh, and the number of teenagers with smartphones has also increased since 2009. Coincidence? Read the rest of the article here.
SEP 11, 2018
Self Harm Triples Among Children And Young Adults Post-Social Media
Child psychiatrists have expressed alarm over a sharp rise in self-harm among teenagers since the advent of social media. Read the article here.
SEP 6, 2018
Phones Are Changing The Texture Of Family Life
Many parents think teens are too absorbed by screens. Teens agree. Read the article here.
SEP 6, 2018
This Is What Happens When You Take Phones Away From Teenagers
Parents are trying to limit the amount of time their teens spend on their phones, with mixed results. Read the article here.
SEP 6, 2018
What Teenagers Need To Know About Cybersecurity
Now that school is back in session, many high schoolers have new phones, new computers and new privileges for using their devices – and new responsibilities too. Read the article here.
SEP 4, 2018
Logged Off: Meet The Teens Who Refuse To Use Social Media
Generation Z has grown up online – so why are a surprising number suddenly turning their backs on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat? Read the article here.
SEP 4, 2018
Which Social Media Site Is Tops Among Teens? Not Facebook
Among kids 12-17, Facebook usage has actually been on the decline since at least February. This group favors another social channel above all others — Snapchat. Read the article here.
AUG 29, 2018
How Big A Problem Is Teens’ Screen Usage?
In the latest episode of “Behind the Numbers,” eMarketer’s Mark Dolliver discusses how teens indulge in too much screen time, and the extent to which they and their parents see this excessive usage as a problem. Listen to the podcast here.
AUG 29, 2018
BTS Set 24-Hour YouTube Debut Record With ‘Idol’
BTS extend their global victory lap once more, as their latest single “IDOL” has dethroned Taylor Swift to earn the highest 24-hour music video debut in YouTube history. Read the article and view the top 10 list here.
AUG 29, 2018
The Media Universe: More Options, More Time, More Reach
In just the few months since the end of the third quarter of last year, U.S. consumers 18 and older increased their time with media by more than a full half hour. Read the article and research from Nielsen here.
AUG 29, 2018
UK Youth Abandons Facebook, Flocks To Snapchat
Snapchat is set to overtake Facebook among UK users aged 18-24 years old this year, as the video messaging platform continues to surge in popularity. Read the article here.
AUG 27, 2018
Teens’ Screen Addiction Might Be Contagious, And Parents Are Patient Zero
Kids aren’t the only ones struggling to self-regulate their screen time. Read the article here.
AUG 27, 2018
2 In 5 Teens Text While Driving, Survey Shows
Nearly 40 percent of teen drivers in the United States say they text while driving, a new survey finds. Read the article here.
AUG 27, 2018
Posting Instagram Sponsored Content Is The New Summer Job
While some teens spent the summer of 2018 babysitting, bagging groceries, or scooping ice cream, thousands of others made hundreds of dollars—and in some cases, much more—the new-fashioned way: by doing sponsored content on Instagram. Read the article here.
AUG 27, 2018
Tinder Is Rolling Out A College-Only Service, Tinder U
The functionality is exactly the same as regular Tinder, although the UI looks slightly different: a badge depicting users’ universities will be displayed on their main profile image. Read the article here.
AUG 24, 2018
How Teens And Parents Navigate Screen Time And Device Distractions
54% of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on their cellphones, and two-thirds of parents express concern over their teen’s screen time. But parents face their own challenges of device-related distraction. Read the research from the Pew Research Center here.
AUG 24, 2018
France Bans Smartphones In Schools
Under new legislation, French students will be prohibited from using smartphones and tablets while at school. Read the article here.
AUG 21, 2018
Yes, Teens Are Texting And Using Social Media Instead Of Reading Books
High-schoolers today are texting, scrolling and using social media instead of reading books and magazines. Read the article here.
AUG 17, 2018
Sick WhatsApp ‘Momo Suicide Game’ Infiltrates ‘Minecraft’
The horrific “Momo” WhatsApp ‘suicide game’ linked to the death of at least one teen has appeared in “Minecraft.” Read the article here.
AUG 17, 2018
The Love-Hate Relationship Between Teens And Their Smartphones
It seems like teenagers would appreciate taking a break from their smartphones, if only they knew how. Read the article here.