5 free online parental controls you can put to use right now to keep kids safer.
As parents, we try to keep an eye on what our kids are doing online to help keep them safe, but we can’t be over their shoulders all the time. Nor should we be! That’s why we’re always grateful for online parental controls of all kinds, and why...
Are the video games your kids love safe for them? We can help.
If you thought your kids tech-savvy as toddlers, it’s amazing to see how quickly they pick up video games when they get a little older. They know what’s hot and what’s not faster than Mario with a super star power-up. Turns out there are tons of...
Are teens still sexting? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding YES.
The good news: most teens know that sexting is a crime. The bad news: older teens are less likely to think sexting will have negative consequences. All this from a new study about teens and sexting, conducted by researchers at Boston University and the University of...
If you’re a Twitter user, you must update your password STAT. That’s 330 million of you.
As Twitter has just informed all 330,000,000 of its users in an apologetic but so far underreported post, you should really change your Twitter password right now, this very second. Not to be alarmist — but out of an abundance of precaution. Evidently, a bug...
New study says over 3300 Android apps are collecting way more data than they should from kids.
It’s not surprising that as of late, there’s been a magnifying glass on privacy issues when it comes to technology, particularly as it relates to kids. Remember those WIFI-connected stuffed animals? Yikes. Well, in a recent study, researchers discovered...
Does incognito mode, aka private browsing, protect your privacy? TL;DR = Nope!
With all the recent data breaches and Facebook privacy issues, we’re getting lots of questions about private browsing, also known as “incognito mode.” Should you be using it? If you already do, is your information safe? Here’s what you need to...
Should you quit Facebook? We’ve got the resources you need to decide.
After this recent Facebook data-mining scandal, we know that many users are feeling conflicted about staying on the platform. And we’re seeing various articles and reports, from whether you should leave altogether to why you should stay on. Talk about confusing!...
Raising kids to be good digital citizens: The only 4 things you need to tell them.
Raising digital kids, we parents all want to raise them to be good digital citizens, make wise choices, never bully, never be bullied, use their platforms for good, and be the change we want to see in the world. Not much to ask for, right? Since starting this site...
Beyond Snapchat: 12 risky apps parents should watch out for.
By now, everyone knows about Snapchat and kids right? It’s like Snapchat has come to epitomize the “watch out for kids and their apps.” But the truth is, there are so so many apps that can get kids into trouble, and it’s hard to keep up with...
How to set up a smartphone for kids: 9 things parents need to do first.
We’re all learning about new technology right along with our kids, which can put us at a bit of a disadvantage. Darn those growing brains. And if you’ve ever gotten a new cell phone and seen how much more your kid knows about it than you do, well, you know...
Ask to Buy: Is this parent-control feature that manages kids app downloads actually helpful?
When we were Apple newbies, my kids racked up quite a collection of paid apps before I realized what was happening. And I wasn’t the only one. Apple ended up refunding lots of parents money for apps their kids bought. Then they set up the Ask to Buy feature in...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz
We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.
We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.
We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.
(Answer: It's complicated.)
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