The widespread teenage boy sextortion scam: What to do if your child is a victim

by Liz Gumbinner | Internet Safety, Tips and Tricks

This week’s Washington Post article about the teenage boy sextortion scam by Chris Moody is all I’ve been thinking about. In part because I know a kid who was targeted in this way, and it was a terrible situation. But to learn that this is a problem...

Apple’s switch from Lightning to USB-C with the new iPhone 15 Pro: An easy explainer

by Liz Gumbinner | Tips and Tricks, Gear + Hardware

With yesterday’s Apple announcement of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (and I am sooo excited!) I’ve heard a lot of gripes about the switch from a lightning charge cable to a USB-C charge cable. Here’s the deal in a nutshell– and it’s...

11 tech gifts for the mobile mom, all as practical as they are cool | Mother’s Day 2023

by Liz Gumbinner | Mother's Day Gifts

Mother’s Day tech gifts are completely underrated. As much as we will always love receiving flowers and chocolate for Mother’s Day (seriously, bring it on!) we’d never say no to an awesome Mother’s Day tech gift. Especially one that recognizes...

We’re spreading love to our Jewish friends and family with these Hanukkah ecards

by Christina Refford | Holiday Picks, Holiday Tech Gifts

Though I send out inclusive Happy Holidays cards to a lot of people, I think this is an especially good year to also send a specific Happy Hanukkah greeting to our Jewish friends and family. Jewish Americans tend feel a bit overlooked in this season of Christmas...

How to download your Twitter data archive…and what you’ll find in there.

by Liz Gumbinner | Tips and Tricks, Internet Safety, Social Media

Thinking about leaving Twitter? (Are we calling it Twexit yet?) With the big changeover in management this week, some Twitter users are leaving, some users are staying, and your choice is up to you. Either way, it’s good idea to download your Twitter data...

Should your kids be using BeReal, the hot new social media app? What parents should know.

by Christina Refford | Social Media, Best Apps, Internet Safety

You may have seen this hilarious sketch on SNL that has a bunch of adults using the app BeReal during a rather tense situation. (if you haven’t seen it yet, go watch now! I’ll wait.) This sketch does a great job explaining what BeReal is, but we’ve...

How to avoid tech neck: Tips for a healthier, more ergonomic laptop experience for your teens and tweens

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks, Gear + Hardware

If your kids are using a laptop or Chromebook for their schoolwork (or gaming), there are a few simple things you can do to help them avoid tech neck. Yes, it’s totally a thing (says the person who’s on her computer most hours of the day). Here are our...

18 of the best tech gifts for teens — according to actual teens

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Tech Gifts, Games + Gaming, Holiday Picks, Tech Toys

We know shopping for the best tech gifts for teens can be pretty challenging, but in our experience, tech is pretty much always a hit — provided it’s age appropriate. And we’ve got that down! For more than 10 years now, we’ve been in on the...

A complete guide to the best apps for college students leaving home, to help them navigate life (sniff) on their own.

by Lisa Barnes | Back to School Tech, Best Apps, Kids, Tips and Tricks

We thought it would be a smart idea to put together the best apps for college students, and especially college freshmen. After all, when parents send our kids off to college — whether close to home or across the country — you really want them equipped with...

Will Meta’s new parental controls keep teens safer on Instagram and Quest? We have thoughts.

by Christina Refford | Internet Safety, Games + Gaming, Social Media, Tips and Tricks

Recently, Meta announced it would be launching new parental safety controls for teens in the form of tools and resources for both the Instagram social media app and their Meta Quest VR gaming headsets. The goal is to help parents better manage what our teens are...