Are your favorite apps sharing your personal data with Facebook, even if you’re not on Facebook? The answer is yes.

by Kristen Chase | Internet Safety

In what seems to be a never ending issue with Facebook and privacy, the latest news is that Facebook has been receiving data from apps from users who do not even have a Facebook account. And one of the 11 apps that has been discovered so far, is one of our favorites:...

What you need to know about YouTube’s pedophile problem

by Kristen Chase | Social Media

Over the years, we’ve written about many issues that parents need to be aware of when it comes to the content on YouTube. But this recent report from Wired should really throw the huge red flag of caution up for parents, particularly if you have kids posting...

How can I stop inappropriate follow requests on Instagram?

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks

Last week, we had a lively discussion about inappropriate follow requests on Instagram in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group. Many parents bemoaned the challenges of trying to navigate this with their kids on Instagram, even on private accounts. Unfortunately,...

Screen time and social media with kids: We might be doing it wrong, parents

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks

Since reading Anya Kamenetz’s interview with Jordan Shapiro on NPR, I’ve made some heavy shifts in how I’m approaching screen time with my kids. For the years that they’ve been on video games, tablets and most recently, their own phones,...

So why are we all still on Facebook again?

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks

If we’re all perfectly honest with ourselves, then we know that Facebook has presented many privacy issues for a long time now. We’ve been writing about Facebook privacy issues since we started Cool Mom Tech in 2010. That’s nine years. NINE. A quick...

Get ready, parents! Facebook will soon integrate WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger

by Kristen Chase | Social Media

According to an article in the New York Times that just came out today, Mark Zuckerberg is planning to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. That’s right, over the course of 2019 and into 2020, these apps will be reconfigured in a way that would allow...

Our top 10 most popular Cool Mom Tech posts of 2018. Happy New Year!

by Cool Mom Team | Tips and Tricks

From questionable Snapchat stories to gadgets that make our lives easier, we rounded up our top 10 most popular Cool Mom Tech posts of 2018. Happy New Year! Related: Our 10 most popular posts of 2017 10. How to figure out which categories Facebook has assigned to...

5 things I learned about Musical.ly now TikTok, from parents who’ve been there (and said no to that)

by Kristen Chase | Best Apps

My daughter came home from a sleepover this past weekend asking if she could download Musical.ly (now known as TikTok). I’ve been hesitant about this app after hearing friends’ kids with various issues, not to mention the stories we’ve shared here on...

Thinking Parent: Tackling screen time in your home begins with looking in the mirror.

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks

A few weeks ago, my youngest was angry with me about losing her iPad privileges, and in her fit of rage yelled “I bet you couldn’t be without your phone for 12 hours.” We all know that the truth hurts, but to hear it out of the mouth of your child...

What’s the best way to manage your kid’s screen time? This expert’s answer might surprise you!

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks

We often get asked the best way for parents to manage their kid’s screen time, and while we have our own opinions about screen time management, we never miss an opportunity to get another expert’s opinion. That’s exactly what Kristen did on this...