5 votes

Firefox for families: The TechTalk - Making awkward tech conversations with kids slightly less awkward

4 comments

  1. cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    I had never seen this before, but it popped up in my main tab after I updated my Firefox last night. There is nothing groundbreaking in it, but I thought it was interesting and worth sharing...

    I had never seen this before, but it popped up in my main tab after I updated my Firefox last night. There is nothing groundbreaking in it, but I thought it was interesting and worth sharing nonetheless.

    The ticker got a smirk out of me too:

    // Update // Recent graduate lists “completed TikTok challenges” on resume.

    // Breaking News // Mother sends long, heartfelt text. Daughter replies with “k”

    // Breaking News // Dad unknowingly laughs at and forwards meme of his own receding hairline.

    // Parental Alert // Michigan boy won’t shut up about becoming an influencer.

    2 votes
  2. vord
    Link
    Kinda light on actual, useful resources. The advice is not bad, but not terribly groundbreaking. The BSA CyberChip is actually a fairly robust program. They paired with NetSmart to develop the...

    Kinda light on actual, useful resources. The advice is not bad, but not terribly groundbreaking.

    The BSA CyberChip is actually a fairly robust program. They paired with NetSmart to develop the program, so you can find resources there if you'd prefer to avoid the BSA.

    As a sidebar, the BSA does seem to be making substantial progress on their regressive policies, at least locally. It's comforting as an Eagle scout having children, who loves like 95% of what the scouts are about, but don't have the energy to foster an alternative program .

    Excerpt:

    Level I Internet Safety Pledge (for Cub Scouts)
    I will tell my trusted adult if anything makes me feel sad, scared, confused, or uncomfortable.
    I will ask my trusted adult before posting photos or sharing information like my name, address, current locations, or phone number.
    I won't meet face-to-face with anyone I meet in the digital world.
    I will respect the online property of others.
    I will always use good "netiquette" and not be rude or mean online.

    2 votes
  3. [2]
    soks_n_sandals
    Link
    I don't have kids yet, but I think about this a lot. I had largely unfettered internet access growing up. My parents still don't fully believe how disgustingly insidious some parts of the...

    I don't have kids yet, but I think about this a lot. I had largely unfettered internet access growing up. My parents still don't fully believe how disgustingly insidious some parts of the easily-accessible internet are. I think a lot of people would agree that it's gotten way worse since circa 2012. As a kid, I knew 4chan was a hive of villainy and scum, but YouTube was basically wholesome content about videogames. Now, I'd be more worried about the thinly-veiled content on YouTube because it just sneaks up on ya.

    So I think about parenting tactics regarding tech a lot. It's kind of tough, because I want to impart what I know about the internet and technology without being annoying. There's the divide between being laisez-faire or heavy-handed, with a large gray swath in-between.

    For those of you with kids, what's your approach? What works and what doesn't?

    Also - an aside, but I love the design on that Mozilla page.

    2 votes
    1. Akir
      Link Parent
      I've got the same basic experience as you and I agree with just about everything you said. I think this guide from Mozilla is a good framework to start with, but as an old fart the thing I think...

      I've got the same basic experience as you and I agree with just about everything you said.

      I think this guide from Mozilla is a good framework to start with, but as an old fart the thing I think is most surprising (especially coming from Mozilla) is that they don't really bring up the value of privacy. My first thought is that kids should be taught that their private data - especially in regards to things that can be used to identify or locate you - should never be put up in a public sphere. But at the same time we are all living in a world where you're expected to be your real self on the internet, to the point where even employers are looking into your social media presence to determine if they will hire you.

      2 votes