Latest news with #digitalhabits
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
AI Selfie Apps Are a Risk for Kids: Free Privacy Tips Every Parent Needs Now
These quick privacy checks can help you keep control of your kids' selfiesThe Download AI selfie apps are popular with teens and tweens for face swapping, photo enhancements, and social sharing. Data storage and sharing, privacy vulnerabilities, and mental health risks are numerous. Involvement, open communication, and free parental control apps can instill healthy digital habits in selfie apps have grown in popularity and availability, especially among tweens and teens, but the privacy risks are substantial. This article explains the dangers and free tools parents can use to keep their kids safe. What Are AI Selfie Apps? AI-powered selfie apps, such as Lensa AI and FaceApp, use artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition to enhance selfies with beauty filters, animated effects, background replacements, face swaps, and more. Most of these apps are mobile-only and fit seamlessly into the world of social sharing. This familiarity makes the appeal of these apps second nature since young people are already using similar effects and tools on platforms including Instagram and Snapchat. AI Selfie App Dangers for Kids While AI selfie apps can provide hours of entertainment for teens and kids, the safety risks are undeniable and alarming. Here are some of the most concerning aspects parents and caretakers should be aware of: Data collection and sharing: The fine print isn't always easy to navigate on these apps, obscuring details about the kind of information that's collected (about device usage or uploaded photos, etc.) and shared with third parties—or used for AI model training. Data breach risks: Like any cloud-based service, the risk of hacks and data breaches is always a possibility. For young people, image or personal data could end up in the hands of hackers, increasing the potential for exploitation, bullying, and permanent damage to their online footprints. Mental health concerns: The fallout from data breaches and compromised online security is one thing, but the persistent exposure to distorted body image and beauty standards can take a toll on a young person's developing sense of self and mental well-being. Ways to Protect Kids From AI Image Misuse The lack of any or robust parental controls in AI image apps is a significant hurdle, but parents do have some free protective tools at their disposal. Device-Level Parental Controls Whether your child has an Android or iPhone, parents can use some built-in settings to restrict access at the device level. For iPhone families, these controls live under Screen Time settings and Content & Privacy Restrictions, while Android parents can use Google Family Link. Examples of the precautions parents can take, include: Disabling location services, especially for photo and camera apps. Screen time settings that limit or deny access to AI selfie apps. Blocking in-app purchases. Creating child-specific accounts that limit what your kids can do on their devices. Cost-Free Parental Control Apps Beyond the device-specific settings parents can use to protect their kids, free versions of popular parental control apps can add another layer of supervision. Direct monitoring of device behavior isn't possible with built-in parental controls, which could make applications like Bark and BrightCanary, which surveil social media usage and questionable content, appealing. Open Communication and Digital Literacy Another tool parents shouldn't overlook is the power of open communication about safe digital practices and ongoing check-ins. Parents can monitor the safety ratings of apps before allowing teens and tweens to download them, review the privacy settings together, and teach their kids what to do if they see offensive content—whether that's coming directly to them or using the reporting process laid out by a particular service. Another crucial area to cover is discretion with uploading images. Teaching kids to think twice before sharing or posting content could safeguard them from harm in the short-term and help them develop lifelong healthy habits around social sharing and online privacy. Related: Turn Off Snap Map: How to Protect Your Child's Location on Snapchat for Free Read the original article on Lifewire Solve the daily Crossword
CNA
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Byte The Habit - Time-Fillers: Screentime During Downtime
22:43 Min We turn to our devices to fill pockets of downtime. Behavioural scientist Jean tests if changing digital 'time-fillers' can change our focus, energy and emotions in surprising ways. Byte The Habit About the show: Byte the Habit is a heartwarming social experiment series that tackles the timely and often unspoken questions of our time: What is technology doing to us and our families—and what can we do about it? From dinner tables interrupted by notifications to downtime routines governed by algorithms, screens have seeped into every corner of our domestic lifestyle. Over six episodes, behavioural scientist Dr. Jean Liu, guides three families into a process of tailored experimentation, inviting us to pause, reflect and reimagine the way we live with technology. These aren't stories about going analog. Each episode combines Jean's insights to uncover blind spots in our digital habits, build deeper connections and show how tech can empower rather than subtract from our lives.
CNA
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Byte The Habit - Digital Detox: No One Size Fits All!
23:02 Min Devices connect people but does it take away anything in return? Jean challenges the families to replace screen time for "me time" and discovers surprising blind spots in their digital habits. Byte The Habit About the show: Byte the Habit is a heartwarming social experiment series that tackles the timely and often unspoken questions of our time: What is technology doing to us and our families—and what can we do about it? From dinner tables interrupted by notifications to downtime routines governed by algorithms, screens have seeped into every corner of our domestic lifestyle. Over six episodes, behavioural scientist Dr. Jean Liu, guides three families into a process of tailored experimentation, inviting us to pause, reflect and reimagine the way we live with technology. These aren't stories about going analog. Each episode combines Jean's insights to uncover blind spots in our digital habits, build deeper connections and show how tech can empower rather than subtract from our lives.
CNA
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Byte The Habit
21:27 Min Technology has infiltrated our lives. We set off with three families as they uncover their device habits – from bedtime to toilet time! Byte The Habit About the show: Byte the Habit is a heartwarming social experiment series that tackles the timely and often unspoken questions of our time: What is technology doing to us and our families—and what can we do about it? From dinner tables interrupted by notifications to downtime routines governed by algorithms, screens have seeped into every corner of our domestic lifestyle. Over six episodes, behavioural scientist Dr. Jean Liu, guides three families into a process of tailored experimentation, inviting us to pause, reflect and reimagine the way we live with technology. These aren't stories about going analog. Each episode combines Jean's insights to uncover blind spots in our digital habits, build deeper connections and show how tech can empower rather than subtract from our lives.
