Many parents wish they could keep their kids away from every harmful person, thing or event to guarantee their safety. However, in the digital space, there’s limited control over what they may encounter. It doesn’t help that stalkers and bullies are lurking around the web and your child could be a potential victim.

However, there are several ways for people to be careful. Take the initiative to protect your kids from cyberstalking and online harassment when they surf online.

1. Install Protection Software

Most stalkers online will try to launch cyberattacks and access your device. Prevent this from happening by installing antivirus software on your computers. Getting parental protection apps for your kid’s mobile phones and tablets is also ideal.

These digital programs protect your devices from tracking software, which could reveal your and your child’s location. Update them regularly along with the operating system to ensure they’re effective.

2. Create and Set Account Privacy

Anyone can create a social media account. About 81% of U.S. adults favor platforms requiring parental consent for minors who want an account, so stick to those sites.

Remember that all accounts are initially public to almost every user on a social network. Be sure to configure your child’s privacy level. That way, they can only view and interact with people within their space.

3. Educate Your Kids

Talk to your kids about dangers they may encounter online. They’re more likely to abide by your rules when you inform them why they should follow them. Share a few details about how cyberstalking and online harassment can endanger their safety.

You can also give them the following tips:

• Don’t accept requests from strangers: Strangers can still send follow or friend requests to private accounts. Tell your kids to ignore these messages or to notify you about them. 

• Don’t post personal information: It’s vital not to share personal details with people you don’t know online. Discourage your children from posting anything that includes their name and address. 

• Don’t connect to public networks: When your kid goes to the mall or heads to school, they may connect to the public Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, your child’s data is more vulnerable to attacks when they’re on these networks. 

• Don’t add location tags: Location tags help viewers know where a person has been. Cyberstalkers can use them to narrow down your child’s location. Disable these or tell your kid to avoid making posts with these tags.

4. Capture Evidence

Stalkers and harassers may send nasty comments and messages to your kid’s account. If this is the case, avoid interacting. Instead, capture the evidence by recording and taking screenshots. Let your child focus on something else as you do this.

Screenshots can help law enforcement learn more about your experience. Police can also use them to start an investigation and bring the person to justice. File a report and keep a record of cyberstalking incidents for the authorities.

5. Block the Bad

After gathering evidence, delete the messages and block people to remove them from your kid’s account. These users typically appear in a block list on the account settings. You can hide the feature from your kids or discuss it with them.

Parents could explain these incidents to their kids. Enlighten them about why you took those measures. Plus, you can encourage them to do the same and block bad people in the future.

6. Change Account Details

Some stalkers and harassers can go as far as messaging the email address of an account holder, especially after getting blocked. Make it a point to change your address or hide it from your kid’s online profile.

You can also ask your kids to change their screen names and passwords regularly or do it together. Strengthen security when logging using account authentication methods.  Keeping anonymity can make it harder for people to find your account and harass them. It can prevent hacking and accessibility, too.

7. Limit Internet Use

Parents should monitor and lessen internet use. Kids should not be using social media at a young age. Aside from being the target of stalking and harassment, being on these sites too early and for too long isn’t good. It can have adverse effects on their mental well-being.

Discuss this with your children and set limits on what they can and can’t access on the internet. A 2022 survey finds that 16% of U.S. parents believe 16 is the appropriate age for kids to use social media. You can also set restrictions for other sites.

Keep Your Kids Safe Online

The internet can be a wonderful place full of knowledge and entertainment. However, it can also be dangerous territory for young minds. Online stalkers and harassers are always present. Take the appropriate actions to keep your kids safe when using social media.

Navigating your kids’ screen time can be a struggle. Luckily, there are small strategies you can implement daily to enforce limited time on their phones.

Author bio:  Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She strives to live a happy and healthy life with her family by her side.
Follow Cora on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Many apps use location to work properly, from mapping and rideshare to food delivery and weather apps. These apps rely on the user’s location to offer a satisfying user experience and function. Android and iOS have built-in security features that let you know when an app requests to use location.

Some apps, such as Google Maps, also use location in the background to run their services, which utilizes user location to provide traffic data.

With all these features and countless apps using GPS, it’s normal to wonder if apps can track your location. In this article, we’ll give an answer to this question and help you find out if an app is using your location, as well as how to prevent apps you don’t want from using such features on your phone.

Is It Possible for an App to Track Location?

Yes. Apps can track location through geolocation services on your phone. However, you’ll need to allow the app to use location services on your phone. Unless you give the app the green light (typically when you use the app for the first time), your phone won’t let the app use the location.

Although it’s unlikely for an app to use location services to track where you are specifically, it can happen. If you received a suspicious text message about your location after downloading an app, a reverse phone number lookup can reveal the sender’s true identity.

How Do Apps Use Location?

If an app requires location to work appropriately, you’ll be prompted with a notification as to whether or not to allow the app to use location. This prompt typically appears when the app tries to use geolocation services for the first time and saves your preference afterward.

You’ll typically have two options when allowing an app to use location services. You can permit the app to use location all the time or only when the app is in use. The first option gives the app access to your location even when the app isn’t in use. The second means the app can only use the location when it’s on.

Depending on what services the app offers, you may need to update these preferences. For example, a messaging app providing your live location to another user relies on geolocation services continuously to provide precise location when your phone is locked.

How to Check If an App Is Tracking Your Location?

Checking whether an app is using your phone’s location features is the easiest way to know if an app is tracking your location. Below, you’ll find how to check this on Apple and Android devices.

iOS

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Select Location Services and select the app you want to check.

Once you select the app you want to check, you’ll know if the app has permission to use location services. If you’d like the app not to use your location, you can do it by selecting Never in the settings.

If you don’t want any app to use location services on your iPhone, you can also turn off location services altogether in the Privacy & Security settings.

Android

The exact steps to check if an app is tracking your location on Android vary due to phone brands using different variations of the operating system.

Generally, you’ll need to go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > select the app you want to check > Permissions > Location.

Following the above, you’ll see which apps are using location and update your preferences. Additionally, you can turn off location using the Quick Settings menu by swiping down from the top of the screen. Simply bring up this menu and tap the location icon to turn off location services for all apps.

Staying Safe While Using Devices With GPS

Most apps rely on-location services to offer a better user experience. The apps downloaded from an official store are unlikely to use your location for something malicious.

However, the same can’t be said for apps downloaded from the internet. Fraudsters and hackers deliberately offer free versions of malicious apps and run different types of schemes in the background to steal your data.

Installing these apps can put you at risk for more than just revealing your current location. It can go as far as stealing your identity and credit card information. Only download apps from the App Store and Play Store to stay safe.

As an educator, art is an important subject to teach children. Not only does it allow them to express their creativity, but it also helps develop critical thinking, fine motor skills, and emotional skills. When teaching art to kids, it’s helpful to expose them to a variety of art styles and movements.

This allows them to understand how art has evolved over time and appreciate different techniques and perspectives.

Here’s an overview of some key art styles and tips for how to incorporate them into your lessons.

Impressionism

Impressionism emerged in the late 1800s in France as artists like Monet, Renoir, and Degas moved away from precise realism towards a more expressive style. The hallmarks of impressionist painting include visible brushstrokes, open composition, emphasis on light, and everyday subject matter like landscapes and scenes of daily life.

When teaching impressionism, focus on having students paint what they see using thick, visible brushstrokes and vibrant colours. Set up still-life scenes or have them paint outdoors. Encourage them to convey a fleeting moment in time and pay attention to the effects of light. Point out how the paintings have an open composition and blurred edges compared to more realistic styles.

Cubism

Developed by Picasso and Braque in the early 20th century, Cubism radically distorted traditional perspective and form. Cubist paintings reduce subjects into geometric shapes and planes, depicting them from multiple angles at once. The style marked a major shift towards abstraction in modern art. Cubism demonstrated a stark contrast in art with its fragmented, multi-view interpretations compared to previous styles.

When introducing Cubism, show paintings by Picasso like Les Demoiselles d’Avignon to demonstrate the fragmented planes and faceting of forms. Have students break down objects into basic shapes and form a collage by layering and overlapping them from different viewpoints. Encourage them to use a limited colour palette of neutrals and earth tones. Focus on analysing shape and structure rather than realistically portraying the subject.

Pop Art

Emerging in the 1950s, Pop Art injected art with irony, fun, and imagery from mass media and commercial products. Artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein popularised the style through silkscreened paintings and cartoons influenced by advertising and comic books.

When teaching about Pop Art, focus on bold colours, repetition, and recognisable consumer imagery. Encourage students to create pieces inspired by iconic styles, incorporating elements like repetition and vibrant hues. An engaging way to illustrate Pop Art’s impact on interior design is through 3 piece wall art sets. These compositions often feature bold, vibrant visuals reminiscent of the Pop Art era, allowing students to explore how this art form translates into modern décor while still embracing its playful and dynamic essence.

Abstract Art

Abstract art does not portray recognisable objects; instead, it uses colour, shape, and texture for their own visual interest. It communicates emotions and ideas in a non-representational way. From the flowing compositions of Kandinsky to the monochromes of Rothko, abstract art covers a wide range of styles.

When introducing abstract art, encourage students to focus on elements like line, colour, and composition without aiming to depict specific objects or scenes. Demonstrate techniques like dripping, sponging, and printing to build textures. Have them experiment with mixing paint colours directly on the paper and combining bright hues with black and white. Emphasise personal expression and getting a feel for the paints and materials.

Surrealism

Emerging between the world wars, Surrealism aimed to tap into the unconscious mind to unveil the world of dreams and imagination. With visually jarring juxtapositions and irrational combinations, Surrealist artists like Dali, Magritte, and Ernst created scenes that defy logic.

When teaching about Surrealism, encourage students to let their imagination run wild. Have them create collages combining unrelated items like fish, clocks, and umbrellas set against unusual backgrounds. They can make exquisite corpse drawings by folding paper and creating composite figures. Demonstrate techniques like frottage (rubbing) and decalcomania (transferring paint patterns) to achieve unexpected textures. Emphasise the element of surprise and sparking the viewer’s imagination. Discuss how Surrealism impacts media like advertising and fiction today.

Portraiture

Portraiture has been an important genre throughout art history, capturing the likeness and personality of subjects. Portrait styles have evolved from formal busts and royal paintings to Impressionist snapshots and modern conceptual portrayals. Key elements include composition, facial expression, props, and settings to convey the sitter’s essence.

When teaching portraiture, provide a range of examples from classical to contemporary. Have students study the face proportions and map out facial features before adding colour and detail. Demonstrate techniques like contour line drawing to focus on shape and expression. Encourage experimenting with perspective, cropping, and backgrounds to create narrative and interest around the subject. Have them paint self-portraits and portraits of each other to practice observing and representing personality through art. Emphasise portraiture as a timeless way to honour subjects creatively.

Folk Art

Folk art encompasses a wide range of predominantly rural and homemade crafts like quilting, pottery, and traditional painting. Often passed down through generations and reflecting cultural heritage, folk artists tend to have little formal training. While the techniques are simple, the works contain charm and tradition.

When exploring folk art with students, present works from different cultures like Pennsylvanian Dutch Fraktur, Haitian sequin flags, or Oaxacan wood carvings. Have them create folk art inspired crafts using basic materials like coloured paper, glue, yarn, and natural objects. Emphasise learning from mentors and community traditions more than formal techniques. Discuss how folk art connects to cultural history and storytelling.

Animation

Animation is a dynamic form of modern art that combines technology, storytelling, and visual creativity to produce compelling and imaginative works. Unlike traditional static art forms, animation brings characters and worlds to life through movement and time, often conveying complex emotions and narratives. This art form has evolved significantly with advancements in digital tools and techniques, allowing artists to explore diverse visual styles and push the boundaries of creativity. Some popular styles of animation include traditional hand-drawn animation, 3D computer-generated imagery (CGI), stop-motion animation, and 2D digital animation, each offering unique aesthetic qualities and storytelling possibilities.

On the other hand, drawing is as a static art form.  It captures a single moment, conveying emotion, detail, and story within a single frame. It relies heavily on the artist’s ability to encapsulate an entire narrative or feeling in one image or character. In contrast, animation extends drawing into the realm of movement and time, creating a sequence of images that together tell a story dynamically. While drawing focuses on capturing and conveying an idea within a still frame, animation leverages multiple drawings to create a living, evolving experience.

Tips for the Classroom

• Expose students to a diverse range of styles to build their understanding and appreciation of art. Provide art books and visits to museums or galleries.
• Combine art history lessons with hands-on creating activities to reinforce learning through experience.
• Accept all interpretations when discussing abstract art, focusing on how it makes the viewer feel.
• Allow plenty of time for experimentation and play as students develop skills.
• Display finished pieces around the classroom to build pride and allow learning from peers.
• Focus on the process rather than the outcome. Praise effort and creative thinking.
• Have students create black-and-white drawings to teach contrast in art, emphasizing how light shapes on dark backgrounds (and vice versa) enhance depth and visual impact.
• Introduce language to discuss art like hue, shade, texture, composition, and perspective.
• Be enthusiastic about art to model passion for the subject. Creativity is enriching at all ages.

By tailoring lessons to focus on the key features of each major style, you can give students a well-rounded introduction to the wonderful world of art. They will gain knowledge of important movements while developing their own skills and creative confidence. Exposure to diverse techniques also teaches flexible thinking and open-mindedness. Most importantly, nurture their natural artistic curiosity and celebrate their self-expression. With some guidance on art styles and a supportive environment, their creativity will flourish.

Related Reading: 

Art is a science.  How to use science to nurture your child’s talents.

Do you ever hear about the positive sides of social media? Probably not very often. The negative press outweighs the positives. Scams, bullying, misinformation, privacy concerns. There are also the concerns when a person spends too much time on social media. It can take them away from interacting with friends and family in real life, leading to isolation.

While all of these issues are important to be aware of, there’s a positive side to social media that can’t be ignored. These upsides are the very reason why this worldwide phenomenon has grown experientially over the years, which has led to a growing number of social media apps.

Let’s take this time to remind ourselves about some of the positive sides of social media.

Storing Memories

Social media is very good at giving us an archived history of our lives. Each moment captured in time through photos.  One of the first social media platforms, Facebook, will even let you know of what you were doing 10 years ago on any given day.  On Instagram alone, 66,000 photos are shared every minute. That’s quite the collection of pictures.  The number of digital memories that add up over time is incredible.

Combine Facebook and Instagram together and there’s an unbelievable amount of content online. It’s special to look back on them – and you can even turn them into physical photo books with services like mysocialbook.com. You can download them, and they’ll become a book. With the number of social media hacks blocking people out of accounts, this is way to secure your photos in a way that is also enjoyable to look at.

Connecting Communities

Social media is excellent for connecting communities – we’re in touch with more people than we’d ever be able to if we didn’t have social media. it can even be a great tool for making friends – there are pages specifically for it. One of them is Find My Tribe.

That tribe can be fellow gardening enthusiasts, vintage car lovers, or aspiring chefs.

And there are some excellent pages for positivity and self-confidence boosting – something social media is known for doing the opposite of.  Social media in general is all about connecting likeminded people. The people you follow and in turn follow you are the ones you agree with on many issues.  This can be a lifeline for those who are lonely, even though we’ve already stated that social media can cause isolation for those who are normally outgoing in the real world.

Learning and Inspiration

Social media has endless amounts of knowledge and creativity. And yes, sometimes, that knowledge isn’t true. Always fact-check a video you see on TikTok before believing it. Even Taylor Swift is on a social media ban because of a deep fake picture posted of her.

Still, it’s great for learning and inspiration. Platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn offer opportunities that are great for it. You can pick up a new hobby, learn a language, and gain skills that advance your career.

Or you can spend the day watching TikTok Cook or TikTok Fitness. There’s incredible content everywhere. Of course, safe guards need to be in place for children to ensure they don’t fall victim to harmful content and cyberbullying.

Empowering Voices

Social media can be great for empowering voices. Again, TikTok and Instagram shorts are becoming a great example of this. TikTok is creating a ton of influencers with a voice. And it’s great for more excellent issues, like campaigns for environmental conservation and human rights – and some videos are doing that. Tons of money gets raised for different causes because of the awareness videos make.

Social media can be a conduit for bad, and bad news gets the clicks and makes news stories more popular. So, it’s logical that it doesn’t get a lot of positive press. The media focuses on the negatives. In reality, we wouldn’t be as connected to the world as we are without it. Many of us can’t imagine our lives without it.  For those in oppressed countries, social media is a lifeline for to make change by informing the world about their situation. This as the case in the Arab Spring.

Social media is what we make of it. If we use it mindfully in a health way, it’s a positive and powerful tool. Let’s keep scrolling, sharing, and connecting, making the most of the positive aspects of social media. Let’s stand up for what is wrong and pass on what is good in the world.