Understanding Online Platforms

It is important to understand what kids and teens are doing online. We also need to learn how to support them. Below are some quick definitions to be aware of. 

• Algorithms have one goal: to make you stay on the app longer by delivering content you’ll find relevant and interesting. By tracking your activity and interactions in the app, the content you see is tailored to keep users scrolling; this can lead to a skewed perception, creating biases’. 
• Digital media includes all content transmitted over the internet or computer networks, on all devices
• Digital media literacy is the ability to critically, effectively and responsibly access, use, understand and engage with media of all kinds
• Vault/Anonymous Apps or hidden applications. They allow you to conceal data, images, and even other apps on your phone! What makes a child want a vault app, then? 

Algorithms are an important part of the online experience. They shape what we see and do on platforms like YouTube, Google, and TikTok. They are the building blocks of the digital world. Algorithms help manage the endless content. But they can also filter what a user sees, reinforce biases and create a sense of false reality. It can also reinforce harmful ideas if people’s pages are constantly filled with violent and explicit images. 

A Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Apps

Need to know if an app, or game is safe and how it works? Check out the series of A Parent's Ultimate Guide to answer your questions and learn what to watch for!