The ConnectSafely Report with Larry Magid

Host Larry Magid speaks with Dr. Karen Boyd, author of "Amplifying Good Work: A Book About AI", to examine cybersecurity, privacy concerns, and hacking risks associated with mainstream AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini.

ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher discusses "teen takeovers," which are sudden, massive physical gatherings of teenagers organized rapidly through social media.

Data brokers know a lot about you and aren't shy about sharing that info with the paying public (and even for free). But there are ways to get your information out of their systems.

Only parents can decide when it's time for children to go online but, when it is time, parents should help  them develop the skills they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

A new report shows that more than 60% of online teens have used AI chatbots, which exposes them to risks

Thanks to AI, scammers are getting smarter, faster and more convincing

There is nothing new about scam calls, but AI has made them more convincing and harder to detect.

Uber now has a program for seniors who need help arranging rides.

Even if your child is as young as 9 and doesn't have a device, it's not too early to talk about online safety.

Be very careful before making non cancelable reservations or transactions. You may not be able to get your money back if you make a mistake.

Teens are using Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok in different ways but research finds that most teens self-report that it has no positive or negative impact on mental health though there are issues regarding bullying and harassment.

Online gambling is for adults only but an increasing number of kids are doing it. ConnectSafely Educatin Director Kerry Gallagher advises parents on conversations they can have with their teens,

There needs to be a balance between helping parents protect their kids and avoiding overly complex parental control tools.

Young people are starting to push back against Big Tech.

A 2026 study published in Social Science & Medicine found that boys and men in the U.S. and Canada who frequently engaged with fitness-focused social media were significantly more likely to report intentions to use steroids. 

AI systems may act like humans but they aren’t people nor are they databases filled with verified information. They’re software designed to generate humanlike responses by predicting likely word patterns based on vast amounts of data. And that can be a problem.

A report from Sesame Workshop's Joan Ganz Cooney Center finds that parents are on a "tech family cycle" that can be exhausting. Larry Magid speaks with its author, Amanda Lenhart

AI generated influencers can lead to teens spending  money and experiencing low self-esteem

AI has entered the lives of most teens but teens and parents have different attitudes towards its impact.

Even though there are a lot of scams, some offers are legitimate. It may be OK to send money, but only after you do some research.

The jury verdicts against Meta and Google show that social media can harm teens, but unlike dangerous substances, social media involves protected speech

New research shows that teen sexting is on the rise. What parents can do.

Uber has introduced teen accounts that give teens some independence while keeping parents informed and in control

A pair of jury verdicts is holding Meta and Google responsible for harms to children, but -- despite risks -- social media isn't all bad. Many young people benefit from it. 

While social media remains popular among youth, we're starting to see some pushback.

People worry about storing their information online but Google Drive users encryption that's similar to what banks and health organizations use to protect their data.

Although misinformation isn’t nearly as horrific as the loss of human life, it’s nevertheless harmful. It can inflame tensions, be used as propaganda and erode trust in legitimate news. In some cases, it can put people in danger if it causes them to make and act on dangerous decisions.

ConnectSafely Eduction Director Kerry Gallagher on Looksmaxxing. A manosphere term that “refers to the practice of maximizing your physical attractiveness — methodically, relentlessly, and by any means necessary.” Teen boys see videos from creators arguing that physical appearance is the only way to measure a person’s value, pushing a mix of strategies that range from moisturizing skin to limb lengthening surgery, and cruelly tearing down others who do not meet the physical attractiveness standard set by the trend. The most popular looksmaxxing creator is called Clavicular, who is creating a following with its own culture and vocabular

Advice on how to identify "pink slime" so-called news sites that mix facts with propaganda

There are already some fake news stories about the war with Iran including a video of a of ship being bombed that was actually a clip from a video game and exagerated videos of destruction in Israel. 

A teenage panelist at ConnectSafely's Safer Internet Day event expressed concerns about how AI can harm teenage girls and others whose images can be manipulated in ways that take away their autonomy. 

ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher has advice for parents worried about the impact of social media on their teen's self image. 

ConnectSafely and the National PTA have produced a one-hour webinar and podcat to help parents navigatge screens with children and teens

A “zero-day attack” is when a vulnerability is known — potentially by hackers — before it has been fixed, and that recently occurred with Windows. Microsoft has updated the software to address these recent vulnerabilities, but it’s up to users to update their systems.

Tuesday is Safer Internet Day when ConnectSafely and National PTA will hold a webinar while encouraging families around the country to have their own conversations about online safety.

An increasing number of young people, including some young children, are using generative AI, which is why parents and educators should provide some guidance on how to use it safety and appropriately. 

Teens and young adults are likely to get their news through social media which makes it more important than ever to 'consider the source.'

This year Turning Point USA will sponor an alternative Super Bowl Half Time show, which is safe to watch,  but there are reports that scammers may try to lure people to fake sites.

Even people who are very smart can sometimes be fooled by AI-generated media.

The statistics on teen gambling are startling. Here's some advice for parents.

Looking down at a phone, tablet or even computer screen can cause a condition known as "tech neck," the strain and stress placed on the neck and upper spine from looking down at devices for prolonged periods.ConnectSafely education director Kerry Gallagher has advice on how to avoid it. 

Millions were impacted by the recent Verizon outage which wasn't the first nor the last time a major carrier stops working. Here's some advice if it happens again.

These accounts, which require a parent or guardian’s approval, allow teens to request rides and order food while keeping parents informed and in control.

Uber now offers teen accounts so teens can order food or request rides while parents control the budget and get updates on the teen's whereabout during the ride. The accounts also offer safety features and more experienced drivers. 

The majority of teens are using AI and some are relying on them for companionship and emotional support.

Kids sometimes don't tell their parents about negative online experiences in fear of punishment which is why it's important for parents to emphasize that safety comes first.

ConnectSafely Education Director Kerry Gallagher reports on how generative AI can encourage eating disorders among young people.

ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid weighs in on Australia's law that bans teens under 16 from social media, hoping that US law makers don't follow suit. 

It's very common for teens to spend many hours a week playing video games, partly because many of those games are engineered to keep them playing longer.

ConnectSafely is offering grants of up to $1,000 to help educators and community organizations organize local events to celebrate Safer Internet Day in the second week of February.