Christmas time introduces cyber safety concerns for parents whose children are receiving various internet-enabled devices as gifts. And we know that internet connectivity exposes children to adult issues including bullying and exploitation (sexual as well as commercial), so our children must be educated about their own capacity to recognize a lie or a manipulation when they encounter it and respond with confidence. For the most part, cyber safety is a matter of learning how not to engage with or agree with something that disturbs your peace. Accordingly, a post on WebMD featured the top four internet risks for kids. The risks include:

A Center for Disease Control study on Childhood Stress with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, explains there are three types of stress: positive, tolerable and toxic. Toxic stress is chronic and can lead to health issues. According to the report updated in May 2011: “Toxic stress results from adverse experiences that may be sustained over a long period of time. This kind of stress can disrupt early brain development, compromise the functioning of important biological systems, and lead to long-term health problems.” Along those lines, consider texting and social media as an example of chronic teen stress that can be like peer pressure on steroids and inspire high anxiety. Theresa Thickens,

The concerns of this study are rooted in a simple truth: “When you stand for nothing, you fall for anything” (Alexander Hamilton).

As with any innovation, it can be used for good or not good. Motive matters. A recent arrest of a University of Missouri science and technology student for posting threats to the students and faculty via YikYak, a social media app that allows you to post comments anonymously, illustrates this point. The threats were reported to the authorities who were able to trace the source of the comments through GPS metadata. The news feature issued the following warnings to parents:

Cyber Safety for Families with Joanna and Jodie on 103.9FM The Fish Family Morning Show 

Mobile connectivity use is difficult to regulate because it can be very addictive. Brain science tells us that the interaction with the device has the same effect on the brain as a drug because it stimulates the same reward system of the brain, dopamine. A new study finds that heavy use of the internet by teens may create a risk …

A recent article in the Setonian features the dangers of texting while walking on campus, including bumping into walls and other people, tripping and falling and walking into oncoming traffic. In this way, with the advent of mobile connectivity, I have learned that being present is something that we take for granted, as if it is some kind of an effortless thing when indeed it is not. And the more we experience the impact of mobile connectivity seemingly omnipresent in every device, room, gathering and relationship – well, it frankly, becomes more difficult to simply be present and give one another undivided attention, much less pay attention to our surroundings while traveling by foot or from behind the wheel.

Nationally 7 out of 10 students are below grade level…7 out of 10 students are not proficient in reading, writing, and math…and these are not just the struggling or learning challenged kids. These are national statistics – so out of every 10 kids, only 3 are at grade level or above grade level. They may have basic skills, but they are not proficient! So why are so many students not proficient? Why are so many children and teens doing poorly in school?

Grooming children for the social network is a tremendous challenge for the modern parent, largely because mobile connectivity introduces a power crisis that previous generations have not experienced. In many ways we are traveling unchartered territory of the heart and mind when it comes to the choices we make as parents with regard to access and regulated use of technology. Truly whoever has the device must learn how to think like the quarterback.

Email hacking is just one of the many ways in which cyber criminals seek to access personal information in order to exploit and plunder. As people become more accustomed to smart devices, every consumer product is web-enabled. The common term for this new reality is the “internet of things”, or IoT. Literally everything from cars to refrigerators and baby monitors are equipped with internet-enabled programming to operate remotely, according to consumer-prescribed settings which enhances convenience (for setting alarms, timing events and enabling remote access) and also introduces an element of risk from cyber hackers.

A Center for Disease Control study on Childhood Stress with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, explains there are three types of stress: positive, tolerable and toxic. Toxic stress is chronic and can lead to health issues. According to the report updated in May 2011: “Toxic stress results from adverse experiences that may be sustained over a long period of time. This kind of stress can disrupt early brain development, compromise the functioning of important biological systems, and lead to long-term health problems.” Along those lines, consider texting and social media as an example of chronic teen stress that can be like peer pressure on steroids and inspire high anxiety.