Social Media in the News

Social media is becoming more frequently used with each day, and kids younger and younger are signing up. It is important to understand the risks of using social platforms and knowing how to protect yourself. It is also important to keep up with news surrounding social media in order to see new threats and issues or even positive updates. Here are some important news stories surrounding social media we think you should be aware of.

Woman being accused of theft after being hacked

According to Click2Houston a woman is now being accused of stealing money after someone hacked and replicated her account to sell fake items. They took her personal information to create a legitimate looking account, they even obtained her address. The hackers then claimed to be selling items, and many people purchased said items without realizing it was fake. These people then showed up to the ladies house demanding their money back even though she had no idea what was going on. This is why it is important to not keep or share personal information on social media accounts, because you really have no idea who can see and steal it. Even as a kid, you are at risk of having your information stolen and used in this way. Delete messages in which personal information is shared, don’t post anything personal and have strong security measures in place

New Snapchat Parental Controls

NPR has reported on their website that Snapchat is releasing new parental safety controls. These controls will allow parents to view their child's contact list and report them to the social media company without the knowledge of their child. The idea is that it will keep the child protected, without disrupting their independence. It gives the parents the ability to see who they are contacting without seeing what it is about, snapchats wants this to lead to conversations between children and parents to create better trust. You will only be able to see the people they contacted in the last 7 days, and is only available on accounts with users under 18. You can read more about this here.

Man Charged in Amanda Todd Case

In the last 24 hours, CBC News has released a very important article regarding Amanda Todd who lost her life due to online sextortion in 2012. Yesterday the courts ruled on the verdict of the man who was charged in the extortion case. The man spread nude photos of the teen and harassed her frequently until she eventually took her own life. He was found guilty of extortion, possession of child sexual abuse materials, child luring and criminal harrasment. This was a precedent setting ruling, and will hopefully lead to further protection of minors online and prosecution of those who attack them. Be careful who you talk to and accept as a friend on your online accounts, not everyone wants to be your friend.

Social media can be a great resource that can connect you to friends and family, teach you new things and generally be an enjoyable place. But there's a dark side to it and it is important to be cautious and protect yourself. Follow Kids Shield on social media platforms to learn how to be safer online. You can also read more on our blogs. Be educated, be connected and be safe!