by Mary Parker Draper, Extension Agent – Smith County
What’s one thing you don’t leave home without? For most people, it’s their cellphone. Even when at home their cellphones are nearby. Cellphones have changed the way we communicate with others……the average person sends 57 text messages each day! Smartphones allow us to access the internet anywhere on the go, watch videos, play games, and use social media to keep in touch with others. Many people even use their cellphones as an alarm clock, camera, calendar, and calculator.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, almost all American adults own some kind of cellphone and 81% of those have a smartphone. 95% of teens have smartphones and the average age a child receives a smartphone is 10 years old. Other mobile devices are also common in American households, such as tablets, iPads, and Kindles. Many families even use their smartphones or other mobile devices as their primary means of online internet access at home.
The widespread use of smartphones helps users stay connected, but also raises privacy concerns. Smart phones are essentially little computers; they are a useful tool when on the go, but there are several risks as well. Take some time to understand the risks and implement a few safeguards so that you and your family can use smartphones safely.
Ways to be smarter than your smartphone:
- Set up smart security. Smartphones today include a variety of security mechanisms including fingerprint scans, facial recognition, and password locks. Enable these to protect your phone as well as apps with sensitive data.
- Understand location services. GPS features are useful when using maps, but it’s a good idea to disable location-tagging when you post anything online. Check the settings on your phone and pay attention to different apps and their ability to access your location.
- Update the operating system. New versions often contain important security fixes. Just like a computer, a smartphone is vulnerable to security attacks if you access unsecured websites and apps.
- Understand apps before you download them. Know their capabilities, purpose, and content. It’s a good idea to review and approve apps with teens and children before they download.
- Set clear guidelines for your children and talk about the consequences for unacceptable behavior. With smartphones, your child has access to content that may be inappropriate. Teens and children are also susceptible to cyberbullying or have opportunities to cyberbully others. Be open so they will come to you with problems.
- Establish time limits for usage, both for yourself and your children. With so much information at your fingertips, it’s easy to lose track of time.
Using your phone and different apps is a great form of communication, as well as entertainment. Understanding the risks from using a smartphone and taking a few precautions can help keep you and your family safe.
To Die for Crockpot Roast
1 Beef Roast (any kind)
1 (1 ¼ oz) Package Brown Gravy Mix, Dry
1 (1 ¼ oz) Package Dry Italian Salad Dressing Mi
1 (1 ¼ oz) Package Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
½ Cup Water
Place beef roast in crock pot. Mix the dry mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast. Cook on low for 7-9 hours. No salt needed, in fact, you may want to use only half the ranch dressing mix to cut down on the saltiness. Serves 8. Submitted by Anita Bennett, Gordonsville FCE Club.
