Month: March 2018

 

 

Let’s say you are having a conversation with your friend via a social media platform, let’s say Facebook messenger, and you are telling this friend about this extremely cool idea you have, let’s say for a new app, a couple days later your friends are raging about this cool new app that is an exact copy of your idea. You later find out Facebook, created the app and is making millions of dollars off of it, they stole your idea. Is this legal? Could be. READ YOUR USER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERIVCE.

Most of the time, no one frankly has the time to read that overly long and detailed terms of service document at the end of user agreements. However, those are important to read because you may be giving up some of your intellectually property rights. Your photos could potentially be owned by a company, and you could of never known. What you post could instantaneously turn into company property. While let’s be real, I hope that Facebook would never disclose your personal information, how would you know if you don’t read to the terms of use page?

On a similar note, whether you knew it or not, the Wi-Fi you are using right now, I assume Penn state’s Wi-Fi named “psu,” is being monitored. Well, not to the point that the “FBI is watching us” but Penn State certainly is, especially if you utilize their Wi-FI. When you are on their Wi-Fi, Penn State has the absolute right to view your phone, laptop, iPad, or any device that uses their resource. Recently, there was a major scandal here at Penn State: students in a communications class were premediating to cheat on a test, they were texting about their plans and when/how it would be carried out. Don’t ask me how but the Penn State academic integrity comities of communications caught the students but immediately they were punished, resulting in a 0 for the test. Is this fair? Does it violate the privacy of students? The answer is no because they were utilizing Penn State’s property. While to some, this rule may be seen as extreme, it is in fact necessary. What if someone planned a school shooting?  Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry? Especially with the unfortunate normalcy of school shootings these days, it simply serves as another form of protection, which I think is a positive thing. 

Taking that time to read the terms of service can go a long way, it may be tedious but I recommend taking the time. You may learn that what you potentially post could have consequences. You mayalso learn not to conspire a cheating inquiry on a school’s Wi-Fi. These things have become so natural in our environment, we tend to forget the little underlying details that ultimately control our life, that is social media. Since terms and conditions are nonnegotiable, it is important to know what you are signing up for. I doubt you would want your intellectual property stolen, and somecompanies have the power to do so, so read your terms and conditions!

“5 Reasons Why You Need Terms and Conditions.” TermsFeed, 23 Oct. 2016.

 

At what age do you think it is appropriate to give children an iPhone? Or for that matter, ANY sort of smart phone device?

I would like to take a step back from taking about current events and question what we, as Americans value. The other day I was at dinner with my family, me and my father engaging in an insightful conversation, but my little brother on his phone watching sports the entire time. Only when the food arrived did he want to start talking to us. Is this the point that we have reached? No more talkative or engaging family meals? Growing up, I always had a rule: no phones at the dinner table. Now more than ever I believe this rule does not apply to younger generations. Even if it did apply, I am not too sure they could do it. For example, when my dad does not allow my brother to have this phone, he throws a fit. Once again, is this the point we have come to?

What is the right age for parents to give their kids a cell phone? Is there an age that is“too late?” There are different angels at which you could approach this question. There is undoubtedly a safety standpoint. Wanting to give your child a phone to call or text when he or she is somewhere without you or when they need your help. Another standpoint it something I call peer pressure. Giving your child a phone because “everyone has one” is a persuasion technique that is used today, I think, more than ever before. As technology progresses, children begin to receive the benefits and disadvantages of technology it at a younger and younger age. 

When you hand over that powerful communication box, you are giving your child responsibility. Not just the responsibly of not losing it, but the responsibility of correctly “instagraming, snapchatting, or tweeting.” It is crazy to think about— the days of giving your child a phone for solely calling is now over!  This is why I propose to give children a phone, specifically a smart device, around the age of 13. Middle school is the best age to get a child a phone because it is a growing stage in a child’s life, and in 2018, having a phone is socially extremely important and somewhat, necessary to be “cool.”

Giving a child a phone too early on may cause them to be more addictive at an older age. But giving a child a phone too late, may deprive them of social opportunities. Therefore, there needs to be a balance. Not talking at the dinner table in order to engage in social media or other entertainment applications is simply unacceptable to me, these technologies are taking away from my family. Finding a balance is hard but I think parents should set guidelines for their kids. By no means am I trying to tell parents how to in fact parent, but we as a whole country, need to figure out a way for these technologies to stop stealing precious time away from us.

Source: Cohen, Danielle. “When Should You Get Your Kid a Phone?” Child Mind Institute.