Blog

• 26 April 2021
• For Teens, Technology

In 2013, former University of Missouri student, Zach Winkler began to notice a lot of his fellow classmates, specifically, women, feeling unsafe walking home at night.So, he and three friends decided to create SafeTrek, now known as Noonlight.

Noonlight is a safety app that contacts local police after you provide an indication that you may be in immediate danger. If you find yourself in an unsafe or uncomfortable situation, you hold down onto the center circle button on the app’s main page. Once you have arrived at your destination and you know you’re safe, you disable the app by letting go of the screen and typing in your four-digit passcode. You have ten seconds to do this. If you fail or choose not to type in the pin due to be put in a compromising position, the app will contact the authorities with your location.

• 01 March 2021
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Wellness looks different for each individual, and no person should feel inferior based on the way they look. The past year has been filled with traumatic events that have affected many people mentally, emotionally and physically. Just as people go through emotions, their bodies also are subject to change, especially in the middle of a pandemic. As we know, social media is a great tool to maintain and create connections. It is also where users struggling with self-esteem issues often turn to. Body image and social media have a complex relationship. Individuals can see content with encouraging body empowerment posts. In retrospect, social media networks have documented the evolution of ever-changing ideal body images. Unfortunately, society's standards are based on unrealistic photo-shopped images.

• 08 February 2021
• For Teens

Yes, it’s almost Valentine’s Day and we are still in the middle of the pandemic. Although there is a light at the end of the tunnel with the hope of vaccinations, for the present time we are still stuck in our quarantine bubbles. The pandemic looks different for everyone. Some of us haven’t left our houses in almost a year while others have had to maintain a sense of normalcy.

In the past year, we have moved remote for work, social interactions and even dating. Online dating has taken on a new meaning and assisted us in starting new chapters in our current relationships while allowing us to build new ones. The use of dating apps has skyrocketed and new features have made communication more accessible. As we approach the season of love you have to prioritize the safety of you and your loved one whether that’s remaining online or moving communications in-person.

• 11 January 2021
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Last year was full of uncertainty, and with this comes unease and internal struggles. In times like these, people need encouragement the most. It seems the world as a collective, is in need of a reset and recharge. As school semesters came to a close, and students are preparing for a new year amidst constant changes, it’s vital that we ask ourselves, ‘how are our younger generations handling all of this?’.

• 01 June 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Previously we learned about Snapchat, an app designed for users to share pictures and messages that are only available for a short period before they become inaccessible to their recipients. More specifically, we dove into the world of Snapchat accessories otherwise recognized as Snapkits. The anonymous question and answer platform, coined YOLO (You only live once), can be accessed within a download and three clicks, allowing users enter a new kind of network where identity is fluid.

• 28 May 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Since it first topped the charts back in 2011, Snapchat has been the gateway app for teens entering the world of social media. In this two-part series we'll be diving into this multimedia messaging app’s accessories. Snapchat is designed for users to share pictures and messages that are only available for a short period before they become inaccessible to their recipients. As it’s users have evolved over time, so has Snapchat. The creation of Bitmoji, otherwise known as your personal emoji, has paved the way for several app accessories. These use Snapchat as a foundation for extensions such as dating and anonymous question and answer platforms notoriously recognized as Snap kits.

• 20 April 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

During this time of social isolation, our need to fill our days with activity has led to increased reliance on our electronic devices. People are longing to stay in contact with the outside world to maintain a sense of normality and belonging in this unexpected time of social isolation. Not surprisingly, with users aiming to “go viral”,  TikTok is the latest social media app soaring to the top of the charts. 

• 10 April 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Anxiety is a feeling recognized by all and welcomed by none.  Today, social media anxiety seems to be weighing heavily on us all, but especially our children, as we are called to do more behind our devices.  

• 30 March 2020
• For Teens

Students, we are here for you. 

• 19 March 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens, Technology

We have been told to wash our hands, distance ourselves from others, and sanitize every surface as if our life depended on it to protect our physical health from contracting Coronavirus or COVID-19.  But how can we ensure we are protecting our mental health too in the midst of all of this chaos?