Disclaimer: The goal of Conquer with Na’Kole is to provide education and support for moms (and concerned loved ones) as they conquer the giants that seek to conquer their children. I, Na’Kole Watson, am not a licensed mental health professional nor am I offering professional mental health services or advice. Therefore, I accept no liability or responsibility to anyone as a result of any reliance upon the information produced on this site or in any communication issued by Na’Kole Watson and Conquer with Na’Kole. The views expressed on this and any other affiliated website are my own, and all sources are linked. If you are in crisis, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. If this is an emergency, please dial 911 immediately.
Happy Sunday!
There is a lot happening in these social media streets, and I wanted to make sure you knew all about it! I’m going to break things down by app, so feel free to skip to the app(s) you’re most interested in!
TikTok
Tweens/Teens are creating dummy accounts to humiliate teachers… and in the UK, parents will be held accountable
This trend/challenge has started in the UK, and as you know, it’s just a matter of time before it circles its way over to the United States. In this challenge, students create dummy accounts that either identify or pretend to belong to teachers. With these accounts, the kids post harmful content, say humiliating things, and do their best to bring as much shame as possible to said teacher(s). They are doing things like rating the teachers, body shaming them, etc.
As you may know, the United Kingdom (and Europe as a whole) is very different in the way they handle social media companies, data privacy, etc. Having said that, officials are preparing to take legal action against the parents of the tweens/teens who engage in such behavior.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled when it makes its way to the United States. This is your heads up!
Here are a couple of articles about how this challenge is affecting teachers and schools:
- Parents told they may face police action as teachers targeted on TikTok – The Guardian
- TikTok school videos ‘causing real distress’ – BBC News
Facebook/Instagram
Accounts are being hacked!
Earlier this week, I made an Instagram post about how accounts are being hacked and held for ransom. One of the software companies I use for content creation was hacked, and as of right now, they still don’t have their account back. It’s wild.
In my post, I talked about the importance of two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is when you have to use your password AND another authentication source (such as a code being sent to your phone or an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Okta Verify) when you attempt to log in from a device or location that Instagram (or whatever website you are trying to log into) is not familiar with.
I recommend turning on two-factor authentication for all apps and services – especially social media apps. Today.
The worst thing in the world is for you (or your tween/teen) to work hard on building and growing your account (for business or personal purposes) and then having it stolen from you. PLEASE get this taken care of as soon as possible, and if you need help, feel free to set up a Tech Conquering Session with me and I’ll get you set up completely!
Here is an amazing article that covers most of the apps/services that provide two-factor authentication and how to set it up on each:
And of course I’m going to give you some videos to help you with the technical stuff of it all:
- How to Set Up Google Authenticator for 2-Factor Authentication – All Things Secured
- Instagram Business Account Settings (Keep your Account Secure with 2-Factor Authentication) – Sue Zimmerman
Holiday scammers are out here scamming.
You know what time it is. Halloween is over, and the scammers are getting ready to try their best to secure a hefty bag of our money. #NotOnMyWatch though! Sidenote: Did you know that I have a nonprofit suicide prevention, anti-bullying and social advocacy organization called #NotOnMyWatch? It’s pretty awesome.
Okay, back to the scammers. WBEZ did an amazing job outlining what to do, so I’m going to just pull the points from that article and add a few caveats and pointers. Also, don’t worry – I’m going to keep you updated on ALL the scams I see going on in these internet neighborhoods!
Here is what the article tells you to do when you see an ad and want to buy something:
- Search for independent reviews and complaints. Check sites like the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, Google Reviews, etc.
- My tip: You can even type in “[product name] reviews” or “[company name] reviews” – and if you think there may be some scamming going on, type in “[product name] scam” or “[company name]” scam.
- Search the domain history using the ICANN Lookup Tool
- Caveat: Just because a domain is new doesn’t automatically mean it’s suspicious. For example, I’m going to be launching a dropshipping store next week, so the domain will more than likely be brand new. However, it will be tied to my name and my brand, which has a history on other platforms. If the domain is brand new, see what company it is attached to (normally at the bottom of the website or in the About section) and see how reputable/longstanding the company is.
- Test out customer support. Send emails, call the number, see what happens.
- My tip: This is great advice. Pay attention to whether or not the phone goes to something that sounds like a reputable company or just a generic voicemail. Google the phone number. Email the email address and see if you get a response. Especially if it is a higher-priced item and you can’t seem to determine the legitimacy of the company from the first two steps.
- Pay attention to the return policy.
- My tip: Screenshot it. Print it.
- Use your credit card in case you need to dispute the charge down the line.
- My tip: If you don’t have a credit card, or if you prefer not to use it, use PayPal. Even when you shop with me, I always make sure that PayPal is an option because I want you to always feel protected with your purchases. Not all companies use PayPal (which is their preference and right), so using a credit card is a nice alternative.
Here’s the article I’m referencing:
Snapchat
DailyBayoNet released an article teaching people how to secretly record snaps
To know me is to know how much I tell tweens/teens and their parents that there are a PLETHORA of ways to record content from Snapchat. Although I totally get Snapchat’s disappearing messages feature, and I like it (for the most part), I also understand that predators will be predators and that people will ill intentions will be people with ill intentions.
Snapchat does a great job of letting you know when a screenshot was taken in-app, but of course, that doesn’t stop people from finding other ways.
And let me just say that these means do not just apply to Snapchat. Snapchat is mentioned here because it gives the sense of “safety” in the fact that the messages disappear from the app after a certain time. These methods apply to ALL apps, not just Snapchat.
Here are the ways Snapchat content can be recorded without the app sending a notification to the person being recorded:
- using a built-in screen recorder
- using an external screen recorder app
- opening Snapchat, loading the snaps, and then taking the screenshot in airplane mode
There are more listed in the article, but these are the top three (in my opinion). Please remind your tween/teen that their Snapchat content absolutely CAN be recorded without them knowing. And even if your tween/teen doesn’t have Snapchat installed on their phone, they still need to know this because their friends may use it and they may be on their friends’ snaps, AND because it applies to all social media platforms, mobile devices, etc.
Here’s the article:
Wrapping It Up
Here’s to a brand new, amazing week! Today is a wonderful time talk to your tween/teen about some (if not all) of what we covered today (if appropriate) as they prepare to conquer their new week at school!
I have made a commitment to keep you informed – as long as you stay connected, I’ll be here!
If you have any questions, don’t ever hesitate to reach out!
If you would like to receive The Sunday Scoop in your email inbox every Sunday morning AND be the second to know about all things tween/teen safety (the people in my membership are first, email list is second, Instagram is third), sign up for my email list below! I’d love to have you!
If you would like to purchase my Cyber-Safe Survival Guide which gives you ALL the tea about keeping your tween/teen safe in the digital world, it’s here: The Cyber-Safe Survival Guide
And finally, if you would like to contribute to my work, feel free to Buy Me A Coffee here: http://BuyMeACoffee.com/NaKole
Let’s Conquer Together!
Na’Kole
Na'Kole Watson