Family Tech Talk

New Jersey filed suit this week against Discord over claims the application is making false child safety claims. Find out my thoughts on the lawsuit and if I think the app is doing enough to protect kids.

Utah introduces 2 new tech laws that can affect your family! Find out my thoughts on it in today's Oh My Tech! Podcast episode. Devices in Public Schools - https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0178.html App Store Accountability Act - https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0142.html

This conversation with Bea Moise, author of Neurodiversity and Technology: Neuroscience-led strategies for parents, is ESSENTIAL listening for anyone trying to parent a neurodiverse child. Get Bea's book! https://amzn.to/42BWceL https://troomi.freshdesk.com/a/tickets/179891

Today Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta was doing away with the 3rd party fact-checking program it has been using to stop the spread of misinformation, and will instead implement a "Community Notes" based system. What does this mean for you and your family? Listen and find out.

Join Brett, Emilee and Sarah for a breakdown of various tech conversations you should have with your kids for every age group!

I am interviewing Head of Law Enforcement Outreach at Snap (the creators of Snapchat), Rachel Hochhauser to ask some tough questions about Snapchat's responsibility to make its platform safer for teens. Check out https://parents.snapchat.com for more info

Bryn and Sarah, the co-hosts of the Series Scrapped podcast discuss the different shows that are available on different streaming platforms and let you know which one they think is best if you had to choose one!

These questions and more are discussed in today's episode. Emilee is back to help me talk about the latest in tech news! This week's topics - Samsung joins the "get the message campaign" Netflix to create retail stores, Best Buy stops selling physical media, Utah sues TikTok, and Age Verification Laws

Tasia Custode's YouTube channel features some of the best productivity apps, so I wanted to talk to her about her favorites and maybe get some productivity tips! Tasia's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCNQbF87QPV685oFnHxb0zPg Link to Sync Discount - http://sync.com/tasia

I see so many posts from people saying their account has been hacked. Most of the time, this isn't actually the case. Here is how to tell if your account is hacked or spoofed and what to do about it.

Sara Petersen, the author of the book Momfluenced joins me to talk about oversharing your kids lives, and getting influenced by social media and the online world.

I know, it's not January, but it's a perfect time to re-commit to your goals, and set new ones! Join me as I interview Time Management coach and podcaster Erin Woodruff and find out how you can set and track goals with technology helping you to keep on track!

Clay, co-founder of Fight the New Drug, and I discuss fighting pornography and how to keep your kids away from pornography, what to do WHEN they are exposed to it, and how to help those with a pornography addiction. Join us for this very important topic! Addiction Resources - https://www.joinfortify.com/ FREE Parenting resources app - https://www.joinraise.com/ Fight the New Drug - https://fightthenewdrug.org/ Good Pictures Bad Pictures - https://amzn.to/3QSotp7 Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr - https://amzn.to/3R0FZI8 30 Days of Sex Talks 12+ - https://amzn.to/3Rf80LG 30 Days of Sex Talks - 8-11 - https://amzn.to/3AohDAY 30 Days of Sex Talks 3-7 - https://amzn.to/3AQkd3T

This week I am talking to Rachel Haack, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist about social media's effect on mental health, not just for our kids but for the rest of the family too! We'll chat about the things we can do to mitigate these effects!

This week I'm talking to the Math Teacher Mom, Navi. She has been a high school math teacher for over 16 years, and helps parents teach their kids math and math concepts through her website and social media. Learn some awesome ways to help kids understand math and some of the best math apps for kids.

Calling it a "kids-safe" chatGPT, the creators of the Kids-Safe phone Pinwheel have launched PinwheelGPT. An AI-powered chat engine that is supposed to have parental controls and monitoring in place. Shelley, the Chief Mom of Pinwheel, and I will chat about this new tool and talk about how this technology might be used to help kids. Check out Pinwheel GPT - https://www.pinwheel.com/gpt Pinwheel Smartphone for kids - https://www.pinwheel.com/?via=familytech

Many adults LOVE podcasts, which leads some kids to want to listen to podcasts of their own. With so many podcasts out there, how can you tell which ones are going to be good podcasts for kids to listen to? This week's quick tip will outline some of my favorite podcasts for kids.

I am HONORED to be joined by Aimee Winder Newton who currently serves as a senior advisor to Governor Cox and director of the Office of Families to discuss the recent campaign to educate parents on the harms of social media, and the recent laws passed in Utah about teens and social media. I have some hard questions for Aimee, and I'm excited to have a discussion about it! https://socialharms.utah.gov/

More states are creating laws and implementing regulations on tech and social media, so I wanted to talk to The American Moms about this legislation and what kind of laws would have an impact, and how we can learn more and get more involved with the laws that will affect us.

If you are looking for a cross-platform calendar to help keep your family organized, you have come to the right place! I'll let you know the one productivity tool I absolutely could not live without!

Author of the hugely successful book "Good Pictures, Bad Pictures" Kristen Jenson joins me to have a discussion about talking to your kids about pornography. Unfortunately, it is not a question of "if" your child will come across porn as they are navigating the online world, it is a question of when. Kristen has some great thoughts and ideas on how to make the digital world a little safer, and how to prepare kids with a plan of action for when they encounter explicit content.

The best way to protect your online accounts from hacking is to enable 2FA. So, what is 2FA or MFA and how do I use it to help protect myself from getting hacked?

With ChatGPT, and other types of AI tools, online scams are getting increasingly convincing. Andy, the Secure Dad and I discuss some of the most popular scams and how they are still getting perpetrated today. Find out how you can innoculate yourself from falling for any online scams!

Many people are jumping on the AI bandwagon and looking to ChatGPT to solve all of their language problems. Well, there are a few limitations of ChatGPT that many people do not understand. So what exactly IS ChatGPT and why are people using it wrong?

Brooke Romney has been teaching parents and teenagers how to navigate our modern world with confidence through her book 52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens. Today I'm talking to Brooke about the new etiquette rules around technology and how to teach our kids manners and etiquette both with and on their devices!

Hundreds of you asked me on Instagram this week how to block a website on your home network. This week's quick tip will let you know a few different ways you can block a website for the devices in your home.

Anna Macfarlane joins me to chat about how to talk to your teenagers about social media. What is privacy? How do we train the algorithm? What kind of rules should you set? All of this and more in our conversation. Social media guide - https://www.annamacfarlane.com/offers/v4UPMLFy

What does it mean to "train the algorithm?" Find out how you can customize your social media feed to only show you what you want.

Holly Reid, CPA and creator of the Master Playbook joins me live to talk about apps to help you manage your finances, the best tools to help you build wealth, and how to teach your kids budgeting and finance. Visit Holly's website at https://themasterplaybook.com/ Holly's recommended book list! https://themasterplaybook.com/2021/07/27/money-books-for-kids/

James' question was "What app can I use to manage a teen's phone? Google Family Link says I can't use it for anyone over 13 years old??" Is that true? Can you still manage a child's device after they turn 13? Today I'll let you know why this is a myth and how you can still manage your child's devices.

Use of AI is on a hockey stick like climb. People are using it to write website copy, emails, court filings, sermons, and so much more. However, are we ready to embrace AI in the home yet? I'm talking with Kevin Doyle, one of my co-hosts from the Not Null podcast all about AI in the home. From teaching our kids about AI, to using it in our everyday lives, we'll go over all the ways you can use AI in your personal life and maybe even some of the dangers.

Welcome to Family Tech Talk, hosted by me, Sarah Kimmel, also known online as FamilyTech. I have been an IT manager for over 20 years, while raising 2 teenagers. Our homes have become just as complicated as corporate networks, and digital parenting can be overwhelming. You need real tech advice from an expert to help you flip the script and become the tech expert of your own home! The tech news you get on other channels will give you a lot of "speeds and feeds" but here we let you know only about the tech news that is relevant to your home and your family. On Family Tech Talk you will get real world advice from experts in their field on how they use technology to make their world a little easier. And since I speak fluent movie quotes, you may find a bit of pop culture sprinkled in. Don't be ruled by technology, take back the power and have a healthy relationship with the technology in your home, I can help you get there.

In this video, I'm chatting with everyone's polygot bestie, Michelle, about language learning. We're going to be discussing some of the best language-learning resources out there, and how you can use them to your advantage in your polyglot journey! If you're looking for language learning tips, then you'll want to watch this video! I'm going to be sharing with you some of the best language-learning resources out there, and how you can use them to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced learner, this episode is a great place to start your language journey!

The US Surgeon General has just released an Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Let's look at what it says! Social media guide - https://www.annamacfarlane.com/offers/v4UPMLFy Bark video about mom posing as 11-year-old - https://youtu.be/dbg4hNHsc_8 PDF of Social Media Advisory from the US Surgeon General - https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

I reached out to the queen of the Air Fryer, Cathy  @fabulesslyfrugal  to ask her some questions about how to use your air fryer, the best air fryers, and what to make in an air fryer. LINKS! https://airfryertools.com https://yummyairfryerrecipes.com https://airfryercheatsheet.com In this video, we're going to show you everything you need to know about your air fryer. From how to use it to how to cook with it, we'll cover everything! If you're looking for an easy way to cook healthy, FABULOUS food without any fuss, then your air fryer is the perfect appliance for you! In this video, we're going to show you everything you need to know about your air fryer, from how to use it to how to cook with it. From healthy air-fried foods to delicious and easy recipes, this video has everything you need to get started with your air fryer!

Coach Kiana Shaw helps teens all over the country with etiquette, life skills, and confidence. We'll discuss what teens today need to help them become productive and successful adults both online and in the business world.

What are the best tools to use for your DIY projects? The genius brain behind the instagram account buildingitlikeagirl joins me to help you with your DIY!

Our Family Passport sits down with Sarah to discuss how to find the best travel deals, the technology you should bring on your trip, and how to plan the best trips for your family!

The debate between privacy and monitoring teens online to keep them safe can be a very tough line to walk. What is the best way to parent teens online and how can we keep trust between parents and teens? I talk to Bark Parental Control's Titania Jordan about it LIVE! Sammy's Law information - https://lrs.sog.unc.edu/bill/let-parents-choosesammys-law-2023#:~:text=AN%20ACT%20TO%20ENACT%20THE,SOCIAL%20MEDIA%20INTERACTIONS%20OF%20CHILDREN Watch the Childhood 2.0 documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He3IJJhFy-I Catfishing video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbg4hNHsc_8 My reaction video to Childhood 2.0 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Nnj3fKn9A

Most people take pictures with their phones these days. Since it's SO easy to take the pictures, we just take a lot and hope that one of them turns out well. Today I talk to Rachelle Packard, a professional photographer to help you improve your photos. Sarah Kimmel is a Microsoft Certified IT Manager, who is also a mom. She currently helps families understand and manage the technology in their homes through YouTube Videos, Instagram posts, podcasts, and her website Family Tech Zone. She can also be found as a family tech expert on various TV news shows and podcasts.  SHOP MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/shop/familytech  Bark Parental Controls - https://barkparentalcontrols.pxf.io/FamilyTech Pinwheel Smartphone for kids - https://www.pinwheel.com/?via=familytech Troomi Smartphone for kids - https://troomi.crrnt.app/A7pW5Yry  CONNECT WITH SARAH ON SOCIAL Instagram: https://instagram.com/FamilyTech Facebook: https://facebook.com/FamilyTech Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyTech Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/FamilyTech TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@FamilyTech  PODCAST Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/37cA98zXKyDKbsy0f6H6Yx  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-tech-talk/id1413274385  Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9mYW1pbHktdGVjaC10YWxr BLOG https://familytechzone.com BUSINESS INQUIRIES sarah@familytech.biz

High school student Jahan Taila and his friend Nathan have created an app to help kids learn coding. I will talk to Jahan about how his parents have helped encourage his passion for coding and how parents can help their kids learn how to code! Link to the Kickstarter! Let's support this teen! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jahan/codera-a-fun-and-engaging-way-to-teach-kids-how-to-code

Kristen Duke, the expert in having a great relationship with your teens, talks to me about how to talk to your kids about social media and technology

How can you include a fitness routine in your life? What are the best streaming fitness apps and services? All that and more when I talk to Emily, co-creator of High Fitness

One highly neglected area of discussion when it comes to technology is how to best utilize technology to help our senior citizens. This week I sit down with Heather from Elder Care Navigators to discuss the challenges, the various products that can help, and the things we can do to make technology use more comfortable for our seniors.

The digital homesteading expert is here live to discuss indoor gardening tips, tricks, tools and more! Kris' Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/aerogardenkratkyfanatics AeroGarden affiliate link - http://girlte.ch/AeroGarden Coupon code LTG20 takes $20 off a purchase of $100 of more Full list of all gardening (and other) affiliates - https://littletechgirl.com/littletechgirl-affiliate-links/

School Resource Officer Gomez sees it all when it comes to our kids and teens. He's in the trenches every day and knows the dangers that can exist online for our teens. I love his thoughts on what is cyberbullying and what is not. It was extremely eye-opening!

We are talking all things Cricut, 3D Printing, and more! Learn about all of the technology you can use to make crafts, finding simple crafts for you to do with your kids and get started with crafts!

Live discussion with Megan Hillyer from Know Your Ancestors about easy ways you can start recording your family history, and how you can get started finding your own ancestors!

Discussion with Bill Brady about kids smartphone use, and how to help keep them safe. Also a little bit about Troomi, a kids safe smart phone, specifically. iGen Book Discussed - https://amzn.to/3Ycdny9 Troomi Phone - https://troomi.crrnt.app/A7pW5Yry

The Autism Dad, Rob Gorski, and Sarah discuss the best technology for kids with special needs, including apps and devices, and how best to manage the technology with your neuro-divergent child. All links to discount codes and products can be found here https://www.theautismdad.com/shop/ Bridging Apps - https://search.bridgingapps.org/all-list Website - https://www.theautismdad.com/ Podcast Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0Kl8mzC... Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=...

Join me as I discuss everything from how to protect your kids on video games, and how to enjoy gaming with your kids and family! Learn about gaming in moderation and healthy gaming with your family. Andy Robertson of FamilyGamerTV and author of Taming Gaming literally wrote the book on healthy video game habits - https://amzn.to/3cXe9Nv Check out his YouTube channel for more tips! - https://www.youtube.com/c/FamilyGamerTV Resources discussed during the live Board Games: https://www.taminggaming.com/board+games Video Games: https://www.taminggaming.com/games Games for Ages: https://www.taminggaming.com/features/Video+Games+For+Children+Of+Different+Ages Which Console: https://www.taminggaming.com/features/Xbox+PlayStation+or+Switch+Which+Is+Right+For+Your+Family Buying a PC: https://www.taminggaming.com/features/PC+or+Console+Which+Is+Right+For+Your+Family