Over the years I have published nearly 200 articles here on BLOGGING THE KNIGHTS’ QUEST. As time went by some facts and details have changed. Technology certainly has, too. This includes our platform: WORDPRESS.
I will be refreshing many of my articles in terms of both content and platform currency. Please be patient as this is a HUGE undertaking. I will also be publishing new articles, as well.
Buddy
Apple Computer’s AIRDROP feature in the macOS and iOS operating systems is very handy. It allows you to transfer pictures, videos, and other types of files quickly to other nearby Apple users. But, like most technologies, there are hazards, especially with children and teens. So, let’s learn how Apple’s AIRDROP can land your child in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!!!
In case you are unfamiliar with Apple’s AIRDROP, it works like this:
There is also an Android equivalent,
The problem can arise with “who is eligible”.
On the SETTINGS >>> AIRDROP screen you can control who you receive files from:
And herein lies one of the major dangers: If a person has not restricted who they can receive an AIRDROP from, then they can be “AIRDROP-ed” by anyone. While ideally this would be someone with good intention and who wants to send the picture of a cute kitten, etc., this also enables your device to be “bombed” by folks with mischievous or even evil intent.
Check out this headline:
The teenager (age unknown) in the article was on a plane and decided to AIRDROP the picture of an Airsoft gun to whomever he could connect to. Not a very wise decision, obviously. Now that young person is having close encounters with some “very serious people” who have absolutely ZERO sense of humor where potential terrorism and crime are concerned.
The thing is, when you think about a child’s mind, including a teen’s, it is not hard to see them doing something like this. As a child/teen, they are unaware of the large issues and dangers they are playing with. Parents need to sit down and talk to them about not “photo-bombing” people in this way.
But, there is other blame to be had. In my opinion, the folks who had their devices wide open hold a portion of blame, as well. We don’t feel sorry for people who leave cars or houses unlocked. In some jurisdictions you can even be cited for it, because your behavior “fosters” crime. All the recipients of the AIRDROP photo should not have had AIRDROP settings that allowed a total stranger to send them anything. Besides a photo-bomb such as this, it is a perfect way to get infected by a virus or malware (and, YES, Apple devices are at risk, too).
Even if the AIRDROP-ed file is not and image of a weapon or other form of perceived threat, AIRDROP can get children in trouble with other types of content:
By and large, technologies are neither bad or good (there are always exceptions). The danger lies in how they are used and mis-used. So, have a talk with your kids about how to responsibly use AIRDROP. And help them change their own settings so they don’t get an unwanted surprise!
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The Canopy Parental Control apps are a great choice for parents wanting to limit what their children can access online, either via phone/tablet or computer. They not only filter inappropriate web sites but also use AI to filter images/videos and to prevent sexting! Let’s take a look!
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ROBLOX, the online game/world, recently announced important updates to its parental controls. Rather than repeat it all, here are some links to help parents understand and implement parental controls for ROBLOX.
Enjoy!
Note: This post will be tasteful, but will deal with adult issues in marriage.
Updated 2024
Over the years of working with Knights’ Quest I have received some interesting questions about Christian sexuality, whether it is about talking to kids about sex or God’s plan for marriage.
One type of question comes up fairly often, usually by anonymous means. The two most common versions of this question are:
Is ___________ OK for Christian couples?
or
What are God’s boundaries for physical love between husband and wife?
Let’s face it. They didn’t cover this in Seminary all that much, either. At least, not in the ’90s. And it really isn’t suitable for Sunday Morning Worship unless you have a strictly “18 and over” service (I’ve preached one of those….).
UPDATED: 2024
Let’s face it, when you are dating, even in middle school, you are on a voyage of discovery. Ideally, you are discovering:
• What is “out there”.
• What you like, and dislike, in the opposite sex.
• How to navigate social interactions with the opposite sex.
• How to handle, and discipline, yourself.
• How to judge character and social/family potential.
That is why we go on movie and dinner dates, ask our friends “What do you think?”, and even come up with “tests” to see what the other is really like.
Young people begin holding hands, hugging and kissing, and hopefully not much else. This is the ideal. While there are vulnerabilities that are exposed and sometimes injured, the relationship is about friendship and love.
But, when young people, or even adults, begin crossing sexual boundaries it clouds things up. The relationship transforms from one where friendship, affection, and respect are central to one where lust and selfish desire rule.
Updated: 2024
Most parents want to protect their children from inappropriate and harmful material on the Internet. The problem is: HOW?
Well, it boils down to two battlefields: Your home Internet connection and network, and….everywhere else!
With devices attached to your network, either by cable or WI-FI, you can filter out inappropriate web-based materials in one of two ways:
The first is an expensive and never-ending fight as computers, game consoles, tablets, and other devices come and go. That’s why the second option is the most attractive: Filter the Internet at the entry point, and you don’t care what devices come and go. If they use your network to access the Web, they are filtered.
Fortunately, this is very inexpensive. In fact, one of the best products for doing this is offered for FREE. It’s called OPENDNS, and I consider it the “seat-belt for the Internet”.
Let’s look at how this can protect your family, including the husband and wife, too!
This year, 2024, is turning out to be an interesting one with regards to children’s access to online pornography. Sixteen states have passed new laws requiring stricter levels of proof that a viewer is over the age of 18 before a web site can allow them to view their pages. These states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Virginia. Because of these new laws many porn sites, including PornHub & xHamster (#1 & #4, worldwide, respectively) have electronically “boycotted” those states in protest. To be fair, they also did it to avoid the wrath of various states’ Attorneys General!
What’s going on here?
Continue readingParenting today isn’t easy, especially where technology is concerned. It seems that as soon as we put protections into place another threat to our children pops up. Or, after all we’ve done to protect them, they just don not get onboard with the program and mis-use technology. They can even become obsessed or addicted to it. When that happens, you need to secure your kids’ devices.
Fortunately there is a great way to do that: LOCK ‘EM AWAY.
Continue reading
It is expensive, and often confusing, to filter your computers, tablets, and game systems for inappropriate material, especially when you have lots of devices in the home. Your children are at risk on any device that has a browser, not just the family PC. So, how can you filter all these items in your home without breaking the budget or going crazy????
Easy! You use a free service that filters the web at your ROUTER!
