Brett.Ullman

Category - technology

How to have a better relationship with our phones: touch and interaction (video 1)

2 weeks ago
brett ullman
brett ullman, Canadian content, parenting, technology
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Today’s vlog is not just for parents. It is actually for any of us who use a smartphone. We need to find a way to interact better with our phones. I think we would all agree we use them too much and we could all use some strategies to decrease our time on them. So this is the first video in a series talking about how we can have a better relationship with our phones. Each session will be some simple thoughts that are easy to make. Small easy changes that over time will make your relationship with your phone well… better

In the youtube description are the next 14 videos I am going to do. If you have any ideas of other videos for this series let me know.


A New Narrative: Talking to your teens about technology: Vlog 5 of 5: Video Games

October 31, 2018
brett ullman
brett ullman, Canadian content, media, parenting, technology
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This is Part 5 of a 5 part video blog (vlog) series where we will be looking at trying to change the narrative of how we speak to our kids about technology. We will look at current ways parents talk to teens about tech and then look at a new narrative that teens will respond to better. We need to move from telling to teaching. Today we look at a new way to talk to our kids around the conversations on Video games.

Is Netflix the New Heroin?

October 22, 2018
brett ullman
Canadian content, media, technology
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What a great question. How have your viewing habits changed since Netflix?

Netflix is the new heroin. Hyperbole? Barely.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Renee Carr explains, “The neural pathways that cause heroin and sex addictions are the same as addiction to binge-watching. Your body does not discriminate against pleasure. It can become addicted to any activity or substance that consistently produces dopamine.”

According to Deloitte research, 70% of consumers binge-watch an average of five episodes in one sitting. Another study found that those ages 14-33 binge watch an average of 5 hours in a single sitting. When you stop and think about these stats there is only one way to define them: addiction.

Click here for the entire article and video

Finally, Apple Releases Screen Time Controls

September 26, 2018
brett ullman
brett ullman, media, parenting, technology
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I was going to write a blog this week on the new Screen Controls Apple added in their new operating system (iOS12). This morning this article came through from the people at Screenagers and it is fantastic.

The goal of using something like this is to not over-parent, over-control, but to set up systems that help lessen the parent-child conflict. For example, rather than track down your tween to get the phone at, say, 9 pm, the phone can be configured to have all apps go off at 9 pm, including texting.

Adopting any new technology often sends chills down my spine. For those of you who feel the same way, I’ve included step-by-step instructions below on how to set this up. You and your child’s devices both have to be set up for this to work.

Click here for the entire article.