Toni Birdsong
Author, McAfee Consumer
Toni Birdsong began her career as a reporter in Los Angeles and later became a writer for Walt Disney Imagineering. Her passion for digital safety started 10 years ago as a way to gain the survival skills she needed to parent her own connected teenagers. Her goal with each post is to give busy parents the insight they need raise wiser, more compassionate digital kids. When she’s not writing (her first love), you can find Toni hiking, watching TikTok, or trying not to break an important body part at CrossFit.
Articles by Author
Family Safety
The Dilemma of Anonymity and Dangers of Ask.fm
Anonymity affords a precarious, irresistible power to teens online. Ask.fm is one app that’s exploding in popularity...Aug 06, 2013 | 3 MIN READ
Family Safety
5 (Kind) Reminders for Overly Nosy Parents
Last night I sat next to my teenage son as he played video games. It did not...Jul 30, 2013 | 4 MIN READ
Family Safety
Q&A: What is ‘Path’ and Is It Safe for My Child?
Q: I overheard my son telling his friend to message him on Path. What is Path and...Jul 23, 2013 | 2 MIN READ
Family Safety
Helping Kids Understand Their ‘Digital Footprint’
It’s easy to talk in general about an important topic and apply a catchy phrase to it...Jul 16, 2013 | 4 MIN READ
Family Safety
7 Tips: How to Raise a Leader in a ‘Follower’ World
Leadership training isn’t exclusive to adults. And in today’s online culture of “following” and digital profiles, it’s...Jun 20, 2013 | 3 MIN READ
Family Safety
Have You Taught Your Kids About the Dangers of ‘Catfishing’?
You may have overheard your kids talking about “catfishing” or someone getting “catfished.” No, they aren’t talking...Jun 06, 2013 | 3 MIN READ
Family Safety
Twitter Drama and What Parents Need to Know
With more teens flocking to social networks outside of Facebook, it’s more important than ever for parents...Jun 06, 2013 | 4 MIN READ
Family Safety
What Parents Need to Know About KIK Messenger App
We write a lot about new apps on this blog because apps are hot in the very...Jun 06, 2013 | 3 MIN READ
Family Safety
Taking Your Teen’s Phone: Know the Pros and Cons
Many parents shudder at the thought. Some even experience a shortness or breath and heart palpitations when...Jun 06, 2013 | 4 MIN READ
Family Safety
Three Words Every Parent Needs to Know
Have you noticed that commonplace words don’t quite mean what they used to? It’s a subtle...Jun 06, 2013 | 3 MIN READ
Family Safety
Is the Twitter Video App ‘Vine’ Safe for Kids?
Twitter’s new video-sharing app Vine is the hottest mobile toy since Instagram—and to be honest—it’s even more...Jun 05, 2013 | 3 MIN READ
Family Safety
Are Your Kids Using Vault Apps to Hide Photos, Chats, or Videos?
A number of apps for both the Android and iPhone exist that are great for storing your...Jun 05, 2013 | 2 MIN READ