It seems as though nearly every week a new study is published that contradicts the last one about how much screen time kids should - and shouldn't - be allowed. But assuming you've decided to take the plunge and buy your child a phone, tablet or computer, the hard choices aren't over - in fact, they have just started. Now, you'll have to figure out just how much digital privacy to allow them.
Android: An inquiry from Quartz revealed that Google's been spying on some of its users. The search giant has been collecting location data from Android smartphone owners, whether or not they have location services enabled. Though Android users can't disable it, it looks like they won't have to worry about it for much longer.
iOS/Android: If you're worried about apps tracking your location, it's not enough to limit your location sharing. You need to limit camera-roll sharing too. If you've ever given an app access to your camera roll - to take photos, or store screenshots, or any given reason - you've also let it see where all those photos were taken. Felix Krause, an iOS developer and security writer, built an app to demonstrate this back door.
At first, it sounds like a huge red flag: Oh, my husband and I have each other on Find My Friends, the crazy woman says cheerfully to her friends at the bar. I use it all the time. Let's see where he is now! Well, spoiler alert, the crazy woman is me and this is one of the least clingy things I do in my whole dang life.
WhatsApp announced on Wednesday that it's adding live location sharing, making it easier to find your friends in real life with the Facebook-owned messaging app. It's also great for sharing your commute so people know when you'll arrive and that you're safe.
Android/iOS: Foursquare's Swarm 5.0, released earlier this week on iOS and Android, has a cleaner look and better venue categorisation. Most importantly, it downplays most of the social check-in app's social elements and strengthens its solo benefits. That's great news, because Swarm might be more useful if you use it alone.
Google's new "Trusted Contacts" app and service makes sure your loved ones always know where you are or can find out where you are if there's an emergency. It's opt-in from both sides, only shares in real-time when you want it to and can put an end to "where are you, are you OK?" texts when someone's late home or to a meeting.
