Instagram continues to be a behemoth in the world of social media, with more than a billion unique visitors on a monthly basis. Teens and pre-teens use the site to share photos and memes, private message and follow brands, but the platform has its share of pitfalls. Today Instagram announced changes to the platform that include defaulting young people into private accounts and making it harder for suspicious accounts to find young people.
“Young people” are defined as 16 and younger in the U.S. In a statement, Instagram said “Wherever we can, we want to stop young people from hearing from adults they don’t know, or that they don’t want to hear from.” The biggest preventative step will be defaulting this audience into a private account as they join the platform, instead of a public account.
That step allows users to control who sees or responds to content. With a private account, people have to follow you to see your content and you approve those followers manually. Even more critically, private account content does not show up in places like Explore or in the hashtag search section. Instagram notes that new users can still choose to have a public account and teens who are already signed up will see a notification explaining the benefits of a private account.
Instagram has also developed new technology to track accounts with “potentially suspicious behavior.” These accounts belong to adults that may have been blocked or reported by a young person. This feature means accounts that exhibit this behavior won’t be able to follow or comment on young people’s accounts. The technology is currently rolling out worldwide and isn’t perfect, but it’s another move by the platform to support online safety.
Finally, Instagram is limiting how advertisers can interact with its younger audience. The upcoming change means advertisers can only target ads to teens based on age, gender and location. Previously, ads could also target teens on interests, or on activity on other apps and websites. This change was based on conversations with youth advocates and will affect Facebook and Messenger, too.
––Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Gaelle Marcel, Unsplash
In our house, you will find that we are a blend of solutions in discovering what works best for our kids. You will see things you are used to seeing like medications, equipment, that sort of stuff. Alongside that, you will also see some non-traditional things as well like essential oils, my giant textbooks of herbal medicines, and maybe some familiar equipment used in different ways.
You see, I’ve had to stretch and grow to figure out what works for my kids. We don’t all come out of the same cereal box and things that work for others don’t always work for us. Things aren’t always black and white. They are often various shades of grey. Recently my son was accepted into a unique study. A worldwide research project was being conducted to see if a unique treatment can be beneficial for kids like Marvin. It could help with some of his dietary woes and we were excited to try it. The practitioner had recently relocated and gave me her new address. When we arrived this is what we saw.
As I drove around the building, I began to wonder if it was a joke. There wasn’t a handicapped-accessible spot anywhere. So I called the provider and let her know we were here and the building had no access! She came down and her first words were, “I wasn’t thinking about your daughter.”
Their last location was accessible and we were able to get my daughter, Cary Lynn, up and down. Despite the fact that we had seen this person in her previous location numerous times and my daughter was with me every time, for some reason, it escaped this person’s attention that my child was in a wheelchair.
The next words weren’t much better, that this was, “A pro bono treatment.” And that “Maybe I could find someone who needed community service hours to help with one kid.” I was rather steamed and wanted to offer a shovel while they were burying themselves.
Instead, I said, “Look, I feel like we need to have a conversation here. You may not think about my daughter or the 2.2 million people in wheelchairs or the 6.5 million people who use walkers, canes, or crutches to get around but maybe you should. I’m not saying that every home needs to rush out and become accessible but I would like you to think about how it feels not to be included. How hard it is on our family and others like us because our kids can’t go places. You may not be able to fix your home but how about finding a place that everyone can go to. If you are practicing medicine or holistic treatments think of the large population you are limiting. The people who would probably benefit the most from your treatments have no access to you. Clients that would pay you for your services if they could reach you will take their dollars and go someplace else. Bottom line, it’s not OK and no amount of apologizing is going to fix that piece of my heart that just got a little more battered. It’s not OK to justify the lack of accessibility by saying that this is a pro-bono service. Free does not mean that you can get away with whatever you want. That would be the equivalent of me saying I could rob your home and take your valuables because I am giving you free babysitting. It’s a ludicrous argument.”
We drove for a while in silence. Marvin piped up, “Mama are you upset?” I told him I was, but I would try to think about our options. “Well, I don’t really need to do this. I’d rather go someplace that is nice to my sister. Maybe we can find something more fun to do, like legos!”
The study would have been awesome, but you know what? My kid already is awesome. Both of them are. If people can’t see that then they are the ones with the real handicap.
I'm a momvocate with a dash of sass and a huge helping of grace. When I'm not blogging I'm solving life's great mysteries, like do missing socks come back as Tupperwear lids?
Halloween will be even sweeter with ice cream! Starting today, Baskin-Robbins is making convenience even sweeter by giving guests the option to order their favorite scoops, sundaes and shakes delivered contactless through Uber Eats. In celebration of the launch, ice cream lovers who spend $10 or more on Baskin-Robbins through Uber Eats will receive a $0 delivery from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, 2020.
This sweet new delivery option and offer arrive just in time for the Halloween weekend, so fans can enjoy an ice cream treat no matter how they choose to celebrate this year. For those who would rather dress up their ice cream than take to the streets in their own costumes, new DIY Creature Creations Kits are the perfect activity to keep the kids entertained at home. Whether they are into unicorns, monsters or mermaids, these kits offer a fun way to deck out their favorite Baskin-Robbins scoops from the comfort of home.
To place an order, customers can select their nearest Baskin-Robbins or Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ combo location in the Uber Eats app or on the website, choose their ice cream treats and beverages, customize them just the way they like and then checkout. Guests will also be able to track their order as it’s prepared, picked up and delivered by their Uber Eats driver, who will leave the items at their door for a contactless experience.
“We’re excited to bring the convenience of delivery to even more guests who are looking for ways to enjoy their favorite Baskin-Robbins treats at home,” said Nicole Boutwell, Director of Digital Marketing, Baskin-Robbins. “As people continue to find comfort in ice cream and sweet treats from our specialty ice cream shops, we’re very excited to team up with Uber Eats to expand our easy ordering and contactless delivery options to our loyal guests nationwide.”
“At Uber Eats, we’re always exploring new ways to bring our customers the food they love, right to their doorstep,” said Stephane Ficaja, Head of Uber Eats for the US & Canada. “That’s why we’re excited to bring together Uber’s speed and reliability and Baskin-Robbins’ 75 years of expertise in ice cream and frozen treats.”
The vast majority of Baskin-Robbins stores across the country remain open and have enhanced preventative health and safety measures in place. In an ongoing effort to help keep its guests and restaurant employees safe, Baskin-Robbins is currently limiting service to drive-thru, carry-out and curbside pick-up at select locations, in addition to delivery at participating locations with Uber Eats and DoorDash. Guests can order and pay contactless through the Baskin-Robbins App for a quick, grab-and-go experience.
As the COVID-19 virus rages on, families are facing a crisis on all fronts. For those with children, the question of school reopening is front and center. Not only is it of importance to the cognitive and social development of their kids, in all likelihood, it will also determine whether or not they will be able to return to work.
Most school systems have either decided to have all learning remote or have taken a “wait and see” approach, leaving parents even more panicked about their plans come September.
As a result, many are taking educational opportunities into their own hands. Some parents are forming “pods” or small groups of children (between 5 and 8) to meet in a family’s home with an individual teacher hired to either “homeschool” or supplement the online learning that schools are providing. This accomplishes two goals; first, it provides much needed support for parents who have been struggling to keep up with their children’s distance learning, and secondly, it provides social interaction for children who have been isolated from their peers for several months.
On the face of it, if one can afford it and has the time to organize and supervise it, it may seem like a good alternative. That said, there are many things to consider before starting this journey.
Finding families that you trust and whose educational and social goals align with yours will be your first hurdle. Families who have high-risk members such as grandparents or immune-compromised individuals in their household are not good candidates. It is also essential to take into consideration the occupation of the parents in your pod; healthcare workers or other essential workers who come into frequent contact with the public may not be appropriate members either.
Equally important is a firm commitment that all members of the pod, including teachers and their families, follow best practices: masking, handwashing, and social distancing.
And before planning an academic schedule, parents must make provisional plans for the possible infection of children, staff, and all family and household members. Strict rules must be in place for if and when members of the pod become sick with coronavirus or other illnesses.
Finding and fairly compensating teachers will be the next challenge, especially if there is a broad range in the children’s grade level and abilities in your pod. Many online sites have sprung up to meet the demand of this new phenomenon, and a google search can help find staff in your area.
Parents who are forming pods have been criticized for poaching the best teachers from already taxed school systems, adding to the existing inequities in their communities. In some cases, parents invite families who could not afford to participate in a pod to attend for free. Other attempts to compensate for their privilege, have pod parents donating funds to their school communities to support those families without computers or internet service. These well-meaning gestures can be tricky territory to navigate, and along with all aspects of this pursuit must be carefully thought through to implement successfully.
If your goal is to provide “homeschooling,” you must contact your public school to withdraw your child and find out the curriculum that is being used in your jurisdiction and to get information about websites they recommend for guidelines.
If the goal is to supplement an online academic program provided by your child’s school, then you and the other families need to discuss and agree upon what content and activities you want to implement to augment their distance learning. In establishing daily and weekly schedules, limiting the number of teachers interacting with your pod is a major concern.
This endeavor is not impossible, but it will require tremendous focus and motivation by entire families who choose to participate.
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
Of all the parenting books I read before having our children, not one had a chapter on navigating a global pandemic. There was no how-to guide for becoming a part-time math teacher. I certainly didn’t see any tips and tricks for limiting screen time when screens are all we have to connect. Still, my own family has been finding our way through zooms and tantrums the best that we are able.
However, the thing that I’ve definitely missed is time with the family members who aren’t navigating quarantine within our household. Coming from a very close family where full-family dinners at grandma and grandpa’s house are a regular occurrence, I can’t help but feel so depressed by spending time apart from our greater family.
And I’m not alone in this regard. According to a new study, roughly 25% of people are most excited to see their families post-quarantine. However, knowing that other people miss their families just as much as my kids and I miss ours doesn’t do much to help me feel better about the situation.
As a result, I thought it would be wise to look up some more creative ways that people are staying connected with their extended families during quarantine. I wanted to look beyond the confines of Zoom to get inspired on how to keep our family together even when we are apart.
The first idea that I found…and immediately fell in love with came from a writer at the New York Times, who wrote a piece about connecting with her grandma by trying out her recipes during quarantine. I’ve been reading a lot about how cooking with kids is a great way to stretch their home knowledge and creativity when they aren’t in school, so I thought that spending a little time working through family recipes even when we can’t see our family would be great for all us. My family spent our time working through a passed-down pierogi recipe. They were delicious and I was able to tell my kids a little bit more about what their grandmother’s generation went through immigrating from Poland.
Another idea that inspired me was this one from All Star Activities to turn cousins into pen pals. Although my brother’s kids are a little older than my own, I was able to convince him to have his children pick up pen and paper to become pen pals with my own kids. It’s such a great idea because kids really do get excited when a letter comes in the mail for them. Not to mention, allowing them to connect with someone that isn’t a parent must be a great release for them.
Finally, I saw an idea online to do a game night over FaceTime. We haven’t tried it yet, but I’m just dying to see how it goes. Our family is definitely the type to go hard during family Wiffle ball, so bringing a little competition sounds like the perfect way to change up the regular video check-ins and feel a little normalcy despite being apart.
I hope these ideas inspire you and your family to connect during quarantine. Hopefully, we will all be back together soon!
Hey all, I’m Melody. I’m a part-time parenting and lifestyle writer but a full-time mom of both 2-legged and 4-legged family members. Forever trying to clean glitter off something or other.
It’s time to push the refresh button! As summer arrives Dunkin’ is looking to give guests a boost of brightness, energy and excitement with their new Dunkin’ Refreshers iced beverages. Refreshers iced beverages will be available at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide beginning Jun. 17.
Made with iced green tea, flavored fruit concentrate, and B vitamins, Dunkin’ Refreshers are beautifully bold beverages that will keep guests feeling renewed and refreshed. Dunkin’ Refreshers are available in two vibrant varieties, Strawberry Dragonfruit flavored and Peach Passion Fruit flavored. Both beverages are under 200 calories and are made without artificial dyes and flavors.
To help everyone celebrate summer with a refreshing taste at a special price, the brand is offering medium Dunkin’ Refreshers for $2 all day at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide through Jul. 28.
According to Jill Nelson, Vice President, Marketing Strategy at Dunkin’, “Dunkin’ has been there to keep our guests running during these difficult months. Now, with the start of summer, it’s the perfect time for something fresh and exciting to energize and enliven people again. With a combination of iced green tea, B vitamins, and bright bursts of flavor, Dunkin’ Refreshers stand apart as the perfect, new choice to help anyone get their glow back.”
Currently, the vast majority of Dunkin’ restaurants across the country remain open and have put enhanced preventative health and safety measures in place. In an ongoing effort to help keep its guests and restaurant employees safe, Dunkin’ is currently limiting service to drive-thru, carry-out, delivery, and curbside pick-up at select locations. Guests can order and pay contactless on the Dunkin’ App for a quick, grab-and-go experience.
While many of us have been homebound the past few months due to COVID-19, pet parents have leaned on their dogs for support more than ever. From loyally staying by our sides, to encouraging us to get out of the house and even making special appearances as new “coworkers,” the time spent together has been equally beneficial for both pets and pet parents.
Which now presents a new challenge: As areas begin to re-open, how will our pets fare when we start leaving the house again each day?
Our dogs have likely become accustomed to constant belly rubs, multiple walks per day and constant attention, so they may experience separation anxiety as we resume our daily lives and spend less time at home. In pets, separation anxiety is a behavioral reaction triggered when dogs are separated from people they are attached to the most. Behavioral signs often include scratching at the door, crying or barking excessively, going to the bathroom in the house and/or chewing things whenever you or your family leaves. In extreme cases, dogs may try to escape, which can result in self-injury and household destruction.
Whether you’re already seeing signs of separation anxiety in your pup or want to prepare them for your absence in advance, there are some simple steps you can take to ease into spending more time apart:
1. Practice leaving the home for at least a couple hours per day to make sure your dog can be left alone without displaying severe signs of stress. Start off in short increments: 15 minutes to a half hour at a time, then gradually increase over the course of a few weeks.
2. Consider crate-training your dog. When used properly, crates can help your dog remain calm and, importantly, out of trouble. Start with just short periods while you are present to help them get used to it. For example, when you are watching television, put your dog in his crate, put the crate next to the sofa and gradually increase the time crated. You can reward quiet behavior with calm praise or with treats.
3. When you do leave, don’t make a fuss and try to do the same when you return. It may be difficult, but limiting the attention your dog gets shortly before leaving or after you arrive home lessens the shock and eases the moment of relief when you do return.
4. Leave out a few fun toys that you only bring out when you leave—these special toys will seem like a reward to your dog and signify that you leaving is a positive thing.
5. If your dog responds well in social situations, try daycare or social walks to keep them engaged and occupied while you’re gone. Pro tip: call your local daycare center and ask if you can bring your dog for an early drop-off. This ensures your dog has the chance to sniff around, get comfortable and greet the other “regulars” as they come in.
As a pet parent, you know your dog better than anyone else and are the best resource to decide what’s most helpful for them to adapt. If cases of separation anxiety persist or worsen, professionals like trainers and veterinarians are also always available for extra assistance. Overall, it’s important to know that new routines can be tricky for humans and animals alike, but rest assured that with patience and persistence, you and your pup can get through it together.
Dr. Bernal has over a decade of experience in veterinary medicine, specializing in animal nutrition. In her role as on-staff veterinarian with Wellness Natural Pet Food, she educates pet parents on the importance of natural ingredients like wholesome meats and nutrient-rich superfoods and the highest quality standards.
When the phased reopening of Walt Disney World starts on Jul. 11, the parks will look a lot different than a few months ago. In an effort to keep park guests safe, follow health and safety guidelines and restart the magic, Disney has made some big changes to ticket sales, hotel reservations, dining and fast passes––and we’ve got all the details. Keep scrolling so you’re in-the-know before heading to Florida.
New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations
Walt Disney World/Matt Stroshane
Disney parks have halted all new ticket sales for now. If you've already purchased a ticket or are an Annual Passholder, you will be able to make a reservation before Disney releases new tickets. This will be done through the new theme park reservation system on DisneyWorld.com.
In addition, all Disney Resort hotel reservations have also been temporarily paused. Disney is currently in the process of contacting theme park and hotel guests to discuss options, which can include refunds.
Both park and hotels will be limited in attendance.
Dining and Experiences
Disney Parks
Due to the parks limiting capacity, all existing dining reservations, Disney dining plans and bookings for other experiences have been canceled. As the phased reopening approaches, the parks will reopen both the dining and experiences with smaller numbers, and will shift to a 60-day booking window (down from the former 180-day window).
To further reinforce physical distancing, most restaurants and behind the scenes tours will be largely reduced in capacity.
FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours
Laura Green
Due to the necessity of physical distancing, all extra queue spacing will be utilized, and the FastPass+ service will be suspended. Guests with existing selections will have their FastPass+ canceled. Additionally, Disney is stopping all Extra Magic Hours for now.
With a little more than one month until the phased reopening begins, there is plenty of time for changes to the parks current updates. Stay tuned, and don’t lose the magic!
As the country begins to reopen, regional theme parks are also initiating their phases to invite guests back. As of Mon., May 18, Orlando’s Universal CityWalk is now open daily from 4 to 10 p.m. daily.
During that time frame, select venues will be open, along with complimentary self parking. All guests will be expected to followed the recommended CDC guidelines which includes wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, and following floor markings to ensure adequate space between individuals.
Additionally, guests will undergo a temperature check before entering CityWalk, and those with a temperature of 100.4 or greater will not be allowed in. In an effort to keep everyone as safe as possible, Universal is limiting capacity and most venues, offering more hand washing and sanitizing stations, thoroughly cleaning high-touch surfaces and offering cashless payments at all venues.
RetailMeNot has created a list of companies that have announced their reopening plans and schedules. You will need to check with your local store for updated hours and the latest information as policies might vary by location. Each retailer will be following safety procedures pursuant to local guidelines.
Abercrombie & Fitch
The retailer has started to reopen select stores based on state and local regulations, including locations in Atlanta, Boise and Dallas, and will continue to open on a rolling basis. Upon reopening, staff will follow safety and health procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment, social distancing, contactless payment options and more.
American Eagle
American Eagle has reopened 43 stores and plans to open another 600 by the end of May. As stores reopen, the retailer will implement a host of new health and safety measures, including offering masks and hand sanitizer to all customers, curbside pickup, a touchless return process, temperature screening and more. Although the retailer will still allow customers to try on items in fitting rooms, each room will be sanitized after. Any garments not purchased will be quarantined in a box for 24 hours.
Apple
Apple closed all locations outside of China during the coronavirus pandemic, but the company now has plans to reopen in certain U.S. locations after reopening in Austria, Australia and South Korea. Apple will begin by reopening with five stores in Alabama, Alaska, Idaho and South Carolina.
The tech retailer is still encouraging customers to purchase items online when possible, and will focus on providing customer service and support through the Genius Bar at open locations.
Bed Bath & Beyond
The company plans to reopen approximately 20 retail locations, including its Christmas Tree Shops brand, by May 22, subject to state and local guidelines. buybuy BABY and Harmon stores have remained open during the pandemic to provide essential goods.
Belk
As of May 1, the department store has reopened stores in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Stores will begin by opening with limited hours from noon to 6 p.m., limiting the number of people in store to ensure social distancing standards and offering curbside pickup.
Best Buy
Starting in early May, Best Buy began opening 200 stores on an appointment-only basis. Appointments can be made online or by phone and will include a detailed check-in process before each appointment where a sales associate walks through safety guidelines for customers.
Chico’s
Starting May 4, Chico’s began the rollout of three phases of reopening. First, the fulfillment of national orders through store inventories; second, buy-online-pick up in store (BOPIS) including contactless curbside pickup; and third, the introduction of a new shop-by-appointment service for all brands, including Chico’s, White House Black Market and Soma.
David’s Bridal
The bridal shop began reopening some stores at the end of April by appointment only and expects to have all stores open for appointments beginning in June. In addition, customers can book a virtual appointment to meet one-on-one with an expert stylist.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
The sporting retailer has reopened almost all of their 850 U.S. retail locations with nearly half open for in-store shopping and the others open for contactless pickup. The company has implemented various safety measures, including new social distancing protocols, sanitizing carts and baskets, requiring teammates to wear face coverings and more.
Dillard’s
Starting May 5, the company will reopen 55 locations in 11 states, including Utah, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado and Florida. The company will monitor government guidelines to open all stores “as soon as possible.”
Express
The clothing retailer has reopened select stores in Georgia and South Carolina with plans to open all 300 stores by Memorial Day, May 25, based on local regulations and mall guidelines. Stores will implement social distancing, provide contact-free customer service and payment options, limiting store capacity and other safety features.
GameStop
As of April 21, GameStop reopened stores in Georgia and South Carolina with the “potential to reopen” locations in other states and countries in the coming weeks.
Gap
The retailer has reopened a small number of stores in Texas and plans to reopen the rest of its 800 locations—including Old Navy, Athleta, Gap, Banana Republic, Janie and Jack and Intermix stores—in the U.S. by the end of May. Stores will have reduced hours, a limited number of customers allowed in stores, and team members will be supplied with reusable face masks to wear during their shifts.
Hobby Lobby
The crafting retailer has begun to open some stores in states where it is deemed an essential business. There is no plan yet for further reopenings.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s has reopened stores in 14 states as of May 11 and plans to continue reopening based on state and local guidelines. The company will implement new health and safety best practices, including limiting store hours, social distancing measures, a new returns process and others.
Macy’s
The department store began reopening stores in early May, including locations in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Utah, and plans to reopen all stores by mid-June. New safety practices include increased air ventilation in all stores, social distancing practices, gloves and masks required for staff and suspended services that require close contact.
Nordstrom
The retailer has opened select locations in Texas and Nordstrom Rack stores in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas with updated safety measures.
Saks Fifth Avenue
The company has reopened a select number of stores, including locations in Atlanta and Palm Beach, and plans to offer Curbside Pickup and Returns at select locations. New cleaning and safety measures include mandatory face coverings and daily health checks for associates, reduced occupancy, and additional safety measures for dressing rooms and beauty areas.
Simon Malls
The largest mall chain in the U.S. began reopening locations in select states, including South Carolina and Georgia, at the beginning of May. The company will provide free CDC-approved masks and hand sanitizer to shoppers who ask for them and make temperature testing free and available using infrared thermometers.
Stein Mart
The company has begun to reopen stores with new safety protocols, including closing fitting rooms and allowing customers to try on at home and make returns, requesting shoppers wear face masks, social distancing measures and contactless checkout.
Ulta
As of May 11, the beauty retailer opened 180 stores in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and several other states. Testers will no longer be available, and the company is also implementing mandatory face coverings for all associates, hand sanitizer available for use and limited occupancy.
Urban Outfitters
As of May 12, the retailer and owner of Anthropologie, Terrain and Free People brands, has reopened select stores in 19 states, including Texas, Florida, Colorado and Rhode Island. In-store safety precautions include cashless checkout, reduced hours, mandatory masks for employees and contactless pickup at select stores.
Williams Sonoma
As states begin to reopen, Williams Sonoma is also opening select locations. The retailer will implement a host of safety measures, including encouraging customers to wear a face mask and requiring it in certain locations, limiting the number of people in store, daily wellness checks for associates and more. Call your local store to confirm hours and safety procedures.
