Paid for the “Sunday Ticket” subscription service? A jury found that the NFL broke antitrust laws in how it handled some Sunday games. Uber’s “One Less Car” challenge, and no more green texts with your Android buddy. Also, a creepy AI ad from Toys ‘R’ Us!
You won’t believe how schools AND parents are tracking kids
You’ve got a GPS tracker — and you’ve got a tracker — and you! From Apple AirTags to Tiles to Jiobit sensors, GPS trackers are everywhere. I put them in my cars, wallet, laptop bag and car keys — police are even putting them on people’s cars.
It’s really no surprise parents are using GPS watches and tags to monitor kids when they’re away. If your little tyke is off to a new school, you too may be wondering if it’s time for a tracker.
Checking an app and finding your kid’s location when you’re worried sounds amazing. Some brands like AngelSense (great name, I know) even target parents. But is it legal? Do schools get a say in tracking your kids, too? Let’s ring the recess bell because I’ve got some schooling to do.
First, the legalese: Yep, parents can track their kids
Parents are generally allowed to use a GPS tracker on their young ones. As long as kids are under 18 and no other legal restrictions get in the way, you can send them off with a tracker … just make sure that the battery is fully charged!
Also, and this is critical: Avoid breaking any privacy or HIPAA laws. Don’t use devices to listen to conversations or record what people say. As my first-grade teacher would have said, “We don’t do that. That’s a no-no.”
Some schools even enable tracking, but every school is different. It’s no surprise tracking is more common for preschool-age kids who may be more prone to a bit of the wanders — certain Montessori-style schools are fully adopting it.
Others are embracing tracking programs via microchips on student IDs that can, for instance, tell when they’ve hopped on a particular bus. But that raises another huge question: Do schools also have the right to track your kids?
Not your grandma’s hall pass
Your rights as a parent extend to tracking your kids at school, but schools can also set their own tracking policies. Sometimes, yep, that means schools track your kids, too.
The bus tracking I mentioned above is only one example, and it’s being implemented in schools from Kentucky to New York — although the New York program got off to a very rocky start.
Other school districts, like this one in Orange County, are starting to try mandatory tracking for teen students after four or more unexcused absences. Texas is big on tracking, too: Austin and San Antonio are just a couple of districts with tracking programs for tardy students. Meanwhile, digital hall passes that track visits to the bathroom have become incredibly common from coast to coast.
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10 things that are illegal to throw away — How to safely dispose of them instead
We’ve long been conditioned to separate our recyclables from regular trash and sort plastics, paper and more. But some items don’t belong in your recycle bin or your trashcan.
Many items you use every day have their own methods of safe disposal. Here are some everyday things and their proper way of disposal.
Think twice before snapping a ballot selfie: It might be illegal. Just ask Justin Timberlake, who posted a voting pic on Instagram in 2016, then deleted it after people in the comments schooled him on Tennessee law. Check your state here. Better yet, take a photo with your “I voted!” sticker instead.
How to install a security camera without breaking any laws
Security cameras are a great way to protect your property. Tap or click here for ways to keep hackers out of your smart home security cameras. But if you don’t set them up correctly, you could pay an arm and a leg. We’re not talking about maintenance fees, either — we’re talking about legal fees.
How to spot hidden surveillance cameras in your Airbnb, VRBO, and vacation rentals
It’s happened to me. You check into a vacation rental, get settled in and spot surveillance cameras. Even when the cameras are technically allowed, it’s very alarming.
Prepared to be shocked. Cameras can hide in vents, lamps, power outlets and even unassuming objects like humidifiers and TV remote controls. You must see these cameras to believe they exist. Tap or click for 10 hidden cameras so sneaky you’d never know they were there.
Over-share-enting: Former online influencer babies are all grown up and they want laws to protect kids from parents oversharing online. One woman said when she was nine, her mom posted about her first period online, saying, “My baby girl’s a woman today.” Maybe we need to go back to good old-fashioned baby books.
🤰🏻 Born to swim: Couples are turning to Facebook groups to find cheap sperm donors, but the real cost may come in court. In states without clear laws, including Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, if a mom needs public assistance, the donor could be liable for child support — or even declared the lawful father.
5G utility boxes are going up in front yards without notice
How shocked would you be if an unsightly metal utility box popped up on your front lawn — seemingly overnight? These boxes are not part of an elaborate inter-state art project and have nothing to do with the mysterious monoliths.
How to detect hidden cameras in Vrbo, Airbnb and vacation rentals
You’re not paranoid — you are being watched. Facial-recognition cameras, store surveillance cameras, traffic cameras and more are all watching all the time.
Adding to the creep factor is the number of cases where cameras have been found in Vrbos, Airbnbs and other vacation rentals. Tap or click here for an Airbnb scam warning.