🖨️ Print-happy warning: When you print a doc at FedEx, Staples or UPS, check the fine print. Their policies say they can use whatever you print for advertising or share it with unnamed third parties. No, thanks.
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.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Don't miss your chance to shape the future of AI policy in the U.S.
It’s not every day that regular folks like you and me have the opportunity to influence the course of history. But thanks to a recent request for comment from the U.S. government, we have the power to help shape the future of AI. That means you can tell Uncle Sam if you think it’s time to put the brakes on AI. Here’s how.
China's attempt to make TikTok look legit
Do TikTok’s new policies outweigh the fact that the company spied on U.S. users? In this one-minute podcast, I share the details.
💸 I’m Sirius about canceling: A New York judge ruled SiriusXM’s cancellation policies violated the federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. How? Think long chats with agents trained to dissuade you and up to five offers before canceling. Annoying. Luckily, the feds are going after streaming services, too. Btw, aside from my daily and weekend network radio shows, I also host a special business-oriented show once a week on SiriusXM Channel 132.
Money tip: 9 ways to make sure you can return the things you buy online
Buying stuff is fun, but it sometimes doesn’t work out as planned. Your purchase is either defective or not what you expected. Not to worry — you can always return it for a full refund, right?
Did you know that Costco’s “100% satisfaction guarantee” statement can actually be taken at face value? You can bring back anything from a dead plant to partially eaten food! Tap or click to hear Kim tell you all about it.
Amazon banned 600 Chinese brands for sketchy reviews
There are only a few online stores that can compete with Amazon. By sheer numbers, Amazon easily beats the nearest competitor in product selection. Tap or click here to avoid falling for this Amazon trick that will cost you money.
🤦🏼♀️ Heads-up, news hounds: Gone are the days of Googling a news story and picking your preferred news outlet to read it. Google’s AI will now read all news stories for you and give you one version it creates, complete with its own biases. Yup, Google’s AI once told me it couldn’t provide me with a Bible verse I’d requested because it was “controversial and against its policies.”
Google just banned these apps with millions of downloads
Online dating has been around for many years, with apps like Tinder and Bumble exploding in popularity. Especially when people were encouraged to stay home during a pandemic, online dating seemed like the next best thing.
7 auto insurance companies refunding or crediting premiums - see the list
Working from home isn’t all bad. In fact, there are several perks to it that can save you money in the long run. Not only are you not paying to eat out while on the job, but you’re also not commuting to work and paying for gas and car maintenance.
Protect your data - Amazon employees fired after leaking private customer info
Updated 01/13/2020 – Amazon is having more problems with unruly employees. For the second time in the last couple of weeks, the company announced it had to terminate employees for breaching its policies. Last week we found out employees working for Ring, which is owned by Amazon, were caught spying on customers.