When you talk to someone face-to-face, they can see your expression, hear your voice, and pick up on body language. These little clues help people understand what you really mean. In fact researchers believe that over 90% of what is communicated is non-verbal when conveying emotional context. https://online.utpb.edu/about-us/articles/communication/how-much-of-communication-is-nonverbal/ But when you’re communicating online whether through…
man sending email on his phone
People often think, and sometimes even say, “It’s just the internet” as they try to dismiss something rude, off-topic, or aggressive. But in today’s world, the internet is where much of life happens: school, work, socializing, networking, learning, even applying for jobs. So how we act online matters just as much as how we act…
You lock your front door when you leave home. You keep your car keys in your pocket. You don’t give your debit card PIN to strangers. Doing these things doesn’t make you paranoid. These are simple, everyday habits that protect your physical security. In the digital world, your information needs just as much protection, and…
Now that you know what online privacy is and why it matters, it’s time to talk about what you can actually do to protect it. While it’s impossible to be 100% anonymous online, there are plenty of steps you can take to reduce how much of your personal information is collected, shared, or exposed. The…
Every time you visit a website, open an app, or even scroll through social media, you’re sharing information. Some of that sharing is obvious – like when you post a photo or fill out a form. But much of it happens behind the scenes. Your clicks, searches, location, your computer type, your operating system, browser,…
You download a new app to help you focus during study sessions. As soon as you open it, you get a pop-up: “Allow access to your microphone?” You pause. The app plays white noise. Maybe it needs the mic to adjust based on background sounds? Or maybe it just wants access…because it can. When I…
Picture this: you’re looking for a free version of a textbook, a missing episode of your favorite show, or a productivity tool you don’t want to pay for. You find a site that promises exactly what you want, just click “Download.” But the next thing you know, your browser is acting weird, your computer slows…
